Dear Pete,
I pray this letter finds its way into your hands. I felt deeply compelled to write, not only as a fellow soldier but as someone who, like you, has walked the path of sacrifice, service, and the challenges of remaining steadfast in faith and principle amidst adversity. I have been persecuted for three years under the past Military leadership first: by a fraudulent 15-6 investigation without due process and second: I’ve been under a two-year security clearance investigation for being a “domestic extremist”. The 15-6 took my AGR career away in the National Guard then they sought to remove me completely with the security clearance investigation instead of convening an administrative board, where there would have been impartial board members. I escaped to the Army Reserves, where I currently exist as a traditional weekend soldier. I had a perfect career until 2021; most of my officer time was either as a commander or deputy commander. I have nearly 27 total years with 17 being fulltime. I had everything to lose when the unlawful “experimental” COVID-19 shot mandate became the regime’s loyalty test (10 U.S.C. § 1107a and 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3, collectively, the “Informed Consent Laws”).
I first became aware of your journey in early November 2024, and when President Trump chose you, I immediately bought your book. As I read it, I felt as though I were reading my own biography. There is no doubt in my mind that you are not only Trump’s choice but the Lord’s as well. For the first time in years, I feel a sense of redemption and restoration for our military is possible. My soul is at peace knowing this.
Your leadership as Secretary of Defense will be a breath of fresh air for those of us who have borne the burden of a corrupted system that too often sacrifices principle for politics. We are the same age, the same rank, and respected by our enlisted subordinates. We share a common bond forged in combat, tested on the front lines, and, sadly, both of us unfairly branded as “extremists” for standing firm in our beliefs. It’s not just our shared military experience—it’s the shared sense of purpose, moral injuries, and unshakable faith that unite us.
I watched your Senate confirmation hearing with great anticipation. As you answered each question, I could feel the presence of God’s Holy Spirit within you. Your words were filled with conviction and sincerity, a powerful testament to the values we have fought to uphold. Your words were my words and so many other warriors ‘words as well! That moment reaffirmed my belief that you are precisely the leader our military needs at this critical juncture. A divine appointment in the history of America.
As you know, standing up for what’s right often comes with a cost. When I submitted my Religious Accommodation Request in December 2020 (maybe first in the nation to do so) to exempt me from the COVID-19 shot mandate, I did so with full faith in the Constitution I swore to defend. Instead, I was met with retaliation, fabricated accusations, and character attacks. Leadership didn’t stop at questioning my decisions; they sought to discredit my integrity.
Minor, unrelated details—like a coffee mug with a 1776 III sticker and my private conversations—were weaponized against me. They claimed my removal wasn’t due to the “experimental” COVID-19 shot, yet my General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand clearly states otherwise. As the senior unvaccinated AGR officer in the Maine Army National Guard (MEARNG), I was made an example. Their actions to purge the unvaccinated were deliberate and calculated.
Losing my AGR position wasn’t just a professional setback—it’s been a financial hardship for my family over the past three years. We’ve had to downsize significantly, and my wife, Jessica, and our children have borne sacrifices that weigh heavily on me. Like your wife, Jennifer, who has been your rock, Jessica has been mine. At times, my faith has been tested to its limits, and I’ve drawn strength from the story of Joseph in the Bible. Just as he endured betrayal and hardship, I believe God is using this period of testing to shape a greater purpose.
Your vision for restoring the military—prioritizing readiness, discipline, and the foundational values that make our armed forces exceptional—gives me hope. My son (16 years old) dreams of serving in the military one day, and knowing that leaders like you are at the helm assures me that his life will not be misused and that his service will be valued. That peace of mind is priceless, and I thank you for it. As a father, I will not allow him to be experimented on with “experimental” shots! “My War” now, is stopping gain-of-function bioweapons and “experimental” shots!
In 2021, I was a Deputy Commander and the most knowledgeable CBRN Hazmat responder in the Maine Army National Guard’s 11th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (11th WMD CST). I have supported numerous National Special Security Events (NSSE) like the 2017 Inauguration of President Trump. I always believed that Covid was a gain-of-function bioweapon and the shot was the worst form of it, per the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989 (BWATA). These were forbidden thoughts or ideas and were not tolerated unlike years past my expert opinion mattered and helped shape successful missions. The MEARNG essentially fired their top biological weapons expert. Congress has finally confirmed covid “most likely” came from the lab—Duh!
Pete, thank you for challenging the broken systems that have harmed so many of us. Your efforts to reduce bureaucracy, ensure accountability, and promote faith-based leadership are exactly what our military needs.
I stand with you, not just as a supporter but as a brother in arms who has endured many of the same battles. Your courage inspires me to keep pressing forward, to believe in our mission, and to trust that leaders like you will restore faith in our military’s future.
It may be out of line to ask, but knowing from your book how fond you are of General Joshua Chamberlain, I must mention something. In June 2022, I was selected for promotion to LTC and was ready to take on an LTC position. However, because of the unlawful shot mandate, I was removed before that could happen. Pete, would you consider pinning me as an LTC at Camp Chamberlain, Augusta Maine?
I am grateful for your example, your vision, and your unwavering dedication to the men and women who serve. Thank you for championing the values that make this nation great.
Sincerely,
Major Michael Gary
U.S. Army Reserve
The Gary Family
