Charleston, WV -- The West Virginia Democratic Party on March 18th, sharply criticized the Trump Administration's decision to erase the Pentagon's official webpage celebrating the heroic service of West Virginia native Charles C. Rogers, a distinguished recipient of the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary bravery in Vietnam. In a crowning indignity, the Pentagon's URL dedicated to Rogers was changed from "medal" for "Medal of Honor" to "deimedal," a disturbing implication that Rogers somehow didn't deserve his honor.

“I'm confused as to why every time there has been mere discussions to remove the statue of a Confederate traitor who fought against the United States to preserve slavery, there is an absolute battle cry of preserving 'history' veiled in veteran support but yet there isn't a single word said when West Virginia heroes like Charles Rogers are erased from our history,” said House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle. “This is beyond hypocrisy and disrespect to West Virginia, and for obvious reasons but unfortunately I'm not surprised.”

Charles C. Rogers joined the segregated U.S. Army in 1951, a time when African Americans still faced blatant discrimination, forced to ride in the back of buses and sit at segregated lunch counters. His father, too, served courageously in the segregated Army during World War II.

In Vietnam, Rogers earned the Medal of Honor as a Lieutenant Colonel commanding a 300-man fire support base near the Cambodian border. When North Vietnamese soldiers attempted to overrun the base, Rogers repeatedly placed himself in harm’s way to rally his troops and defend their position, sustaining three severe wounds in the process. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, and the Legion of Merit. In the fight for which he earned the Medal of Honor, 12 American soldiers lost their lives and 68 were wounded. Rogers even attempted to return to combat after recovering from his injuries.

By contrast, Donald Trump, who avoided military service altogether, once claimed his "personal Vietnam" involved dodging venereal diseases during his younger years. Under Trump’s administration, the courageous deeds of heroes like Rogers are quietly erased, deemed inappropriate for study, remembrance, or celebration.

“You won't read about Charles Rogers' heroism today because draft-dodging Trump and his administration find the study of genuine American heroes somehow inappropriate,” stated Delegate Anitra Hamilton. “This administration prefers a sanitized version of history over recognizing the true sacrifices made by courageous West Virginians like Rogers.”

Delegate Hollis Lewis said, “Once again, the Trump administration has disrespected West Virginia and, more importantly, our military. When U.S. Army Major General Charles Calvin Rogers fought for this country, he did so proudly to defend our freedoms. This administration’s effort to erase or diminish the historical significance of those who sacrificed for our nation, under the misguided pretense of attacking DEIA programs, is deeply misplaced and malicious.”

West Virginians deserve leaders who celebrate genuine heroism, not erase it.