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The US Department of Defense has removed the webpage honouring Army Major General Charles Calvin Rogers, a Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Vietnam War.
The page now redirects to a “404” error, and the URL has been altered, with the word “medal” replaced by “deimedal.”
Rogers, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970 by President Richard Nixon for his bravery during the Vietnam War, was the highest-ranking African American to receive the prestigious award.
He was wounded three times while leading the defence of a military base. After his death in 1990, Rogers was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and a bridge in his home state of West Virginia was renamed in his honour.
The removal of the webpage coincides with a change in the website’s address, where the word “medal” was replaced with “deimedal,” with the addition of the letters “DEI” in the URL.
The letters “DEI” stand for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a policy that has been increasingly rolled back under the current US administration. A “404 – Page Not Found” message now appears when visitors attempt to access the page for Charles Rogers.
A screenshot posted by writer Brandon Friedman on Bluesky revealed that a Google preview of the profile displayed the words “Army Maj Gen Charles Calvin Rogers served through all of it. As a Black man, he worked for gender and race equality while in the service.”
This page had been available until the changes were made.
The Defence Department has not provided a public statement about the removal of the webpage.
The decision comes amid broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the presence of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programmes within the federal government.
Trump has made a concerted effort to roll back these initiatives, which have been a point of contention in the broader political landscape.
This move follows Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI policies, including those related to diversity and inclusion within government institutions.
In a recent victory for the administration, an appeals court lifted a block on Trump’s efforts to end federal support for DEI programmes.
Rogers, a prominent figure in the history of African American military service, was honoured by various communities during his lifetime and posthumously. His service in the Vietnam War, where he saved countless lives under intense enemy fire, remains a crucial part of US military history.
The removal of his page adds to concerns over the treatment of the legacy of African American service members amid shifting national priorities.
The removal of the webpage is now sparking public discussion, especially considering the historical significance of Rogers’ contributions to the military and the ongoing debate around DEI policies.
