A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was publicly thanked by President Joe Biden for his Hurricane Ian heroics, days before he is 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 of him I was and thanked him for all the work he and his Coasties are doing 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 if 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 if the US Army with 1,337.  

Loesch was working alongside Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hooper in his rescue. 

The statement thanked the pair ‘for the heroic work that they and their Coast Guard colleagues have performed 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 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 concluded.

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 of him I was and thanked him for all the work he and his Coasties are doing to save lives’

Following the conversation, Loesch told Breitbart in an interview that he due to be fired by the Coast Guard over his vaccine stance

Following the conversation, Loesch told Breitbart in an interview that he is due to be fired by the Coast Guard over his vaccine stance. 

He said: ‘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 also said that he has submitted a religious exemption. Religious exemptions are typically made in the military regarding the use of fetal tissue in the vaccine.

Despite this,…