DOD briefly takes down online feature about Jackie Robinson's military service, includes 'DEI' in link

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A feature story about Jackie Robinson's military service was briefly taken down from the Department of Defense's website on Tuesday before being restored Wednesday afternoon.

While the story had been removed, the new URL, which had also included the letters "dei" in it, directed readers to a 404 page.

The story, titled "Sports Heroes Who Served: Baseball Great Jackie Robinson Was WWII Soldier," was launched on Feb. 9, 2021, written by David Vergun. Other features on "Sports Heroes Who Served" include Bob Feller, Hoyt Wilhelm, Bob Uecker and many others.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon about the removal of the story and whether it and the "dei" inclusion in the URL were on purpose.

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A feature story about Jackie Robinson's military service was briefly taken down from the Department of Defense's website on Tuesday before being restored Wednesday afternoon. (Bill Chaplis/AP Photo)

The Pentagon did not say whether it was done on purpose, but Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot released the following statement to Fox News Digital before the story was restored:

"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. We do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, or sex. We do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission like ever other American who has worn the uniform. 

"DEI --