Pentagon Temporarily Pulls Jackie Robinson Military Service Story Amid DEI Controversy

A story celebrating Jackie Robinson’s military service was briefly removed from the Department of Defense's website, sparking questions and raising eyebrows over the inclusion of "DEI" in the story's URL. The feature was restored on Wednesday afternoon after its mysterious disappearance.

The piece, titled "Sports Heroes Who Served: Baseball Great Jackie Robinson Was WWII Soldier," originally published in February 2021, detailed Robinson’s service as a second lieutenant during World War II. It was part of a series highlighting the military contributions of sports icons like Bob Feller and Hoyt Wilhelm.

However, when the story was taken down, the new URL containing the letters "DEI" redirected users to a 404 error page. DEI, shorthand for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, has been a controversial topic in military circles lately. Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot released a statement addressing the incident but declined to clarify whether the removal and the "DEI" reference were intentional.

Ullyot's statement emphasized, "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." He added that DEI, which he described as "Discriminatory Equity Ideology," undermines unity and the military's mission, dubbing it "Woke cultural Marxism." The Pentagon recently ordered a "digital content refresh" to remove content promoting DEI from its platforms.

Jackie Robinson’s military career predated his historic breaking of Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Drafted in 1942, he served until 1944, earning an honorable discharge. The legendary No. 42 remains a symbol of courage and progress, retired across all of baseball in 1997.

This incident follows broader debates within the military about the role of DEI initiatives and their potential impact on cohesion. While the Pentagon restored the article, it avoided direct answers to questions about the intentionality of the removal and URL changes.

In a separate statement to ESPN, Ullyot doubled down, declaring, "DEI is dead at the Defense Department. Discriminatory Equity Ideology is a form of Woke cultural Marxism that has no place in our military." The Pentagon’s stance signals a broader shift in its approach to these issues, but the timing and execution of this digital refresh leave room for speculation.

Jackie Robinson continues to inspire generations, not just for his groundbreaking sports career but also for his service to the nation. Former President Donald Trump even announced plans for a statue of Robinson in the National Garden of American Heroes, alongside tributes to Muhammad Ali and Kobe Bryant.