Derek Tran, a California Democrat vying for Congress, has built much of his campaign on the claim that he’s a “decorated Veteran” who served during the Iraq War. He proudly shares how he enlisted at age 18, inspired by his family’s immigrant journey from Vietnam and a desire to give back to the country that gave them so much.
He points to his Army Reserve service and says he was "called to active duty for the Iraqi conflict" in 2003, implying a strong, hands-on role in the war. But an investigation by RedState has cast serious doubt on Tran’s military narrative.
Let’s start with the facts uncovered by this investigation. It turns out Tran’s claims of serving in Iraq or even being deployed overseas simply don’t hold water. Army records, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, show that Tran was never deployed to Iraq, nor was he part of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Instead, Tran served stateside at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as a Culinary Specialist under Operation Noble Eagle. His role? A cook, responsible for preparing meals, managing food supplies, and maintaining kitchen standards.
While there’s nothing wrong with being a Culinary Specialist—every role in the military is essential—Tran’s portrayal of his service leans heavily on embellishment. His campaign materials, along with ads run by PACs that support him, highlight his military service in a way that leads voters to believe he was more directly involved in combat operations than he actually was.
For instance, his law firm biography once stated that he served “during the Iraq War in 2003,” though no such deployment took place. Even as of 2024, the Vietnamese-language version of his campaign site still claims that he enlisted to "fight in Iraq," a statement that’s far from accurate.
What’s even more concerning is how Tran has allowed these misrepresentations to spread. A House Majority PAC ad running on YouTube shows paratroopers jumping out of airplanes while the narrator praises Tran’s leadership and military experience.
Yet, according to records, Tran was never in a leadership role in the Army—he was a junior enlisted soldier serving as a cook. Even his campaign endorsement from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) lauds his "brave" service during Operation Enduring Freedom, a conflict Tran had no involvement in.
Tran’s two military commendations further highlight the discrepancy between his claims and reality. One medal, the Army Achievement Medal, was awarded for his participation in a Memorial Day parade in Massachusetts in 2001. The other, an Army Commendation Medal, recognized his service as a First Cook at Fort Stewart. While these honors are commendable, they hardly reflect the kind of high-stakes military action his campaign suggests.
In addition to exaggerating his military record, Tran’s credibility has taken hits on other fronts. The New York Post recently revealed that despite claiming fluency in Vietnamese, Tran required the help of a translator in a Vietnamese-language interview. This, combined with his dubious military claims, has raised red flags about his overall honesty as a candidate.