Vance joined the Marine Corps in 2003 under the name James D. Hamel and served a four-year enlistment as a combat correspondent. He deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing from August 2005 to February 2006. His last duty station was Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance will face off next month in the only scheduled U.S. vice presidential debate, a chance for each man to reinforce his running mate's message to voters just weeks before the Nov.