The Unerasables

On 20 January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14151, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” aimed at eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government. This order mandated the termination of DEI programs, offices, and positions across federal agencies, asserting such initiatives led to illegal and immoral discrimination.

The implementation of this executive order had significant repercussions, particularly within the Department of Defense (DoD). The Pentagon initiated a comprehensive review of its materials, resulting in the removal of content highlighting the contributions of minority servicemembers. Notable figures and groups affected included General Colin Powell, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Navajo Code Talkers, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (comprising Japanese American soldiers), the Harlem Hellfighters, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Philippine Scouts, the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, and Mexican American Medal of Honor recipients. These actions were part of a broader effort to eradicate DEI related content perceived as promoting “wokeness” within the military.

The removal of these historical references sparked widespread criticism from veterans, civil rights advocates, and members of Congress, who argued it amounted to an erasure of the significant contributions made by minority servicemembers. In response to public outcry, the Pentagon restored some of the removed content, such as tributes to the Navajo Code Talkers and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. However, the overarching policy to eliminate DEI initiatives remained in effect, reflecting a significant shift in how the U.S. military acknowledges and honors its diverse history.

Overall, President Trump’s executive order marked a substantial policy shift, aiming to dismantle DEI frameworks within the federal government and its associated entities, including the military, thereby altering the recognition and celebration of contributions from diverse groups in U.S. history.

I created this book as an attempt to acknowledge and to keep the names of some of the many diverse Americans who in their own way helped build, defend and support American democracy years before President Trump. While there are literally thousands of Americans that could be included in this book, unfortunately due to space and limited resources I could only include as fair a sampling as I could of these brave and patriotic men and women.

Use this book as a testament; that honor, intelligence, integrity, ability and achievement know no color or gender. That any child and young adult has the potential to do great things. They don’t have to look to fiction for a role model as there are many real life role models throughout history and here today.

In knowing them, through the pages of this book and others like it, they are,

The Unerasables.