Last Updated on March 18, 2025 by Bertrand Clarke
The U.S. Department of Defense has reinstated an online tribute to Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers, a Black Medal of Honor recipient, after facing criticism for its abrupt removal. The webpage, which had previously been altered to include “DEI” in its URL before being taken down, was restored following public outcry. However, Pentagon officials continue to stand by their broader initiative to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from military platforms.
A Disappearance Sparks Controversy
Maj. Gen. Rogers, a decorated Vietnam War hero, received the Medal of Honor in 1970 for his extraordinary leadership under fire. Despite suffering multiple wounds while defending a U.S. base, he continued to lead counterattacks, saving numerous lives. Until recently, a dedicated webpage on the Department of Defense (DOD) site honored his legacy.
Over the weekend, visitors attempting to access the page were met with a “404 – Page Not Found” error. Internet archives revealed that the page’s URL had been modified, replacing “medal” with “deimedal,” fueling speculation that its removal was tied to the Trump administration’s recent crackdown on DEI initiatives.
A Quick Reversal
Following widespread criticism and media attention, the Pentagon restored the webpage on Monday, reverting the URL to its original format. In a brief statement, a DOD spokesperson attributed the removal to an “auto removal process” but did not elaborate further.
Despite this reversal, Pentagon officials remain firm in their stance against recognizing diversity as a core strength of the military. Sean Parnell, a DOD spokesperson, defended the broader purge of DEI content, stating, “The president and the secretary have been very clear—any assertion that diversity is our strength is, frankly, incorrect.”
A Broader Erasure of Military History
The removal of Rogers’ tribute is part of a sweeping effort to eliminate references to DEI across federal agencies. Since President Trump’s return to office, thousands of web pages highlighting contributions from women, Black service members, and other minority groups have disappeared from official government sites.
The removals have impacted historical figures and military units, including:
- The Harlem Hellfighters, an all-Black World War I regiment renowned for their combat performance.
- The Japanese American 442nd Infantry Regiment, the most decorated unit in U.S. history.
- Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), who served during World War II.
In some cases, these pages were altered before removal. For example, Army Maj. Gen. Rogers’ profile was changed to include “DEI medal” in its URL before being taken down, prompting accusations that the military was deliberately targeting content related to diversity.
Leadership Changes and Policy Shifts
The rollback of DEI initiatives has extended beyond online content. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have also made significant personnel changes, removing Black and female leaders from top military positions. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as a four-star officer on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed. Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was replaced after being publicly criticized for his past remarks on racial discrimination in the military.
Hegseth previously questioned whether Brown’s promotion was based on merit or race, writing in a book, “Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt.” His removal, along with Franchetti’s, has been widely interpreted as part of the administration’s broader effort to dismantle DEI programs.
Civil Rights Advocates Speak Out
The removal of Rogers’ webpage, coupled with the broader DEI rollback, has alarmed civil rights advocates and veterans’ organizations. Richard Brookshire, co-CEO of the Black Veterans Project, condemned the administration’s actions, stating, “The full-throttled attack on Black leadership, dismantling of civil rights protections, imposition of unjust anti-DEI regulations, and unprecedented historical erasure across the Department of Defense is a clear sign of a new Jim Crow being propagated by our commander-in-chief.”
Legal Challenges and Future Implications
The administration’s aggressive stance against DEI has already led to legal battles. Last week, an appeals court lifted a block on executive orders that sought to eliminate DEI programs across the federal government, giving Trump’s administration a legal victory in its effort to reshape military and government policy.
While the Pentagon has reinstated Maj. Gen. Rogers’ webpage, the fate of thousands of other historical references remains uncertain. Military historians and advocacy groups fear that the ongoing purge will erase important contributions from underrepresented groups, diminishing the rich and diverse history of the U.S. armed forces.
For now, the restoration of Rogers’ page serves as a rare concession in the broader campaign against diversity initiatives. But as the administration pushes forward with its agenda, it remains unclear how much of America’s military history will be rewritten—or erased altogether.
