Yet there is a crucial flaw in this thinking: It’s predicated upon a common misunderstanding of American military history. The standard narrative credits President Harry Truman with desegregating the military by executive order in 1948. In reality, however, desegregation began years earlier. It was initiated by the War Department, under Secretary Henry Stimson and the army’s Chief of Staff George Marshall, both of whom Hegseth admires. This timeline means that the ultimate “woke” move helped contribute to America’s proudest military victory.