The headline from the Associated Press was enough to make anyone’s head hurt: War heroes and military firsts are among 26,000 images flagged for removal in Pentagon’s DEI purge. The level of insult to the men and women who’ve served our country is incomprehensible. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given the military until Wednesday to remove content that highlights diversity efforts in its ranks following President Felonious Punk’s executive order ending those programs across the federal government. According to one anonymous source within the Pentagon, the total number of images removed could exceed 100,000.
Understand, this is history that is being removed. These people actually lived, served, and many died in the defense of the United States and now we’re going to dishonor their memory by removing any visual record of them?
Among the items listed to be removed include pictures of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that carried the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan during WWII. Photographs of war heroes, the Tuskegee Airmen, the first women graduating boot camp, photos of the integration of troops, and others of women and people of color, all of whom served with honor, are among those in a database obtained by AP that are slated for removal.
Deleting photographs of historical value is insane. It leads to an irreversible loss of primary source material, diminishes our understanding of history, erodes cultural heritage, impacts personal and family memories, and opens the door to manipulation of the historical record. Preserving historical photographs is crucial for maintaining an accurate, nuanced, and complete understanding of the past and for connecting with our shared human story.
Stop and think about the severity of history rewritten without these images! There seems to be little question that the removal of these images is an attempt to control the stories told of US history. By controlling which visual records of the past are available, it becomes easier to control the dominant narrative and shape public understanding of history in a biased way.
Once photographs are gone, it becomes significantly more difficult, if not impossible, to reconstruct the visual record of the past. This can hinder historical research, educational efforts, and cultural preservation initiatives. Many of these images were shot on old film and the negatives are no longer available. Removing historical photographs deprives future generations of the opportunity to learn from and connect with the past through these valuable visual resources.
Using the database provided by AP, here are some of the historical images we were able to download for preservation. Many of the images in the database have already been deleted.
Capt. Anneliese Satz conducts pre-flight checks prior to a training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, March 11. Satz graduated the F-35B Lighting II Pilot Training Program June and will be assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in Iwakuni, Japan.
First Lt. Alisa Sieber, a pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 and a San Diego native, smiles as she gives an interview aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 9.
Female veterans and active duty and future Marines were united March, 11, 2016 by the Women’s Marine Association to recognize Women’s History Month and celebrate the 73rd anniversary of proudly serving in the Marine Corps.
A total of 158 Vietnamese people, including Lt. Col Lan Dalat’s family, who escaped from Vietnam sail in the South China Sea.
Christina Johnson, Marine Veteran and project manager for the National Museum of the Marine Corps, stands in front of the Marine Corps Embassy Security Guard section of the museum in Triangle, Va. Johnson’s role as project manager is to ensure that the team meets deadlines for events and exhibits currently being constructed.
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Jason Woodworth, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, poses for a photo with Philip Nguyen and Thu Ha Anders, volunteers for the Vietnamese culture display table, during a multi-cultural day celebration at the 11 area Marine Corps Exchange Food and Service Plaza Pavilion on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 30, 2023. Diversity Celebration Day was created to celebrate all of the Department of Defense approved observances that are recognized throughout the year. Woodworth is a native of Suffield, Connecticut.
The Ballet Folklorico de Mexicano Okinawa performs for U.S. service members and civilians during the 23rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month observance during a celebration at Camp Kinser’s Surfside ballroom, Oct. 15. The ballet performed several dances to honor culture and entertain the audience here.
Major Eric Young, commanding officer of 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, is presented with the battalion’s battle colors by Col. Michael M. Sweeney, commanding officer of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, during 2nd LEB’s activation ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 26. The battalion will be a force multiplier to the operating forces by assisting in a variety of missions that include law enforcement, route regulation, humanitarian assistance, nonlethal weapons training and military working dog employment.
Dr. Valerie Martin-Stewart, engineer, author, minister and former professional basketball player, speaks to Quantico personnel about overcoming internal barriers to success March 27 at The Clubs at Quantico.
Cpl. Matthew Kissel, crew chief with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, explains the mechanized turret functions of the AAVP7A1 Armored Personnel Carrier to military dignitaries from Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda during their tour of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, March 11. The dignitaries’ two-day visit to Camp Lejeune is part of a three-base amphibious familiarization tour, learning amphibious assault techniques and observing various training exercises.
All of the images above are in the public domain. Captions are provided by the United States Marine Corps and not edited.
