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Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
A top Green Beret influencer says he exaggerated his war story. The US military is investigating, and vets see a deeper problem.
Tim Kennedy, a Green Beret, former MMA fighter, and a recognizable figure in today's "Vet Bro" influencer culture, revealed this week that he had wrongly implied that he received a military award reserved only for battlefield bravery. The military is investigating. The award in question, a Bronze Star, was instead bestowed for commendable work performance, and not specifically courage during combat, a seemingly minor yet significant distinction for service members. The revelation has sparked backlash among veterans amid concerns that the damage of such exaggerations potentially goes beyond an overstated military service record. Kennedy has legions of online followers, and his ties to leading political circles have made him an increasingly influential figure. As veterans increasingly build personal brands on combat credibility, Kennedy's controversy highlights a deeper cultural rift, with tension between the trust society puts in vets, especially elite special operators, and the gray areas of self-promotion. While outright stolen valor has become much rarer than it once was, embellishments and inflated service claims have become more common in the influencer era, raising questions about accountability, authenticity, and the public's willingness to scrutinize military figures. Kennedy, a senior Green Beret with the Maryland National Guard, released a statement on social media Tuesday night in which he said that he "unintentionally misstated aspects" of his military service, that he "implied directly or indirectly" that he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor. "I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise," he said. "I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did," the statement continued. "From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect." A Bronze Star can be bestowed upon US troops for "merit" during wartime operations, not only battlefield "valor." Such merit could, for example, also be provided to support personnel or combat troops for noteworthy service absent heroics. The award with "valor" is usually considered much weightier than the meritorious version, which was commonly bestowed to troops throughout the wars. I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake. Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the… — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 9, 2025 Kennedy has previously pushed back against other veterans' pointed criticisms regarding his service record, saying "it's totally hypocritical and intellectually dishonest to be pretending that you're on the moral high ground and then misrepresenting facts, lying, paraphrasing, and then taking things out of context." Kennedy said that such scrutiny of his record likely generated lucrative traffic for podcasts critical of him. A copy of Kennedy's Bronze Star award citation provided to Business Insider Wednesday morning, weeks after BI submitted a public records request seeking Kennedy's award documents, reflects that the award was bestowed for "unmatched competence and sound judgement" for planning and executing combat operations in Iraq in 2006. "The Maryland National Guard takes these matters seriously," said unit spokesman Maj. Benjamin Hughes in a statement to BI Thursday morning. "Integrity is a core value of our organization, so an investigation is currently underway to review the facts surrounding these public misstatements." BI reached out to three companies associated with Kennedy, as well as his emails and social media accounts, seeking comment but did not receive a response. A personal phone number for Kennedy was not immediately available. "Vet Bro" influence Kennedy's statement on his service record comes as he has experienced a seemingly meteoric rise within the inner circles of Washington's elite. Over the past few months, he has appeared in the Oval Office and been seen hobnobbing with political leaders, including VA Secretary Dan Driscoll, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other Beltway heavyweights. He is a top figure in today's "Vet Bro" culture, a post- Global War on Terror network of veterans, predominantly white, male special operators, which emerged around a decade ago. As the wars started to wind down and social media took over, many vets found the platforms to be a profitable way to promote businesses, memoirs, and podcasts. Some Vet Bros, a term which some veterans find unfair, often see the world through the lens of their experiences in the military and promote things like gun culture, the protective "sheepdog" mentality, and immature or raunchy humor. That sometimes comes with service-related embellishment. "A big problem right now is that the average veteran doesn't feel heard," said Chris Jachimiec, a veteran suicide prevention consultant and retired Air Force veteran who hopes to see service more normalized to the point where people don't feel compelled to embellish it. Some veterans are "reluctant to tell their normal story," he said. "It's like, 'Yeah, I fixed aircraft for 20 years.'" It's a mundane but critical job, even if it lacks the appeal of special operations. Such misrepresentations can fuel the widening civil-military divide, the physical and experiential chasm between troops and regular Americans whose understanding of the armed forces is on the decline. Hollywood depictions of military service are often confined to the actions of special operators, ignoring other forms of service. Embellishment from