TUCKER Hegseth’s photo purge threatens history, veterans’ legacies

On Feb. 26, the Pentagon ordered all website postings, photos, articles and videos deemed to be promotions of diversity, equity and inclusion be identified and deleted. The confused and haphazard purge thus far has flagged approximately 26,000 photos including the Tuskegee Airmen, a Medal of Honor recipient, female pilots aboard a C-17, a trans veteran, a Marine at a Vietnamese celebration, and even the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb in WWII. That plane was named the Enola Gay, after the pilot’s mother, and the name “Gay” tripped the censors.

The Associated Press reported all of this in its article “War heroes and military firsts are among 26,000 images flagged for removal in Pentagon’s DEI purge.” There’s some debate whether historical value will save some at-risk database photos. When factoring in social media accounts and websites connected to the military, up to 100,000 photos may be at risk.

I’m enraged.

I’m a child of the 9/11 era. Women from across Central Illinois joined the 1544th Transportation Company. Two died in the line of duty in 2004: Sgt. Shawna Morrison and Sgt. Jessica Cawvey. Morrison was from my hometown of Paris, Illinois, and the whole city mourned. Children and teens now play on a baseball diamond named in her honor.

The Poplar Bluff Museum is full of heroic women and men of the armed forces. I touched on the story of Pfc. Famous Lane in our Salute to Veterans edition — a Black soldier who sacrificed his life to carry two wounded comrades out of an ambush. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

These are only two of many, many deceased heroes whose legacies are insulted by the Pentagon’s actions, and I cannot imagine the grief and anger of active soldiers and veterans who find their photos disappearing from military websites and accounts.

The orders came from the top: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Am I surprised a man who vocally disparaged female soldiers and declared “DEI is dead” would order a mass redaction of military history? No. But I’m shocked and horrified it’s being carried out.

Diversity, equity and inclusion aren’t bad words. I think it’s a deeply American goal to build a system that elevates everyone to the same playing field. Please remember this as a man who’s never faced discrimination wipes away the faces of those who have, and yet served their country boldly.

And call your representatives.

Samantha Tucker is the assistant editor of the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at stucker@darnews.com.