California Democrat Derek Tran, a congressional candidate, has been touting his service record as a “decorated veteran” who enlisted at age 18 to fight in Iraq. Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees, frequently mentions his military background in campaign materials, highlighting that his service during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003 made him “mission-focused” and capable of bipartisan leadership.

His campaign logo even reads “Veteran for Congress,” cementing his military credentials as central to his public image.

However, a RedState investigation has uncovered significant discrepancies in Tran’s claims. Official Army records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Tran did enlist in the Army Reserve in 1999, but his service was stateside, and he never participated in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Derek Tran Military Records by Jennifer Van Laar

Instead, Tran served as a Culinary Specialist with the 401st Chemical Company, and mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he remained from March to July 2003.

Tran’s biography and campaign materials describe him as a decorated veteran, but the two medals he received—an Army Achievement Medal for participating in a Memorial Day Parade and an Army Commendation Medal for his service as a cook—hardly qualify him as a war hero.

While there is nothing dishonorable about his military service, Tran’s claims appear exaggerated at best, bordering on misleading. The distinction between being deployed overseas and serving stateside is not trivial, especially when Tran’s narrative implies combat experience.

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Despite these findings, Tran continues to leverage his military background to connect with voters. For example, in a podcast interview earlier this year, Tran referenced his “military background” and claimed it qualified him to tackle the division in Washington.

In reality, Derek Tran’s military service was far from the combat experience he alludes to in his campaign. His role as a Culinary Specialist was to prepare meals for troops rather than lead them into battle or make critical decisions on the front lines. While honorable in its own right, this supportive role was a far cry from the leadership or direct combat involvement that Tran’s narrative implies.

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His claim of being “called to active duty for the Iraqi conflict” falls apart under scrutiny.

Official records reveal that his deployment was strictly stateside as part of Operation Noble Eagle, a domestic mission focused on enhancing homeland security following the 9/11 attacks. This mission, which mobilized troops within the U.S., was intended to safeguard military installations and provide domestic support—not to engage in overseas combat operations like those in Iraq or Afghanistan.

In other words, Tran never set foot in a combat zone, and his service was entirely within the United States. His portrayal of himself as an Iraq War veteran misrepresents the reality of his service and, in many ways, diminishes the true sacrifices of those who did serve in combat.

Questions regarding Tran’s credibility extend beyond his military service. The New York Post recently reported that Tran, who claims to be fluent in Vietnamese, required a translator for an interview with a Vietnamese-language outlet.

RedState reached out to his campaign for further clarification and a possible DD-214 release, but no response was received as of press time.