Jackie Robinson’s Military Service Story Briefly Removed from DoD Website Amidst DEI Concerns

A feature story celebrating Jackie Robinson’s military service, a piece highlighting his contributions during World War II, was temporarily removed from the Department of Defense’s (DoD) website on Tuesday, sparking questions and controversy. The story, which details Robinson’s service as a second lieutenant before his historic breaking of Major League Baseball’s color barrier, was restored to the website on Wednesday afternoon.

The initial removal and subsequent restoration have ignited debate surrounding the DoD’s recent directives regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) content. Adding fuel to the fire, the new URL for the story, while it was temporarily inaccessible, reportedly included the letters "dei," further raising suspicions about the motivations behind the initial removal.

The story, titled "Sports Heroes Who Served: Baseball Great Jackie Robinson Was WWII Soldier," was originally published on February 9, 2021, and written by David Vergun. It is part of a series that highlights the military service of prominent athletes, including Bob Feller, Hoyt Wilhelm, Bob Uecker, and others. The series aimed to showcase the patriotism and dedication of these individuals who served their country in uniform.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon for clarification regarding the removal of the Jackie Robinson story and the inclusion of "dei" in the URL. The news outlet sought to determine whether these actions were intentional and related to the DoD’s recent stance on DEI initiatives.

While the Pentagon did not directly address whether the removal and URL inclusion were deliberate, Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot issued a statement to Fox News Digital before the story’s restoration. The statement emphasized the DoD’s respect for Jackie Robinson and other prominent figures who served in the military.

"Everyone at the Defense Department loves Jackie Robinson, as well as the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee airmen, the Marines at Iwo Jima and so many others – we salute them for their strong and in many cases heroic service to our country, full stop," Ullyot stated. "We do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, or sex. We do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission like ever other American who has worn the uniform."

Ullyot’s statement then took a sharp turn, directly addressing the issue of DEI. "DEI — Discriminatory Equity Ideology does the opposite. It is a form of Woke cultural Marxism that Divides the force, Erodes unit cohesion and Interferes with the services’ core warfighting mission. We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms. In the rare cases that content is removed — either deliberately or by mistake — that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the components and they correct the content so it recognizes our heroes for their dedicated service alongside their fellow Americans, period."

The statement implies that the DoD views DEI initiatives as divisive and detrimental to military cohesion and effectiveness. It also suggests that the removal of the Jackie Robinson story, if intentional, was a mistake rectified to ensure the recognition of his service alongside his fellow Americans, without focusing on his race.

When pressed again about whether the removal and URL inclusion were intentional, the Pentagon declined to comment further.

In a separate statement to ESPN, Ullyot declared that "DEI is dead at the Defense Department. Discriminatory Equity Ideology is a form of Woke cultural Marxism that has no place in our military." This statement reinforces the DoD’s strong stance against DEI initiatives and suggests a desire to eliminate them from the military’s culture and practices.

The controversy stems from a recent Pentagon directive calling for a "digital content refresh" aimed at "remove and archive DoD news articles, photos, and videos promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)." This directive signaled a significant shift in the DoD’s approach to DEI, raising concerns among some about the potential erasure of important historical narratives and the impact on diversity efforts within the military.

Jackie Robinson’s story is particularly sensitive, given his groundbreaking role in breaking the color barrier in baseball and his broader impact on civil rights. His military service, often overshadowed by his baseball career, is an important part of his legacy. Robinson was drafted into the military five years before his historic debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He served as a second lieutenant during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1944. His number 42 was retired throughout baseball in 1997, a testament to his enduring legacy and impact.

The incident involving the Jackie Robinson story has sparked broader conversations about the role of DEI in the military, the importance of preserving historical narratives, and the balance between promoting inclusivity and fostering unit cohesion. The DoD’s actions have been met with both support and criticism, highlighting the complex and sensitive nature of these issues.

It’s important to note that former President Trump had announced plans to build a statue of Robinson, along with Muhammad Ali and Kobe Bryant, in the National Garden of American Heroes. This announcement further underscores the broad recognition of Robinson’s importance as an American icon and a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity.