MN Guard: No Record Singer's Claimed Injury - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Timothy Michael Poe appeared on "America's Got Talent" Monday. He told the judges he spent 14 years in the military, and suffered a broken back and brain injury in a grenade blast in Afghanistan in 2009. The Minnesota National Guard says it has no record of the combat injuries.

Poe didn't seem too confident about his singing when he walked out on the stage in San Antonio for "America's Got Talent." But Poe, who talks with a stutter due to a brain injury he received while fighting in Afghanistan, wowed the judges with both his talent and his story.

Poe said:

"I spent 14 years in the military but my service ended in 2009 after I was hit by a grenade in Afghanistan. It broke my back and gave me a brain injury and that's the reason why a stutter a little bit when I talk."

Poe said that he was worried about getting up on stage because of his stutter but he was convinced by his friends and family to give it a shot. And when Poe started singing, his stutter disappeared and the audience sat back in amazement.

Poe sang Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and earned a standing ovation.

Howie Mandel called Poe "a phenomenal talent."

Sharon Osbourne said he had a "rich and beautiful tone to his voice."

Howard Stern added: "I was moved by your performance and thought you did a good job."

The Minnesota National Guard has a different story about Timothy Michael Poe. The Minnesota National Guard says it has no record of the combat injuries claimed by a man who sang on "America's Got Talent."

Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Kevin Olson said Tuesday that records don't indicate Poe suffered those injuries. Olson noted Poe wasn't given a Purple Heart, which is awarded to those injured in combat.

Records show Poe served with the Guard from December 2002 through May 2011. He was in Kosovo for part of 2007 and 2008, and in Afghanistan for about a month in 2009.

An NBC spokeswoman says the network and Poe have no comment.