Biden Thanks Coast Guardsman For Heroism Despite Pending Discharge Over COVID Vax Mandate

As Hurricane Ian rocked the state of Florida, as with most pure disasters that impression our communities, American heroism tends to shine shiny. Usually that heroism comes from service members, and within the case of hurricane catastrophe reduction and rescues, you possibly can all the time rely on the women and men of the US Coast Guard to come back by way of.

This newest storm was no exception, with varied tales of heroism, together with that of Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch. At one point, he saved an aged disabled girl from drowning by kicking down her door to get her to security.

As if that wasn’t sufficient, he was conscientious sufficient to seize her wheelchair and strap it to his physique earlier than being airlifted to security. That is simply one of many many causes Mr. Loesch obtained reward from the President Biden himself.

Nonetheless, there’s only one downside: Loesch is about to be involuntarily discharged from the Coast Guard.

Joe Biden mentioned it himself — COVID is over.

But, he’s nonetheless firing our courageous women and men who serve our nation, like Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Zach Loesch.

Zach kicked by way of a wall to avoid wasting an aged couple trapped on account of Hurricane Ian.

— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 2, 2022

Associated: Military Quietly Walks Back COVID Vaccine Restrictions On Active Duty Troops

Thanks, However No Thanks

In a White Home press launch final Friday, it was announced that the President had spoken to Loesch in addition to one other Coast Guard officer concerned within the rescue, with the intention to personally thank them for his or her valiant efforts in response to Hurricane Ian.

Extra particularly, President Biden told reporters concerning his dialog with Loesch that “I informed him how proud I of him I used to be and thanked him for all of the work he and his Coasties are doing to avoid wasting lives.”

You’d suppose we’d wish to retain that dedication to service and fellow man. Sadly, we might be dropping many like Loesch because of the navy COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Within the subsequent month or so, he’s set to be faraway from the navy on account of his refusal to get the vaccine.

I learn that Biden simply known as a coast guard rescue swimmer to thank him for saving lives, however that hero is because of lose his job shortly on account of Biden’s Covid vaccine mandate. Don’t be desensitized to the horrific discrimination that’s nonetheless being perpetrated within the title of science.

— Eli Klein (@TheEliKlein) October 1, 2022

Associated: Biden Defense Spox John Kirby Denies ‘Wokeness’ Hurting Military Recruitment. He’s Wrong.

Authorized Bother

Like many others in uniform, Loesch filed for a spiritual lodging to the vaccine, which was denied alongside along with his enchantment. Currently, there are 2,632 Coast Guardsmen are refusing to adjust to the mandate.

Final month, 1,200 service members filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Coast Guard, accusing the service of “categorically denying nearly all” non secular lodging requests. So far, there have been 881 Coast Guardsmen denied non secular lodging requests, with only one% getting accepted.

Those that had been accepted had been for members who had been already pending separation or retirement. To place it plainly, solely members who already had a pending discharge date have gotten their requests accepted.

Sound acquainted? It ought to. As reported simply a few weeks ago, the opposite navy branches needed to roll again a few of their COVID vaccine restrictions pending litigation and comparable accusations.

Our navy is experiencing its worst recruiting yr ever thanks partly to @SecDef‘s navy COVID vaccine mandate.

Though the mandate is clearly damaging navy readiness, it stays in impact.

They’d reasonably degrade our navy than admit they had been incorrect. pic.twitter.com/J8N0ms7qix

— Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) September 27, 2022

Associated: With Military Recruitment In The Red, Will ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Provide The Same Bump As The 1986 Original?

A Disturbing Pattern

In June, Pentagon Inspector Normal Sean O’Donnell, in a memo to Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin, stated that “We discovered a pattern of generalized assessments reasonably than the individualized assessments” required by not solely Federal regulation, but in addition the Pentagon’s personal insurance policies.

“Assuming a 10-hour work day with no breaks or consideration to different issues, the common evaluate interval was about 12 minutes per every package deal,” the memo pointed out.

It’s onerous to consider that 12 minutes could be sufficient time to evaluate every particular person’s request precisely. The fact is these reviewing these packages in all probability did take breaks and produce other obligations, that means they spent even much less time reviewing every case. Given the mathematical assumptions, the IG mentioned they estimate about 50 denials got per day throughout all of the branches.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Alaric Stone, one of many litigants within the lawsuit in opposition to the Coast Guard, said that “I discover myself in a state of affairs the place I’m being compelled to decide on between my religion and repair to my nation. It’s really heartbreaking.”

Bittersweet Scenario

“If I had requested any of the folks I saved yesterday in the event that they needed to come back with me though I’m unvaccinated, each single one among them would have mentioned sure,” said Loesch.

Of that, I personally have little question. However, to be truthful, navy members have been required to get quite a few vaccines for varied sicknesses, all within the title of readiness.

I’ve been caught with greater than I can rely with out criticism. Nonetheless, the non secular lodging request course of for this significantly controversial vaccine does appear to be stacked in opposition to those that file. 

With navy recruitment at an all-time low, you’d suppose we’d be in search of methods to maintain our greatest and brightest versus discharging them over a vaccine—particularly given all of the worldwide challenges we face and home challenges like tropical storms.

I can also’t think about the next honor than to obtain a cellphone name from the Command in Chief himself to thanks to your heroism and repair. 

What a monumental profession and life second, one you inform your grandchildren about when the time comes. Nonetheless, as Mr. Loesch said, “It simply sucks that he thanked me, but the vaccine mandate is what’s kicking me out.”

You’re completely proper on that time; it does suck. 

Zach Loesch is one among 2,600 Coasties that regardless of being despatched to assist stranded Floridians, might be kicked out over a vaccine.

I assure not one Floridian cared about his vaccine standing when he carried them out of their flooded residence. Biden’s mandate should finish! pic.twitter.com/tRcREyTQLc

— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) October 3, 2022