On April 23, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a landmark memorandum instructing the Pentagon to provide remedies for service members harmed by the now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The memo is being hailed as a first step toward justice—but for thousands of current and former service members, it doesn’t go far enough.
In a blunt, five-minute video shared on his official X account, Hegseth didn’t mince words: “We all know that the previous administration issued unlawful orders on mandatory vaccines.” He repeated the term again—“unlawful vaccine mandate”—leaving no ambiguity about his position.
But curiously, the formal memo signed by Hegseth avoids such language. It instead labels the mandate as “unfair, overbroad, and unnecessary”, omitting any direct reference to legality. For those impacted, the omission raises a critical question:
If the vaccine mandate was unlawful—who’s been held accountable?
“We Were Treated Like Criminals” — And Still Are
Veterans like Kacy Dixon, a former Air Force JAG officer and intelligence officer whose career was derailed by the mandate, aren’t surprised by the memo’s watered-down language.
“Somebody else typed that memo,” she told The Gateway Pundit. “What matters is what he said out loud, on camera, in his official capacity.”
Dixon emphasized that verbal statements—especially when made on official channels—carry weight in legal settings. And Hegseth was clear: the vaccine mandate was not just flawed policy—it violated rights.
But that truth hasn’t reached the broader ranks of military leadership. Dixon warns that many commanders who enforced the unlawful orders still believe refusers are “criminals,” and their careers remain tainted with noncompliance.
The Heart of the Issue: “No FDA-Approved Doses Were Ever Administered”
Despite repeated government claims, Dixon underscores a critical point: there were no FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine doses actually provided to service members during the enforcement of the mandate in 2021.
“Yes, the FDA gave approval—but no one got the approved formula,” she explained. “That makes this not just unethical—but illegal.”
This revelation has fueled growing calls for transparency and a detailed explanation of how and why the orders violated military law. Service members deserve a formal acknowledgment of that reality—not just policy patches and behind-the-scenes remedies.
Raiklin, Raids, and Redlines: Calls for Justice Grow Louder
Former Green Beret and Constitutional attorney Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ivan Raiklin echoed those calls in a viral post on X, publishing a revised version of Hegseth’s memo with redlined edits to include the words so many troops are desperate to hear: “unlawful,” “negligent,” and “criminal.”
“This cannot end with a memo and a few policy corrections,” said Raiklin. “Proper accountability must begin with thorough investigations. Names. Ranks. Orders. And consequences.”
Veteran advocacy groups have begun circulating petitions and preparing legal challenges—not only for restitution but for full reversals of career-altering disciplinary actions.
“We’ll Fire Their Asses”: Trump’s Promise Still Echoes
Back in October 2024, then-candidate Donald Trump struck a chord with troops across the nation:
“Yeah … there would be accountability, is right. We’ll fire their asses.”
Now that he’s back in the Oval Office, the rank-and-file want to know: Has anyone actually been fired?
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What happened to commanders who enforced an unlawful order?
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What about the JAGs who denied exemptions?
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What about generals who silenced dissenters?
The Trust Is Broken—Will It Be Repaired?
For Dixon and countless others, what they want now is simple: truth, justice, and accountability.
Without it, the Pentagon’s recent memo may be seen as a Band-Aid on a constitutional wound.
If the mandate was indeed unlawful—as the Defense Secretary himself has stated—then the next steps are clear:
Name the violators. Fire the offenders. Restore the records. And restore the trust.
The memo was a start. Now it’s time to finish the job
