Over the weekend, I watched the video Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s posted on social media X in which he declared that the Medals of Honor granted to members of the 7th Calvary involved in the so-called Battle of Wounded Knee will not be rescinded. Hegseth said the soldiers involved in the incident deserved them.
The medals were awarded in 1890, shortly after the “battle” took place. At the time, the U.S. government was on a campaign of genocide against Indigenous people in the West. The “battle” took place after the U.S. chose to violate a treaty that gave Indigenous people ownership of vast territories.
Hegseth was prompted to issue his “final” decision because his predecessor, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, had declined to accept a report that recommended the medals not be rescinded.
Why was the 21st century Department of Defense looking at rescinding medals? Oliver “O.J.” Semans Sr., an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and a former U.S. Navy firefighter who witnessed the aftermath of “the Battle,” wrote President Trump in 2019 to urge him to rescind the medals. Semans wrote:
“The ‘Battle at Wounded Knee’ on December 29, 1890, was no battle. It was a massacre. … The 7th Cavalry, which was obligated by treaty to protect my ancestors, instead hunted my ancestors, surrounded them, and gunned hundreds of them down. This included terrified women and children who fled—defenseless—through the snow, forever stained by their blood.”
President Trump declined to rescind the medals. Notably, Seman’s letter followed a statement by Trump ridiculing Senator Elizabeth Warren as she announced a run for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination. Trump said Warren should have filmed her announcement to establish a presidential exploratory committee while standing in front of a backdrop of Bighorn or Wounded Knee with her husband dressed in full Indian garb, instead of making the announcement in her own kitchen.
How does Hegseth effectively condoning a massacre align with the warrior culture he lectured military Generals and Admirals about yesterday? Not very well. If the soldiers involved in the “battle” at Wounded Knee deserved medals, so too does Lt. William Calley, the perpetrator of the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War.
Over the weekend, I also read about worries within the Pentagon centering on Secretary Hegseth’s behavior. He is reportedly prone to tantrums and frequently yells at subordinates. Many staff have quit their jobs. Others question Hegseth’s mental health or speculate that he may have returned to excessive drinking. (Evidence of Hegseth drinking since his confirmation has not surfaced.)
Should a “Department of War” be led by a hot-headed Secretary answerable only to a 79-year-old President who himself shows signs of mental decline and who has involved the military in actions against American citizens and others? I don’t think so.
When lecturing Generals and Admirals yesterday, Hegseth may have had the least military command experience of anyone else in the room except for President Trump (bone spurs) and the enlisted personal working to staff the gathering. He also had no relevant executive experience before his nomination to head what used to be called DoD before Trump nominated him to the post in 2021. Hegseth, as you may recall, was a Fox News weekend anchor. President Trump liked what he said on the air and no doubt thought he looked the part.
All of us should support a strong and ready military, but Hegseth’s advocacy for a “warrior culture” that would remove woman from combat, limit leadership roles for people of color (many of whom might prove to be outstanding military leaders if given the chance to lead) and taking other actions that would ban gay and trans people, as well as people who are not Christians from serving. That is not an effective strategy to build a strong military.
I’m not holding my breath, but I want to hear Donald Trump say “You’re Fired” again. The words should be directed at Mr. Hegseth.
J.E. Dean writes on politics, government and other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean also writes for Dean’s Issues & Insights on Substack.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Two mentally ill losers: One a faux warrior using martial words to tell the 800 or so professionally trained and combat tested flag officers he knows their craft better than they do and if they want to be part of the team they will have to fall in line, or lose their pensions.This from one man who is a stone cold drunk Fox weekend host and who has sexually assaulted women, lies through his teeth and is in late stage whatever….
John Dean says
As always, thanks for your comment. It was ironic that Hegseth lectured the military leaders about merit given that Hegseth lacks it.
Bob Kopec says
Hegseth is a drunk and wife cheater. Why is he in charge of anything? He might do OK in charge of latrine digging
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece. After emphasizing that all military leadership roles should be based on merit, Hegseth should have resigned, IMHO.
I don’t think Hegseth’s lecture was well-received by his audience, with the possible exception of Trump.
Jim Bruce says
Hegseth also mocked rules of engagement, which usually prevent civilian slaughter in a war zone, and said drill sergeants should not be prohibited from putting their hands on recruits. Drill sergeants achieve their objectives without the need for physical abuse of recruits. I think the generals were there as Trump’s prop. The real intended audience was his base to see how Trump is unleashing Rambo, apparently on our cities. As a honorably discharged military reserve officer I found the whole exercise demeaning of our military and a pathetic insight into two deeply insecure, wannabe leaders.
John Dean says
Thanks for your comment and for your service. I expect that many of the generals and admirals ordered to sit through Hegseth’s and Trump’s speeches reacted the same way you did.
And thanks for reading the piece.
Wilson Dean says
As one who grew up in a military family, served in the military myself and then worked ina civilian capacity with the Joint Chiefs of Staff for several years, I find Pete Hegseth to represent everything those in the military abhor. Hegseth, through his obsession in pushing a warrior culture on the military, totally misses the point that the armed forces view maintaining peace through strength as their primary goal, while “making war” only as a last resort when every other strategy has failed.
In addition, Hegseth’s purge of non-whites, non-males, and critical thinkers in the military repeats a fatal flaw previously experienced in the armed forces. History has taught military leaders that the military—from the enlisted to the Generals and Admirals—should resemble the American people they are defending. The promotion of tough white guys in command that Hegseth is pushing was a major factor that led to the unfortunate practice of “fragging” of that same kind of leadership during the Vietnam conflict.
Finally, I have no doubt that the solemn faces of the Generals and Admirals gathered to hear President Trump and Secretary Hegseth revealed their collective impression that they were listening to two individuals whose arrogance is only exceeded by their incompetence.
John Dean says
Thank you for your insightful comment. I agree that the stunt of ordering the military leaders to Quantico for two ridiculous speeches demonstrated Trump’s and Hegseth’s arrogance and incompetence. I believe both will come to regret holding the “gathering.”