high-profile vets may reinforce unrealistic narratives of service. Kennedy's proclamations of battlefield heroism have embroiled the online veteran community for months. As wars abroad have wound down, blatant stolen valor, in which someone may fabricate a career or misrepresent their own heroism, as Kennedy indicated he did, is less commonly seen, compared to more common discreet embellishments that would only be easily apparent to a trained eye. But for both, the impact of such misstatements can run deep, leading many veterans to fight them aggressively. Accountability "If veterans don't hold veterans accountable, then we absolutely will lose the respect that honestly we've fought really hard to earn," Brent Tucker, a former Army Delta Force soldier and podcast host, told Business Insider. Tucker's podcast has previously come under fire by other vets for criticizing Kennedy's claims. Ideally, vets, especially special operators, would never need to be questioned, Tucker said. But with thousands, sometimes millions, of followers and money from influencing and entrepreneurship at stake, skepticism is warranted. Kennedy is affiliated with multiple companies, including one that offers Tim Kennedy action figures for $50. Another, "Apogee Strong," appears to be a franchise of homeschooling operations currently caught up in a lawsuit for intellectual property theft. Attempts to reach the attorney defending Kennedy's school program were unsuccessful. The instant credibility often afforded to famous vets of the "all-volunteer force" has become a thorny topic, leading to a problematic pedestal and sometimes not-entirely-merited access to levers of influence and power. Relying on military service isn't just routine for influencers, but also for prospective lawmakers running for office, said Katherine Kuzminski, director of studies at the Center for a New American Security. Touting a service record shows voters that a candidate has a service-oriented mindset. Political news outlet NOTUS investigated the Bronze Star paperwork for Florida Rep. Cory Mills, citing soldiers named in his documents who did not recall him being part of the "extraordinary heroism" that earned him the award. Former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, and other veteran politicians have also faced other criticisms related to misleading statements. "It says, like, 'Hey, I know what it means to serve, I have a skill set, I've done something rare, and you should trust me," said Kuzminski, an expert on US military veterans and society. She added that such sentiments often have plenty of truth. But in an era of dwindling pools of people with any military affiliation, there's often an incorrect assumption among Americans that veterans, perhaps particularly those with numerous social media followers, are qualified for everything. Such assumptions, she said, may include dissuading civilians from questioning vets at all. "It shouldn't mask the responsibility to dig a level deeper," she said.
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
A top Green Beret influencer says he exaggerated his war story. Vets see a deeper problem.
Tim Kennedy, a Green Beret, former MMA fighter, and a recognizable figure in today's "Vet Bro" influencer culture, revealed this week that he had wrongly implied that he received a military award reserved only for battlefield bravery. The award in question, a Bronze Star, was instead bestowed for commendable work performance, and not specifically courage during combat, a seemingly minor yet significant distinction for service members. The revelation has sparked backlash among veterans amid concerns that the damage of such exaggerations potentially goes beyond an overstated military service record. Kennedy has legions of online followers, and his ties to leading political circles have made him an increasingly influential figure. As veterans increasingly build personal brands on combat credibility, Kennedy's controversy highlights a deeper cultural rift, with tension between the trust society puts in vets, especially elite special operators, and the gray areas of self-promotion. While outright stolen valor has become much rarer than it once was, embellishments and inflated service claims have become more common in the influencer era, raising questions about accountability, authenticity, and the public's willingness to scrutinize military figures. Kennedy, a senior Green Beret with the Maryland National Guard, released a statement on social media Tuesday night in which he said that he "unintentionally misstated aspects" of his military service, that he "implied directly or indirectly" that he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor. "I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise," he said. "I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did," the statement continued. "From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect." A Bronze Star can be bestowed upon US troops for "merit" during wartime operations, not only battlefield "valor." Such merit could, for example, also be provided to support personnel or combat troops for noteworthy service absent heroics. I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake. Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the… — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 9, 2025 Kennedy has previously pushed back against other veterans' pointed criticisms regarding his service record, saying "it's totally hypocritical and intellectually dishonest to be pretending that you're on the moral high ground and then misrepresenting facts, lying, paraphrasing, and then taking things out of context." Kennedy said that such scrutiny of his record likely generated lucrative traffic for podcasts critical of him. A copy of Kennedy's Bronze Star award citation provided to Business Insider Wednesday morning, weeks after BI submitted a public records request seeking Kennedy's award documents, reflects that the award was bestowed for "unmatched competence and sound judgement" for planning and executing combat operations in Iraq in 2006. Army officials told BI they could not provide any additional information regarding Kennedy's post. BI reached out to three companies associated with Kennedy, as well as his emails and social media accounts, seeking comment but did not receive a response. A personal phone number for Kennedy was not immediately available. "Vet Bro" influence Kennedy's statement on his service record comes as he has experienced a seemingly meteoric rise within the inner circles of Washington's elite. Over the past few months, he has appeared in the Oval Office and been seen hobnobbing with political leaders, including VA Secretary Dan Driscoll, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other Beltway heavyweights. He is a top figure in today's "Vet Bro" culture, a post-Global War on Terror network of veterans, predominantly white, male special operators, which emerged around a decade ago. As the wars started to wind down and social media took over, many vets found the platforms to be a profitable way to promote businesses, memoirs, and podcasts. Some Vet Bros, a term which some veterans find unfair, often see the world through the lens of their experiences in the military and promote things like gun culture, the protective "sheepdog" mentality, and immature or raunchy humor. That sometimes comes with service-related embellishment. "A big problem right now is that the average veteran doesn't feel heard," said Chris Jachimiec, a veteran suicide prevention consultant and retired Air Force veteran who hopes to see service more normalized to the point where people don't feel compelled to embellish it. Some veterans are "reluctant to tell their normal story," he said. "It's like, 'Yeah, I fixed aircraft for 20 years.'" It's a mundane but critical job, even if it lacks the appeal of special operations. Such misrepresentations can fuel the widening civil-military divide, the physical and experiential chasm between troops and regular Americans whose understanding of the armed forces is on the decline. Hollywood depictions of military service are often confined to the actions of special operators, ignoring other forms of service. Embellishment from high-profile vets may reinforce unrealistic narratives of service. Kennedy's proclamations of battlefield heroism have embroiled the online veteran community for months. As wars abroad have wound down, blatant stolen valor, in which someone may fabricate a career or misrepresent their own heroism, as Kennedy indicated he did, is less commonly seen, compared to more common discreet embellishments that would only be easily apparent to a trained eye. But for both, the impact of such misstatements can run deep, leading many veterans to fight them aggressively. Accountability "If veterans don't hold veterans accountable, then we absolutely will lose the respect that honestly we've fought really hard to earn," Brent Tucker, a former Army Delta Force soldier and podcast host, told Business Insider. Tucker's podcast has previously come under fire by other vets for criticizing Kennedy's claims. Ideally, vets, especially special operators, would never need to be questioned, Tucker said. But with thousands, sometimes millions, of followers and money from influencing and entrepreneurship at stake, skepticism is warranted. Kennedy is affiliated with multiple companies, including one that offers Tim Kennedy action figures for $50. Another, "Apogee Strong," appears to be a franchise of homeschooling operations currently caught up in a lawsuit for intellectual property theft. Attempts to reach the attorney defending Kennedy's school program were unsuccessful. The instant credibility often afforded to famous vets of the "all-volunteer force" has become a thorny topic, leading to a problematic pedestal and sometimes not-entirely-merited access to levers of influence and power. Relying on military service isn't just routine for influencers, but also for prospective lawmakers running for office, said Katherine Kuzminski, director of studies at the Center for a New American Security. Touting a service record shows voters that a candidate has a service-oriented mindset. Political news outlet NOTUS investigated the Bronze Star paperwork for Florida Rep. Cory Mills, citing soldiers named in his documents who did not recall him being part of the "extraordinary heroism" that earned him the award. Former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, and other veteran politicians have also faced other criticisms related to misleading statements. "It says, like, 'Hey, I know what it means to serve, I have a skill set, I've done something rare, and you should trust me," said Kuzminski, an expert on US military veterans and society. She added that such sentiments often have plenty of truth. But in an era of dwindling pools of people with any military affiliation, there's often an incorrect assumption among Americans that veterans, perhaps particularly those with numerous social media followers, are qualified for everything. Such assumptions, she said, may include dissuading civilians from questioning vets at all. "It shouldn't mask the responsibility to dig a level deeper," she said.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day ceremony at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens
