With rank restored, SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher announces next move

Last Friday was an awesome day for three of our warriors wrongly accused of war crimes. Both Army Lt. Clint Lorance and Army Special Forces Maj. Mathew Golsteyn received full pardons from President Trump, and their family and friends will have the best Thanksgiving ever.

Also breathing a humongous sigh of relief is former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. Thanks to President Trump’s intervention, Gallagher will retire as Chief Petty Officer, with the full benefits the rank of E-7 provides. The restoration of rank effectively nullifies the Navy’s efforts to punish Gallagher for posing in a picture with a dead ISIS fighter, something for which none of the other members in his platoon were punished – nor has any other service member in the last 20 years ago.

But all of that is behind us now.

In a statement regarding Trump’s actions, the White House said, "The President, as Commander-in-Chief, is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the law is enforced and when appropriate, that mercy is granted. For more than two hundred years, presidents have used their authority to offer second chances to deserving individuals, including those in uniform who have served our country," the White House said in a statement.

"As the President has stated, 'When our soldiers have to fight for our country, I want to give them the confidence to fight.”

Now Gallagher has announced his plans for the next chapter of his life.

According to his lawyer, Tim Parlatore, Eddie plans to fight for other warriors facing similar situations to what he endured.

“He intends to continue this on behalf of other service members with fundraising, with education, awareness, advocacy, and hopefully congressional action to reform the system and provide our service members, who put their life on the line to protect us, with the protection they need,” Parlatore said.

“A year ago, this time, Eddie was in jail surrounded by sex offenders, facing potential life imprisonment without parole for a crime he didn’t commit. A year later, he’s getting a call from the president of the United States and the vice president,” Parlatore told the Washington Examiner. “It’s an absolutely surreal experience.”

As we reported here, an important part of Eddie’s efforts on behalf of veterans will include his powerful collaboration with Nine Line Apparel.

Eddie met Tyler Merritt, Nine Line’s CEO, once on deployment, but it wasn’t until Eddie’s case became public that the two men became fully acquainted.

During the course of his case, Nine Line was there to help, and speak up for him when no else would.

“They treated us like gold,” Eddie said, “and opened my eyes that the brotherhood goes on.”

Of his commitment to his brothers and sisters in uniform, Eddie says, “Brotherhood is not just a statement, it’s a way of life. On and off the battlefield I accept the responsibility for the welfare of my brothers. It’s been and honor and privilege to uphold this standard through my military career and I will keep doing so after I retire. I AM MY BROTHERS KEEPER! #LLTRB!”

Now Nine Line is launching an exclusive line of apparel in collaboration with Eddie called Salty Frog Gear (SFG), “a coastal lifestyle brand with an edge. With specialty garments flexible enough for a fishing trip at sea or a weekend afternoon on the range, SFG provides functional, versatile, and affordable apparel solutions for your next outdoor adventure.”

Sir, we can’t wait to see what unfolds in your next chapter!

Nine Line is an American Clothing Company with American made Apparel and Accessories- Veteran Owned and Operated