Tennessee National Guard members urge governor to fight looming federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate – Stars and Stripes

A U.S. Army combat medic draws the COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe. (Aaron Rodriguez/National Guard)

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Tribune News Service) A group ofTennessee National Guardmembers, who face being forced out of the service by theU.S. Department of Defenseon Thursday over their refusal to get mandated COVID-19 vaccines, along with their supporters pleaded publicly with Gov.Bill Leeon Wednesday to take actions, including suing the federal government if necessary, to prevent their dismissal.

OnJune 30, hundreds of yourTennessee National Guardsoldiers under an illegal, improper order by the Biden administrationsDepartment of Defensein defiance of natural law and the United States Constitution are scheduled to be dismissed from service due to refusal to accept a COVID-19 vaccination, read a petition presented to the stateCapitoloffice of Lee by several dozen Guard members, their families and friends.

It is your duty before God and the citizens of the great state of Tennessee, sir, to help these men and women. Please stop them from being fired, sir! the petition tells Lee, a Republican.

The governor was not in the office to accept the petition.

Ricky Shelton, aTennessee National Guardcaptain fromGrainger Countywho is a member of the230th Sustainment Brigadeout ofChattanooga, helped lead the effort. Several Republican lawmakers voiced support for the guard members as well.

Standing outside the governors office suite, Shelton told theChattanooga Times Free Presshe had been unsuccessfully trying to meet with Lee.

Theyve ignored and theyve ignored and diverted and tried to avoid whether its an event we invited them to or whatever it may be, said Shelton, who along with comrades and other supporters rallied earlier onLegislative Plazabefore the stateCapitol. So theyve avoided us like a plague.

He said he had been in back-and-forth conversations with Lee Chief of StaffJoseph Williamsto set up a meeting, but it had not come through by Wednesday.

Rep.Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, was among a group of Republican lawmakers joining the protesters onLegislative Plazafor their rally. He later accompanied them into theCapitolto Lees offices.

Were here to stand with theTennessee National Guardto support them and their effort to not take the vaccine and to encourage our governor and attorney general to do all that they can do, whatever they can to push back against this, Sexton told theTimes Free Press. They dont need to lose their jobs. And we dont need to lose them, you know, in our defense.

Lee CommunicationsDirectorLaine Arnoldlater issued a statement to theTimes Free Press.

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate is aDepartment of Defenserequirement, the statement said. But we have approved every personal and religious exemption brought forward by members of the Guard.

We have also advocated to theDoDthat personnel who sought an exemption should receive that same exemption federally, and we are awaiting their response. In the meantime, we have no plans to terminate or dishonorably discharge personnel.

Shelton said he personally objects to the COVID-19 vaccines because, he added, human tissue from aborted fetuses were used to develop or make the vaccines.

The groups requests to Lee include:

Publicly condemning firings ofTennessee National Guardmembers who are scheduled to be terminated due to their refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine. They also want Lee to do everything in your power to help those members.

Immediately orderTennessee National Guard Adjutant Generaland Maj.Gen. Jeff Holmesto halt the discharge of the men and women refusing the vaccinations.

Ask Tennessee Attorney GeneralHerb Slateryto file suit on behalf of theTennessee National Guardmembers and coordinate with other states attorneys general to file an emergency injunction against theDepartment of Defense, forcing them to reverse adverse actions against any National Guardsman for refusal to vaccinate.

We pray that you find it in your heart and your character to take action. Please join us in fighting for the men and women of theTennessee National Guard, the petition adds.

According to The Associated Press, up to 40,000Army National Guardsoldiers across the country or about 13% of the force have not yet taken the mandated COVID-19 vaccine, and as the deadline for shots looms, at least 14,000 of them have flatly refused and could be forced out of the service.

Guard leaders say states are doing all they can to encourage soldiers to get vaccinated by the time limit. And they said they will work with the roughly 7,000 who have sought exemptions, which are almost all for religious reasons.

You are their commander-in-chief, the petition says to Lee. We implore you to do everything within your power to fight for these dedicated men and women. To date, sir, you have been silent. We implore you to be silent no more.

Shelton told theTimes Free Pressthat after this now, honestly, I dont care what happens to me. Because this is more important because we were always taught to take an oath to defend our soldiers And if their health is being affected and nobodys stepping up for them, it is my duty to do that.

And I will walk through hell with a can of gasoline in each hand and back for my soldiers if I had to, Shelton added.

(c)2022 the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Visit at http://www.timesfreepress.com

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Tennessee National Guard members urge governor to fight looming federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate - Stars and Stripes