The 58th annual Memorial Day ceremony at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium on Monday paid tribute to fallen service members with ties to Maryland, honoring U.S. Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States of America. Upon receiving to honor Specialist Jacob W. Mullen who died at 25 years old, his mother Linda Mullen weeps while consoled by Major General Janeen L. Birckhead, Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ternell Fisher of Towson, retired from the U.S. Navy is silhouetted in front of flags placed on the graves in background while listening to speakers during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A wreath is carried by members with the U.S. Marines to place in honor of Marylanders who died in Vietnam and Iraq who are buried in and around the Circle of the Immortals, and for four Maryland MIAs, during the annual Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Three generations of family sit together, with Margaret Arnold, left reaching out to granddaughter Layomi Adedeji 16, as she lays her head on the shoulder of her mother Nicole Arnold while they honor Army P.F.C. Charles M. Hyman, who died on June 8, 2024 at 33 years old during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A wreath is carried by members with the U.S. Marines to place in honor of Marylanders who died in Vietnam and Iraq who are buried in and around the Circle of the Immortals, and for four Maryland MIAs, during the annual Memorial Day Observance at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Members of the U.S. Marines hold the Colors during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Spectators watch the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Spectators watch a rifle volley during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Liam Abbey, 15 of Rising Sun, a member with the u.S. Naval Sea Cadets looks up as the Star-Spangled Banner is played during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Linda Willey, a Gold Star Mother accepts the Loved and Lost presentation honoring Staff Sergeant Sean A. Lange, who died on Aug. 25, 2024 which is given by Major General Janeen L. Birkhead, the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) From left, Jaheim Brown, lower left, Charles Griffin, Tenessa Davenport, Malik Brown and William Brown mourn the loss of Specialist William T. Brown III, who was 30 years old when he died, during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Colors are carried during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Major General Janeen L. Birkhead, the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard speaks during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Relatives and friends of the ten Marylanders who lost their lives in service to the nation sit together during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A slow shutter speed reveals movement as members of the 229th Army Band play while marching past graves adorned with small flags during the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Show Caption1 of 16The Colors are advanced past small flags which rise from graves at the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Circle of Immortals, inside Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Their Relatives Were Black Heroes. They Fear the Military Won't Celebrate Their Stories Anymore.
When Tarence Bailey Sr. received a formal memo from the Maryland National Guard declining to support a celebration for Frederick Douglass on Saturday, it felt personal. Not only because Bailey is a descendant of the famous abolitionist, but he is also a veteran who served for 10 years as an enlisted Guardsman with the same reserve component. Douglass' importance to the civil rights movement is well known, but he was also one of the military's most prominent recruiters, helping to grow the ranks of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was one of the first Black units to fight in the Civil War. The Maryland National Guard, along with an honorary living history unit from that same Massachusetts regiment rallied by Douglass more than 160 years ago, were ultimately barred earlier this month from participating in the famous orator's birthday. Pentagon guidance under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth -- and President Donald Trump -- now orders that the military "must decline events" that celebrate "individuals based all or in part on immutable characteristics." Read Next: USS Truman Commander Fired After Collision with Merchant Ship near Suez Canal "For them to say, you know, we're not celebrating that pretty much because he's Black, and it's Black History month -- he's a patriot," Bailey told in an interview. "He's a patriot first, and his whole family are patriots first." Bailey's frustrations aren't unique. Those concerns have grown and are now shared by several relatives of famous Black military figures who spoke with in interviews. They fear that, due to Hegseth's directions under the guidance of Trump's executive orders, their personal family histories and their sacrifices and contributions may be taken out of public view and praise. