Biden congratulates Coast Guard rescue swimmer on Hurricane Ian heroics
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A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was publicly thanked by President Joe Biden for his heroic Hurricane Ian days before he was due to be fired over the military’s Covid-19 vaccine policy.
In a press release, Biden expressed his gratitude to Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch: “I told him how proud I was of him and thanked him for all the work he and his Coasties do to save lives,” the statement read. .
As of September 2022, there are 2,632 unvaccinated members of the US Coast Guard.
The military branch with the most unvaccinated members as the US Marine Corps with 8,913, followed by the Air Force with 3,955, then the Navy, 2,623, the branch with the fewest unvaccinated members as the US Army with 1,337.
Loesch teamed up with Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hooper in his rescue.
The statement thanked the couple “for the heroic work they and their Coast Guard colleagues have done during search and rescue operations in response to Hurricane Ian.”
The release continued: “The president thanked them for saving lives and asked for a report on the work that continues to save Floridians.”
“He also asked if they needed additional support to accelerate successful rescues; they indicated that they have been given what they need to carry out their vital mission,” the statement concluded.
The military branch with the most unvaccinated members as the US Marine Corps with 8,913, followed by the Air Force with 3,955, then the Navy, 2,623, the branch with the fewest unvaccinated members as the US Army with 1,337
Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch pictured on the phone with President Joe Biden on Saturday
In a press release, Biden said of Loesch: ‘I told him how proud I was of him and thanked him for all the work he and his Coasties are doing to save lives’
After the call, Loesch told Breitbart in an interview that he would be fired from the Coast Guard for his vaccine stance
After the conversation, Loesch told Breitbart in an interview that he would be fired by the Coast Guard for his vaccine stance.
He said, “If I had asked any of the people I rescued yesterday to come with me, even though I wasn’t vaccinated, each of them would have said yes.
Loesch also said he has filed a religious exemption. Religious exceptions are typically made in the military regarding the use of fetal tissue in the vaccine.
Despite this presence, even Pope Francis has approved the Covid-19 vaccine.
So far, most of those military personnel who have been involuntarily separated from service because of the vaccine have received a general discharge.
This means they will still be entitled to benefits and rejoin the military if they get the vaccine, according to the military times.
In December 2021, the Biden administration ordered military personnel and women to be vaccinated against Covid-19
In his phone call with Biden, Loesch said he didn’t think it was appropriate to bring up his impending resignation.
In his phone call with Biden, Loesch said he didn’t think it was appropriate to bring up his impending resignation.
He said, “It just sucks that he thanked me, but the vaccine mandate is what kicks me out.”
Loesch added: “I just love my job and I’m really good at it. It sucks. I feel like this is the job I was born to do.’
In addition to his military career, Loesch is an avid disc golfer. According to his official profile on the Professional Disc Golf Association website, he is ranked 971st in the United States and is based in Dunedin, Florida.
On his Instagram page, he declares himself a ‘USCG Helicopter Rescue Swimmer’ and a ‘Proud Husband’.
During the rescue, Loesch rescued a disabled woman and her husband from a bedroom in their home in which they had become trapped. The rescue swimmer was forced to kick into a wall to get to the pair.
From there, Loesch said he strapped the woman and her wheelchair to his body and hoisted her to a waiting helicopter. In addition, he saved the lives of several pets in the area.
In August, the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, deregistered the seven cadets last month for failing to meet the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate after their requests for religious waivers were rejected earlier this year.
The cadets, whose names have not been released, were required to vacate campus by August 19.
A lawyer representing the cadets, Michael Rose, said the youths were threatened with removal from campus by armed guards if they did not leave by August 19.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last year made the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for military personnel, including those from military academies, and said the vaccine is critical to maintaining military preparedness and the health of the armed forces.
Several lawsuits dispute that mandate, including two in South Carolina and Texas involving some of the Coast Guard Academy cadets Rose represents, as well as cadets from other academies.
The military services had different deadlines for their troops, and the Army National Guard was given the longest time to get the shots, especially as it is a large force of about 330,000 soldiers widely dispersed across the country, many in remote locations.
The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps at 97 percent or more and the Air Force at about 94 percent. About 90 percent of army reserve troops were partially or fully vaccinated.