President Joe Biden personally thanked a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who is facing discharge over the president’s vaccine mandate, for saving people’s lives during Hurricane Ian.
“I told him how proud of him I was and thanked him for all the work he and his Coasties are doing to save lives,” Biden said of his call to Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch.
The White House said in a statement that Biden thanked Loesch and Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hooper “for the heroic work that they and their Coast Guard colleagues have performed during search and rescue operations in response to Hurricane Ian.”
“The President thanked them for saving lives and asked for a report on the work that continues to rescue Floridians. He also asked if they needed any additional support that he can provide to accelerate successful rescues; they indicated they have gotten what they need to execute their vital mission,” the statement added.
Despite Biden expressing his gratitude to Loesch for rescuing people, Loesch is due to be removed from the Coast Guard in a few weeks due to the president’s own mandate that all members of the United States Armed Forces be fully vaccinated.
“If I had asked any of the people I saved yesterday if they wanted to come with me even though I am unvaccinated, every single one of them would have said ‘yes,’” Loesch said.
Loesch had submitted a request for religious exemption, as well as an appeal, but both were denied.
“It just sucks that he thanked me yet the vaccine mandate is what’s kicking me out,” he said. “I just love my job and I’m really good at it. It sucks. I feel like this is the job that I was born to do.”
This comes after disturbing images from last August surfaced showing the “deplorable” living conditions of Navy service members who are seeking religious accommodations from the Biden administration’s draconian vaccine mandate.
Biden signed an executive order last year that made taking the vaccine mandatory for federal employees and military personnel, saying: “This is not about freedom or personal choice. It’s about protecting yourself and those around you, the people you work with.”
