PHOENIX (AP) — The Pentagon has reinstated webpages highlighting the significant wartime contributions of Navajo Code Talkers and other Native American veterans after facing backlash from tribes. The removal of the content was part of a broader effort to eliminate military material promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) following President Donald Trump’s executive order on ending such programs. The Defense Department mistakenly deleted pages honoring women and minority groups, including the Navajo Code Talkers’ material.
Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot stated, “In cases where content is removed erroneously, we correct the material to honor our heroes for their dedicated service.” Some webpages on the Code Talkers were initially inaccessible but have since been restored. However, pages referencing Native American Heritage Month remain offline, along with thousands of other deleted DEI-related pages.
The Navajo Nation was informed by White House officials that an automated review process aimed at DEI content removal led to the elimination of any mention of “Navajo.” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed satisfaction with the resolution, emphasizing the importance of preserving the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers. Nygren highlighted the sovereignty of federally recognized tribes and their distinct identities beyond DEI classifications.
During World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps enlisted 29 Navajo men to create a code using the Navajo language, which proved vital in transmitting secure messages. The Code Talkers’ contributions were pivotal in the Pacific theater, aiding in decoding Japanese communications. Hundreds of Native Americans from various tribes served as code talkers in both World War I and World War II, playing crucial roles in military operations.
Peter MacDonald, one of the two surviving Navajo Code Talkers, expressed concern over the missing webpages, underscoring the significance of their code as a powerful wartime tool.
“Not only did the Navajo Code Talkers help save hundreds of thousands of soldiers and contribute to winning the war in the Pacific,” MacDonald explained during a phone call from his residence in Tuba City, located in the Arizona section of the Navajo Nation. “This achievement has nothing to do with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).” MacDonald, a Republican who supported Trump, believes the current administration should balance eliminating DEI initiatives while acknowledging historical events. “I am concerned about the communication from the Pentagon to military units. It is crucial to educate that this information represents history, and it should not be concealed,” MacDonald emphasized.
The Defense Department has faced criticism for appearing to overlook the historical accomplishments of servicemen and women of color. In addition to the Code Talkers, the agency recently reinstated a webpage detailing Jackie Robinson’s military service and honored a Black Medal of Honor recipient and Japanese American service members. Ullyot from the Defense Department stated, “We deeply respect individuals like Jackie Robinson, Navajo Code Talkers, Tuskegee Airmen, and Marines at Iwo Jima for their significant and, in many cases, heroic contributions to our nation. We honor their service without focusing on their race, ethnicity, or gender.”
Michael Smith, whose father was a Navajo Code Talker, questioned the removal of these pages. “Removing the Navajo Code Talkers from the Defense Department website does not align with the president’s directive or save money,” Smith remarked. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona also voiced disappointment over missing content related to all Native American veterans, including Ira Hayes, a member of the community and one of the Marines in the iconic 1945 photograph from the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Despite some content being restored, concerns remain about the removal of web content being just the beginning. Smith expressed doubts about the language used in the executive order, suggesting that it unfairly portrays diversity programs as unethical.
