When Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reposted Major H. Michael Gary’s story on X, it wasn’t just a show of support. It was the public validation of a fight that had stretched across four long years—a fight against unlawful mandates, institutional retaliation, and personal hardship. For Gary, a decorated combat veteran and nationally recognized expert in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) response, it marked the culmination of one of the most significant victories for truth and justice to emerge from the COVID-19 military era.
The First Stand
Gary’s story began with an act of conscience. On December 1, 2020, he became the first service member in the nation to submit a religious accommodation request against the experimental COVID-19 shot. That decision placed him squarely at odds with military leadership. What followed was a chain of retaliation: a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR), a fraudulent 15-6 investigation, branding as a “domestic extremist,” an attempt to revoke his security clearance, and ultimately, his unlawful removal from his Active Guard Reserve (AGR) position.
The GOMOR became the linchpin of it all. It was the entry point for every adverse action: denial of promotion, separation, and years of hardship. In Gary’s words, “I had a perfect career until 2021.”
A Letter Before the Storm
On January 20, 2025, before Pete Hegseth assumed his role as Secretary of Defense, Gary wrote him a deeply personal letter. In it, he poured out his story—nearly three decades of faithful service as an artillery, engineer, and CBRN officer, followed by years of retaliation simply for standing on principle. The letter was not just a plea for justice; it was a call for leadership.
In February 2025, Hegseth’s congressional liaison office replied. The message was brief but pivotal: only the Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA) could correct his records. Enclosed was DD Form 149, the key to filing with the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR).
Building the Case
Gary seized the opportunity. He assembled a comprehensive submission of nearly a thousand pages of documentation, sworn affidavits, training records, and legal arguments.
In March 2025, his case was formally entered. As he waited, the Maine Army National Guard continued to resist, even issuing memos denying his reinstatement eligibility. But Gary persisted, trusting that the truth would hold.
A Landmark Decision
On June 13, 2025, the ABCMR convened to review his case. Their findings were historic. The Board concluded that “by a preponderance of the evidence, an injustice occurred in the administrative procedures of issuing him a GOMOR for vaccination refusal”.
They ordered the removal of the GOMOR, correction of all separation documents, and elimination of every derogatory reference to vaccine refusal. The case was referred to the National Guard Bureau for reinstatement and even consideration of retroactive promotion.
In plain language, the Board confirmed what Gary had known all along: his removal was unlawful.
Vindication Made Official
On September 3, 2025, the National Guard Bureau made it official. The GOMOR and all related documents were permanently removed from his official file. The stain of the fraudulent reprimand was erased. For Gary, the path to reinstatement was now open.
This was more than a procedural win. It was the erasure of the very tool used to destroy his career. The GOMOR’s removal cleared the way for reinstatement, back pay, and advancement. It also set a precedent: even the most permanent of reprimands could be overturned when justice demanded it.
Tulsi Gabbard and the Truth About “Conspiracies”
Gary’s vindication didn’t happen in isolation. On April 28, 2025, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, under DNI Tulsi Gabbard, released a public disclosure acknowledging that so-called “COVID conspiracy theorists” and “domestic extremists” had been wrongfully targeted and categorized.
This revelation confirmed what Gary had experienced firsthand: his career was derailed not because of misconduct, but because of his principled opposition to an unlawful mandate and his refusal to conform to a false narrative. The sticker on his coffee mug, once weaponized as evidence of “extremism,” now stands as a symbol of how far the system went to suppress dissent. Gabbard’s disclosure gave official weight to Gary’s defense, proving that the institutions that punished him were themselves in error.
The Role of Providence
Gary has often framed his ordeal in biblical terms, likening it to Joseph’s story—betrayed, punished, but ultimately elevated. Indeed, his letter to Hegseth, written before the latter’s appointment, now appears providential. That single act of faith helped chart the course for his restoration.
Executive Order 14184, signed by President Trump in January 2025, provided the legal foundation by mandating reinstatement opportunities for service members separated under the COVID-era mandate. But Gary’s case broke new ground. His victory wasn’t just about a shot mandate—it was about overturning a supposedly permanent GOMOR and affirming that law, not politics, governs military justice.
Family and Gratitude
No story of restoration is complete without the unseen support that carried it through. For more than three years, the Gary family endured loss, uncertainty, and hardship. Through it all, his wife Jessica stood as a spiritual rock, anchoring the family with faith and resilience. His children endured sacrifices no American family should face, yet they remained steadfast by their father’s side.
Gary also extends gratitude to Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, who provided him meaningful work during his fight, employing his CBRN expertise at a time when others tried to silence him. Her trust ensured that his hard-earned skills continued to serve others.
Ultimately, the Lord Jesus has strengthened and provided for the Gary family. Major Gary could not have continued to pursue righteous justice without the Lord’s help, for which he is deeply thankful.
A Message for the Military
When Secretary Hegseth reposted Gary’s story, it amplified a powerful message across the force: restoration is possible. Records can be corrected. Careers can be redeemed.
Gary’s journey—marked by faith, perseverance, and truth—now serves as a benchmark for every service member wronged during the COVID era. His victory is not only personal; it is institutional. It demonstrates that justice, though delayed, can prevail against the weight of bureaucracy.
As Gary awaits final processing of his reinstatement, his story stands as both warning and encouragement: retaliation may scar, but it does not have to endure. Law, faith, and persistence remain stronger.
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