Coast Guard hero thanked by Biden for Ian response says he's facing discharge over COVID mandate

The Coast Guardsman who President Joe Biden personally applauded for his efforts to rescue people during Hurricane Ian says he is facing military discharge due to the administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The White House said Friday that Biden personally called Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Zach Loesch to thank him for his "heroic work" saving lives during the deadly hurricane. 

Loesch told Breitbart News on Saturday that he will be kicked out of the Coast Guard within the next two months after his religious accommodation request and appeal to the COVID vaccine mandate was denied. 

He said he did not want to ruin his call with Biden by mentioning his pending discharge.

"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."

In July, Just the News reported that the Coast Guard was attempting to discharge service members who refused the COVID vaccine without giving them the opportunity to appear before an administrative board.