Charles Rogers, a distinguished late Army veteran, has recently gained attention online after his name was temporarily erased from the Department of Defense website. This incident is believed to align with the current administration’s attempts to diminish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a move that has arisen during Donald Trump’s administration.
On March 15, 2025, the web page dedicated to Charles Rogers, an African-American general and Medal of Honor recipient, displayed a 404 error as the URL reportedly shifted from ‘medal’ to ‘DEImedal.’
This controversy was highlighted when writer Brandon Friedman posted a screenshot on the social media platform Bluesky, revealing a Google search entry from November 1, 2021, which linked to the Department of Defense webpage.
“Medal of Honor Monday: Army Maj Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers. 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,” the entry’s Google preview read.
In response to this alarming development, Friedman commented:
“This is blood-boiling. Charles Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam after being wounded three times leading the defense of a position. Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you’ll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include ‘DEI medal.'”
As Friedman noted, access to the webpage that previously showcased Rogers’ name and image was intermittently blocked, displaying a message indicating that “the page you are looking for might have been moved, renamed, or may be temporarily unavailable,” according to The Guardian. Fortunately, the page has since been restored, allowing visitors to view the information about Charles Rogers once again.
Understanding Charles Rogers and the DEI Debate
Charles Calvin Rogers was a notable U.S. Army general and lieutenant colonel who valiantly served during the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts.
He became the highest-ranking Black officer to receive this esteemed award from President Richard Nixon in 1970, recognizing his brave actions near the Cambodian border on November 1, 1968, as detailed by the West Virginia Hall of Fame.
During his military career, Rogers commanded the 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery Regiment in Vietnam, where he played a pivotal role in defending Fire Support Base Rita in 1968. His service was marked by multiple injuries sustained in combat.
Born to a coal miner in Claremont, Fayette County, Virginia, Rogers passed away in 1990. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. To honor his contributions, a bridge in his hometown was named the Charles C. Rogers Bridge in 1999, symbolizing his enduring legacy.
In recent months, following Donald Trump’s re-election for a second term, there has been a noticeable rollback of DEI initiatives across various branches of the federal government. A recent ruling lifted a ban on executive orders aimed at these changes, revealing the ongoing tension surrounding inclusivity efforts within the government.