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to restore the names of military bases back to those of Confederate generals. Hegseth signed a memo reverting Fort Liberty to the name of Fort Bragg. While originally named for Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, the defense secretary instead named it for a service member with the same last name. Trump promised to rid the military of what he deemed "woke" policies, which led Hegseth to issue the memo declaring celebrations of identity months -- such as Black History month in February -- as "dead." Early into his tenure, Hegseth, after ordering a review of any material that may have promoted diversity, paused lessons related to the historic Tuskegee Airmen. Following public outcry, including from Republican lawmakers, the defense secretary reversed course and made sure the lessons remained, although reportedly not all of the curriculum was added back. Relatives of Black historic figures said the Defense Department's present efforts are aiming to sideline many of those past stories they grew up hearing about their loved ones, and they fear that it will be the military itself that will ultimately suffer by hiding those accomplishments. Bailey was not the first Frederick Douglass relative to serve his country. Douglass' sons enlisted in the regiment that the famous orator recruited for, and one, Lewis Henry Douglass, became one of the first Black sergeants major. As the Guard rejects participating in the Douglass celebration, the new administration has also stepped back from events aimed at recruiting Black Americans. reported that several services, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, pulled out of recruiting at a Black engineering event in Baltimore earlier this month despite a yearslong relationship. Hegseth and other supporters railing against diversity efforts say such policies are divisive and detract from the uniformity of the military. The defense secretary recently said "the single dumbest phrase in military history is 'our diversity is our strength." Bailey said he doesn't understand the Pentagon's logic when it comes to the decision not to celebrate Frederick Douglass. "It's only divisive to racists because, because only racists have a problem with Black people and people of color having any type of pride or celebrating their contributions to a nation that we all enjoy," Bailey told Black Americans, Hispanics and other ethnic groups make up a large part of the military's ranks. In 2024, for example, non-white demographics made up 59.5% of the regular Army. Bailey said events like the Frederick Douglass Birthday Celebration planned for Saturday are opportunities for the military to be present in the community and inspire those who may be inclined to military service. "The whole thing is asinine, because these are recruiting tools,' Bailey said. 'When you have a parade, when the National Guard or big Army or the Marines or the Air Force or the Navy or even the Space Force don their uniforms and go out into the community, there's always going to be a young kid that's going to get inspired and is going to say, 'I want to do that when I get grown.'" The descendant of Douglass, one of the nation's most prolific recruiters, fears the military will lose out on some of the best and brightest as a result of that decision. "What they're doing is destroying our military," Bailey said. "They will make us soft, as soft as baby sh--." Marilyn Beecham's mother frequently showed her pictures of his father, as well as his service medals, in hopes of keeping his memory alive. Her father, 1st Lt. Newman Camay Golden, was a Tuskegee Airman who was killed in action when she was just nine years old. Golden had graduated from flight school in 1944, according to an Air Force news release about his life, and he flew the P-51 Mustang during World War II. In March 1945, during an operation, he had to eject from his plane due to a mechanical issue and was captured as a prisoner of war until the American and Allied victory. He rejoined the fight and was ultimately shot down on Oct. 17, 1951, during the Korean War; he was officially presumed dead several years later. When Beecham was informed about the initial Pentagon efforts to pause teaching the Tuskegee Airmen's history at Air Force boot camp, the Gold Star daughter was shocked. She's dedicated her life to telling her father's story and said she would be heartbroken if people didn't get to hear of his sacrifice. "I'm very disappointed in that, because I have been active in trying to let people know who the Tuskegee Airmen were," Beecham told "I would like that legacy to continue, not just in my family, but throughout the United States, so people would be aware of what our parents did, because they celebrated themselves by being true to the country and continuing to want to fight for this country. My dad was one of them." Tuskegee Airmen, like Golden, were Black fighter and bomber pilots, as well as support crews, who fought in World War II. Between 1941 and 1949, upward of 16,000 Black servicemen and women participated in training aircrew members, according to the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to education about the group. Beecham hopes that the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, including her father, will always be remembered. She said she hopes that's true for anyone who died in battle. "He was killed in the Korean War for this country and, if anybody should be celebrated, it's the men and women who have given their life to this country," Beecham told Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg's retirement ceremony in 1981 took place at the then-Fort Lee Officer's Club in Virginia. He hadn't forgotten that, just three decades prior, he wasn't even allowed inside the establishment due to segregation. But in 2023, Gregg became the first living person in recent memory to have an Army installation bear his name, according to the Army. Fort Lee, once named for infamous Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, was renamed in Gregg's honor as well as that of former Lt. Col. Charity Adams. She was the first Black officer in what would later become the Women's Army Corps; she died in 2002. Gregg, who died on Aug. 22, was the first Black