A story highlighting Jackie Robinson’s time in the United States Army and Air Force has been reinstated on the Department of Defense’s website less than 24 hours after its removal sparked widespread backlash.
As previously reported, Robinson’s military service record was erased as part of the Pentagon’s sweeping directive to eliminate content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. However, after intense public scrutiny, the story quietly reappeared on the DoD’s official website Wednesday afternoon.
Before the reinstatement, TMZ Sports pressed Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot for clarification, and he suggested the removal had been an unintended mistake.
“In the rare cases that content is removed, either deliberately or by mistake, that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct the components and they correct the content accordingly.”
In a follow-up statement, Ullyot attempted to reaffirm Robinson’s importance, saying:
“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 to our country, full stop.”
Shortly after, Robinson’s military story was fully restored.
While Jackie Robinson’s impact on baseball is widely known, his military service remains an essential part of his legacy. Drafted into the military in 1942, Robinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in January 1943. He was later assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he joined the 761st “Black Panthers” tank battalion, an all-Black combat unit that would go on to make history in World War II. His service, however, was marked by the same racial discrimination he later fought against in baseball. In one of the most well-documented moments of his military career, Robinson was court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a segregated military bus. Though he was acquitted, the incident prevented him from deploying overseas.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Pentagon’s handling of his military history, Robinson remains one of America’s most revered figures. While President Donald Trump has not publicly commented on the situation, he has expressed admiration for Robinson in the past. In February, Trump announced plans to honor the baseball legend with a Jackie Robinson statue in the proposed National Garden of American Heroes.
With Robinson’s story now back in its rightful place, the incident serves as a reminder of both his contributions to American history and the ongoing battle over how that history is recognized. Just as he did on the field, Jackie Robinson’s legacy continues to stand tall, regardless of the challenges it faces.