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US President Joe Biden made an erroneous statement about his late son, Beau Biden, in Washington while declaring the Camp Hale Continental Divide on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
The President invoked the memory of his son, the former Delaware attorney general, and claimed that the latter "lost his life in Iraq." However, that was untrue as Beau died in 2015, after he lost a battle to brain cancer. Biden said that he believed that the cancer was caused by toxic carcinogens in burn pits while Beau was serving overseas.
The president also paid tribute to his son's memory by lauding his achievements. Beau Biden was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq, and was awarded both the Legion of Merit, and the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross, posthumously.
Beau Biden's life and military career explored
Biden's youngest son, whose real name was Joseph Robinette Biden III, started his military career in 2003 when he joined the Delaware Army National Guard. His unit was deployed to Iraq five years later, in 2008.
Initially, Joe Biden was against his son going but spoke on the record during the vice president's debate and said:
“I don’t want him going. But I tell you what, I don’t want my grandson or my granddaughters going back in 15 years, and so how we leave makes a big difference.”
Beau Biden returned to the United States after spending a year overseas in service after which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
The Bronze Star Medal recognizes a soldier's bravery on the field and is only awarded to those who are directly in conflict with an enemy of the U.S. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded in three categories - valor, merit and achievement.
Although it is unclear under which category Beau received the Bronze Star medal, it wouldn't be incorrect to assume that it would have been for his actions during his service in Iraq.
In 2013, Beau Biden was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the most common form of brain cancer. The diagnosis came after Beau was rushed to the hospital following complaints of headaches, numbness, and paralysis.
Two years after his diagnosis, on May 13, 2015, Beau lost the battle with cancer and died aged 46.
In a speech in 2019, President Biden claimed that toxins found in smoke from burning waste in U.S. military installments played a "significant role" in the veteran's ailment.
Internet responds to Joe Biden's incorrect statement
Although Biden was referring to Beau Biden's death being cancer, that he believed was caused by the toxins, his statement about Beau losing his life in Iraq unsettled quite a few people.
While some claimed that the President was lying for political benfits, others called him a "fraud," and said that he always lied about his life and family.
Several people were taken aback by the statement as they spoke up about the deaths of their loved ones. They claimed that Biden's statement dishonored and disrespected those who lost their lives in combat.
While a number of people believed that Biden lied, many chalked up his statement to his earlier claims of attributing Beau's cancer to the burn pits in Iraq.
Since the death of his youngest son, Joe Biden has been vocal about spreading awareness and seeking solutions for the burn pits and their effects. These burn pits affect nearly 3.5 million American veterans who are exposed to them.
