Pentagon Removes War Hero Images Amid DEI Policy Overhaul

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has begun removing thousands of images and references related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from its archives, following an executive order from President Donald Trump to eliminate DEI programs across federal agencies.

The Pentagon’s purge includes 3,500 images featuring military firsts, war heroes, and notable milestones, with thousands more potentially on the chopping block. Among the flagged content are:

✅ World War II Medal of Honor recipients
✅ The Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first Black military pilots
✅ The first women to pass Marine infantry training
✅ The Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Japan

The Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps have been instructed to comply with the directive, which affects content across websites, databases, and social media platforms.

Confusion Over Deletion Criteria

Reports indicate inconsistent application of the removal order, with some content flagged due to irrelevant keywords like “Gay” in names (e.g., the B-29 Enola Gay) or mentions of gender-related studies in scientific projects.

🔹 A California Army Corps of Engineers project was mistakenly flagged because an official’s last name was “Gay.”
🔹 Some content related to Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month was removed or altered.

Despite widespread removals, some images—including those of Marine Corps war hero Pfc. Harold Gonsalves and pioneering female fighter pilot Col. Jeannie Leavitt—remain accessible.

Pentagon’s Response & Future Implications

Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot confirmed the move, stating:
“We are pleased by the rapid compliance with the directive. DEI programs have eroded military unity and mission effectiveness.” While some officials warn that the removals may erase important aspects of military history, the Pentagon asserts that the archived database will preserve records for future reference.