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US News
hurricane ian

Biden thanks Coast Guard member for hurricane rescue — days before vax mandate firing

By
Yaron Steinbuch
Published Oct. 3, 2022
Updated Oct. 3, 2022, 10:26 a.m. ET

President Biden thanked a US Coast Guard member for saving lives during Hurricane Ian — only for the hero rescue swimmer to reveal he will soon be discharged for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

“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 Friday of his call with Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch, Fox News reported.

The president also spoke with Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper.

“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,” the White House said in a readout.

But despite the tribute, Loesch told Breitbart News that he is among the service members poised to be discharged in 30 to 60 days for not following Biden’s edict making the jabs mandatory in the military.

President Joe Biden speaks on the phone.
On a phone call, President Biden thanked Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch and the rest of his crew for their work saving lives. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz
Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch.
Zach Loesch is one of 2,632 Coast Guard members who refused to get a vaccine. Courtesty of Ana Loesch
Zach Loesch.
“It just sucks that he thanked me yet the vaccine mandate is what’s kicking me out,” Zach Loesch said. Courtesty of Zach Loesch

The heroic Coastie told the outlet that he had submitted a request for religious accommodation, as well as an appeal, but was denied both times.

“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 told Breitbart.

Amid the Category 4 hurricane, Loesch said, he rescued a disabled woman and her husband after kicking through a wall to free them, then went back to retrieve her wheelchair, which he attached to his body as he was hoisted by a chopper.

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Members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team look for anyone needing help after Hurricane Ian passed through the Fort Myers area.
Members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team look for anyone needing help after Hurricane Ian passed through the Fort Myers area.Getty Images
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over Sanibel as search and rescue efforts continue after Hurricane Ian.
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over Sanibel Island as search and rescue efforts continue after Hurricane Ian.Getty Images
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A rescue team evacuates a resident in a neighborhood flooded by the rising Myakka River.
A rescue team evacuates a resident in a neighborhood flooded by the rising Myakka River in North Port, Florida.Getty Images
A resident is evacuated by a Florida Army National Guard chinook.
A resident is evacuated by a Florida Army National Guard chinook.Getty Images
Florida residents prepare to be evacuated in a Florida Army National Guard helicopter.
Pine Island, Florida residents prepare to be evacuated in a Florida Army National Guard helicopter.Getty Images
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Florida Task Force 2 rescue team members evacuate a man in Fort Myers Beach.
Florida Task Force 2 rescue team members evacuate a man in Fort Myers Beach.South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP
Orange County firefighters help people stranded by Hurricane Ian.
Orange County firefighters carry people stranded by Hurricane IanOrange County Fire Rescue's Public Information Office via AP
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Loesch, who also rescued several dogs and cats, told the outlet he did not want to bring up his imminent discharge during the call with the commander-in-chief.

“It just sucks that he thanked me yet the vaccine mandate is what’s kicking me out,” he told Breitbart. “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.”

In September, about 1,200 service members filed a lawsuit against the Coast Guard and other government agencies seeking religious exemptions from the vaccination mandate.

They accused the Coast Guard of “categorically denying virtually all” religious accommodation requests — but a rep for the branch previously denied that anyone was penalized for seeking religious accommodations, according to Fox News.

Loesch is one of 2,632 Coast Guard member who refused to get a vaccine, the Daily Mail reported.