brigadier general in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps, as well as the first Black lieutenant general in the Army. His daughter, Alicia Collier, told in an interview that the commemoration of Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia was an important moment not just for her father but, in her eyes, the nation as a whole -- especially because the decision came after a lengthy review by a commission that evaluated the accomplishments of her father and Adams. "When they named the base after him and Charity Adams, it's a great sense of pride, and it was huge for my dad because he was the first living person to have received that honor," Collier told "It did represent a color-blind review, and the decision to name it after him, to me, was an indication that our country had made some strides." But Collier and a relative of Adams both told they fear that the base could be renamed under the new Defense Department. Stanley Earley, Adams' son, told that a decision to change Fort Gregg-Adams back to Lee would not only neglect his mother's accomplishments, it would be "incredibly divisive" after the lengthy review process. "To do it now, it means a conscious decision to -- well into the 21st century, to go back and name facilities after the commanders of the Confederacy is sending an incredible message," Early said. "To do such a thing, I'm hoping that they won't seriously consider doing that. It would be very sad if that's the case." Related: Air Force Groups that Advocated for Beard Policies, Better Body Armor Are Gutted by Trump Directive
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland National Guard Declines to Participate in Frederick Douglass Celebration Due to Pentagon Order
Maryland National Guard officials have declined to participate in a celebration for American abolitionist Frederick Douglass' birthday, saying it violates the Defense Department's new orders to stop supporting Black History Month events. A formal memo from the Maryland National Guard's Joint Operations Center, dated Feb. 7, said the reserve component would be "unable to support the event for a flyover, band, military vehicles and troop presence." The celebration is called "Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill" and marks the historic figure's 207th birthday. The remarks, signed by Lt. Col. Meaghan Lazak of the Maryland National Guard, began circulating online over the past week. "Since this event is organized as part of a Black History month celebration, the Maryland National Guard cannot support," the memo reads. "In accordance with the new guidance, the Maryland National Guard must decline events which celebrates [sic] individuals based all or in part on immutable characteristics." Read Next: Army Cuts Outreach at Girls School After Dropping Recruiting at Black Engineering Event Participation in public parades as well as flyovers is a regular occurrence for military units, used to attract attention and recruit future talent, and it is also seen as an important training opportunity. Douglass, born in Maryland sometime in February 1818, escaped from enslavement as a young man and rose to become one of the most important orators and abolitionists of the civil rights movement in the 19th century. Not knowing his own birthday, he ultimately selected Feb. 14. He died on Feb. 20, 1895, in Cedar Hill, Washington, D.C., according to a webpage from the National Park Service. Maj. Ben Hughes, a spokesperson for the Maryland National Guard, verified the memo as authentic to and pointed to a Jan. 31 statement from the Department of Defense as the guidance referenced for declining to participate. The guidance last month from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was titled "Identity Months Dead at DoD," which said the military "will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American/Black History Month, Women's History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month." Tarence Bailey Sr., a descendant of Douglass and president of the Bailey-Groce Family Foundation that organized the Feb. 22 event, told The Washington Post that he is a former member of the Maryland National Guard and was disappointed in the military's response. "Basically, what the DoD said is, 'We're not doing that. He's Black and this is February so, no,'" Bailey told The Washington Post. "You're discrediting everything -- all of the work he did for this nation not as a Black man but as an American. ... They should really be ashamed of themselves." Bailey also told The Washington Post that the Massachusetts National Guard participated in the event last year but chose not to assist this year. The memo declining participation in the Frederick Douglass celebration comes amid a flurry of decisions the military and individual service branches are taking to distance themselves from minority groups and events, such as disbanding groups in the Air Force that fought for better policies for minority and female airmen. This month, the Army and other services dropped recruiting efforts at a prestigious Black engineering awards event in Baltimore, despite a long-standing relationship, due to President Donald Trump and Hegseth's orders to eliminate programs and policies dealing with women, troops with minority backgrounds, and gay and lesbian service members. The Army Corps of Engineers also stopped outreach at an all-girls school in South Carolina that was geared toward encouraging its female students to get involved in science and engineering careers because the service believed it violated the administration's prohibition on diversity initiatives. Related: Military Drops Recruiting Efforts at Prestigious Black Engineering Awards Event
