On Friday, President Joe Biden personally thanked a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer for saving people’s lives as Hurricane Ian slammed Florida last week. The heroic rescue swimmer is currently facing discharge due to Biden’s military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The White House said in a press release that Biden spoke with Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hooper and Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch “to personally thank them for the heroic work that they and their Coast Guard colleagues have performed during search and rescue operations in response to Hurricane Ian.” Biden also highlighted the call in his remarks on Hurricane Ian response efforts on Friday.
“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.
Despite Biden’s praise, Loesch told Breitbart News that he is going to be kicked out of the Coast Guard in 30-60 days because of Biden’s vaccine mandate.
Loesch said he submitted a religious accommodation request and an appeal, but the Coast Guard denied both.
“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,’” he told Breitbart.
Loesch said he rescued a disabled woman and her husband who were trapped in their home. After kicking in a wall to save them, Loesch returned to the home and retrieved her wheelchair. The hero also saved multiple cats and dogs.
The White House press release said Biden thanked the Coast Guard members “for saving lives and asked for a report on the work that continues to rescue Floridians.” Biden also asked if the rescuers needed “any additional support that he can provide to accelerate successful rescues.”
“It just sucks that he thanked me yet the vaccine mandate is what’s kicking me out,” Loesch said of Biden’s praise. “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.”
