POSTED FOR: Rotorblade
The U.S. military is facing renewed scrutiny after reportedly punishing service members who refused the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds. Among those targeted is former Army medical officer and whistleblower First Lieutenant Mark Bashaw, who says he was unlawfully discharged for objecting to what he viewed as an illegal mandate.
Five months after the vaccine mandate was rescinded, Bashaw was forced out of the military in June 2023. He has now filed a formal complaint against his commanding officer, Major General Robert Edmonson, accusing him of unlawful retaliation for raising concerns that the Pentagon’s vaccine policy violated federal law.
“My duty as a military medical officer, and as an Army officer in general, was to properly communicate issues to my chain of command—which I did,” Bashaw told The Gateway Pundit. “They retaliated against me for a total of 573 days before I was unlawfully discharged on June 26, 2023.”
Bashaw asserts that his dismissal stemmed directly from his warnings about potential health risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines, masks, and tests. In a sworn affidavit, he claims Major General Edmonson violated Article 132 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers, as well as Article 92, which covers failure to obey lawful orders.
While serving as an Army Public Health Officer at the Army Public Health Center, Bashaw was responsible for assessing disease risks and advising commanders on mitigation strategies. A devout Christian, he says he was among the first to recognize what he calls “false narratives” about the safety and effectiveness of various COVID-19 measures promoted by Army leadership.
After his warnings were ignored, Bashaw became a congressional whistleblower and contributed to investigations led by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI). When he refused to comply with the masking and testing mandates—arguing they violated laws governing Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) products—Major General Edmonson convened a court-martial against him on January 18, 2022.
On April 29, 2022, Bashaw was found guilty by Judge Robert Cohen but received “no punishment.” The judge commended Bashaw’s 16 years of honorable service and urged that all charges be dropped. Despite that recommendation, the Army declined to reverse the conviction, and Edmonson proceeded with an involuntary separation process that led to Bashaw’s dismissal after 17 years of service.
Bashaw’s experience mirrors that of tens of thousands of service members who were discharged for refusing COVID-related mandates—many receiving general discharges that have hindered their civilian careers and benefits.
In his complaint, Bashaw is calling for a full investigation and potential UCMJ charges against Edmonson, alleging 523 days of retaliation following his protected whistleblower disclosures about public health risks and regulatory violations tied to the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Commanders who knowingly violated the UCMJ by retaliating against service members who submitted protected communications must be held accountable,” Bashaw said. “Trust in our institutions is at an all-time low. General Charles Hamilton has a duty to act on this criminal complaint.”
The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and Army Materiel Command confirmed they are aware of the allegations. In statements to The Epoch Times, both departments said, “As a matter of policy, we do not discuss ongoing personnel matters. We do take all allegations seriously and will review the complaint.”
President Trump has previously criticized the Pentagon’s handling of service members who refused the COVID vaccine, calling for their full reinstatement and restoration of benefits.