Former Maine National Guard Soldier Accused of Extremism Over Vaccine Refusal

A former soldier with the Maine National Guard faced baseless claims of being a “domestic extremist,” losing his job for opting not to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The state organization disregarded a federal directive to bring him back to service.

Maj. Michael Gary is believed to be the first U.S. military member to seek religious exemptions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine back in December 2020, well ahead of similar moves by the Reserves and National Guard.

“No one has corrected me on this. I believe I’m the first man in the nation to apply for a religious exemption during the coronavirus era,” he shared with reporters. “In my case, it was December 1, 2020, before the bullet was fired.”

Gary initially felt supported by the Maine Army National Guard when he sought the exemption, claiming the chain of command stressed the importance of First Amendment rights.

“They backed me 100 percent… but as time went on, my support from the command started to erode,” he recalled.

His decorated military career, spanning over two decades, was threatened by a series of alarming allegations, as revealed by the Army Board of Military Records Revision.

According to legal filings from the Board, Gary was labeled as “a bully, a waste of government time, a domestic extremist, a COVID-19 conspiracy theorist, a presidential election saboteur, and more.”

“These claims were unfounded. He was ultimately separated for refusing to be vaccinated, even while the Maine National Guard continued to retaliate against him,” the documents stated.

On March 21, 2022, Gary received a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR) for supposed misconduct, which led to a notice of involuntary release from full-time service due to his stance on vaccination.

In May, his retirement was approved with an honorable discharge, but the GOMOR was permanently added to his record.

“They fabricated numerous false allegations… one being that I interfered in the 2020 election,” Gary explained, highlighting the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the situation.

To maintain his military career, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), though the transition meant sacrificing his full-time pay, which he relied on to provide for his four children. He currently serves as a Major but feels he deserves more recognition for his service.

“I was a part-time worker all my life, and it was tough because my career faced so many challenges during those years,” he noted, emphasizing that he was supposed to be pursuing a promotion while an investigation into the alleged fraud played out.

Interestingly, the ABCMR ultimately sided with him, stating that there was enough evidence to prove that “there was fraud in the GOMOR-issued administrative process” concerning vaccination refusal.

“Clearly, the board recognized my innocence,” Gary commented. “Yet, the Maine National Guard continues to retaliate, and they’ve produced an overwhelming amount of detailed evidence and witness statements, vouching for my character and story.”

He recently communicated with Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth, explaining that the board’s decision had not been honored and that “unauthorized falsification of documents continues,” even after they had been officially ordered to be removed.

The National Guard Bureau’s general counsel noted that the Board’s decision serves only as guidance for state organizations.

In September, Hegseth became aware of Gary’s situation and expressed his commitment to address wrongful actions stemming from the vaccination mandate.

“We work every day to right the wrongs of the illegal COVID-19 vaccination mandate,” he proclaimed. “There is still much to do, but we won’t give up.”

Gary has also reached out to former President Donald Trump for assistance. Despite this, he feels he isn’t receiving the support he truly deserves.

“Leaders and bureaucrats in authority have broken laws and regulations. They know it, and they can’t allow me back in because it would mean admitting guilt,” he argued. “If there were ever accountability, it would be significant. But I just don’t see that happening.”

The Maine National Guard even sought to revoke his security clearance, which they accomplished.

Now, after spending 27 years in the military, he’s left in a dire financial situation due to these events.

Gary’s case resonates with others, such as Brigadier General Christopher Sage, whose favorable ruling by the Air Force’s Board of Corrections was inexplicably overturned by Pentagon officials.

Hegseth has emphasized the importance of working alongside military members to fulfill the objectives of the Trump administration, insisting on recovering the rights of those unjustly removed for vaccine refusal.

“If they resolve my case with the Maine National Guard, perhaps other states will take notice and avoid making the same mistakes,” Gary concluded.