Amidst a wave of deletion at the Pentagon, references to significant US military icons from the second world war era are being targeted for removal. These include mentions of a Medal of Honor recipient, the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan, and the pioneering women who passed US marine infantry training. This move is part of the broader effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content within the US defense department, as revealed by a database accessed by the Associated Press.
The database contains over 26,000 images flagged for deletion across all military branches, with the potential for the total number to rise significantly. The initiative to cleanse DEI content follows an executive order by former President Donald Trump, which terminated diversity programs across federal agencies, including the military. The primary focus of the purge seems to be on removing content related to women and minorities, erasing notable achievements and commemorations from military history.
However, the process has led to confusion, with some images being marked for deletion due to seemingly incidental reasons. Instances include photos featuring the word ‘gay’, leading to the removal of pictures unrelated to DEI issues. Notably, references to the Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering Black military pilots, have also appeared on the deletion list, raising questions about the preservation of historical significance amidst the purge.
Following the directive to remove DEI content, the Pentagon has swiftly acted to comply, with many images already taken down. Yet, some significant visuals, such as those depicting the accomplishments of women in the military and historical figures like Medal of Honor recipient Pfc Harold Gonsalves, remain accessible. The removal process has been nuanced, with certain posts partially deleted while others, like those featuring the Women Airforce Service Pilots from World War II, still visible.
One of the key figures caught in the deletion sweep is Pte First Class Christina Fuentes Montenegro, one of the first women to complete Marine Corps’ infantry training. Her image, along with that of air force Col Jeannie Leavitt, the first female fighter pilot, are among the visuals under scrutiny for removal. The database, comprising thousands of flagged images, is being managed to comply with federal archival regulations.
The broader context of this purge lies in the Trump administration’s stance on DEI programs, which it views as divisive and detrimental to military cohesion and efficiency. The removal of diverse content from military platforms reflects a shift in policy priorities and a reevaluation of how historical achievements and diversity initiatives are portrayed within the armed forces.
As the Pentagon continues its efforts to eliminate DEI content, the implications of this purge extend beyond mere image deletion, raising questions about the preservation of diversity narratives, historical representations, and the ongoing evolution of inclusivity within the US military.
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