The Army recently announced the restoration of names for seven military bases previously linked to Confederate leaders. This move came as part of a broader effort to remove Confederate associations from U.S. military installations. The decision to restore the original names followed a bipartisan defense resolution bill passed by Congress, establishing a naming commission to propose new names for these bases.
President Donald Trump vetoed the bill in 2020, but Congress overrode his veto, leading to the establishment of the Naming Commission. In 2023, the Commission submitted its final report, prompting the restoration of names for several military installations, including three in Central Virginia. Among the renamed bases were Fort Gregg-Adams, Fort Walker, and Fort Barfoot.
Fort A.P. Hill, originally named after a Confederate general, was renamed Fort Walker before being renamed again to honor Medal of Honor recipients Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn, and Pvt. Bruce Anderson for their heroism during the Civil War. Similarly, Fort Pickett was changed to Fort Barfoot in honor of a Medal of Honor recipient, now commemorating 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett.
Fort Lee was given a hyphenated name, Fort Gregg-Adams, to honor Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. The base now pays tribute to Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Medal of Honor recipient from the Spanish-American War. Fort Gordon was renamed Fort Eisenhower but will now honor Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon for his valor in Somalia.
Fort Hood was changed to Fort Cavazos, honoring Gen. Richard Cavazos, and will now commemorate Col. Robert B. Hood for his heroism in World War I. Fort Polk was renamed Fort Johnson and will honor Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient. Fort Rucker, previously named Fort Novosel, will now honor Capt. Edward W. Rucker for his bravery in World War I.
The decision to restore the original names of these bases followed the discovery of service members with matching last names to honor. This reversal stripped names chosen in 2023 to honor various leaders, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Black soldiers, and women. Notably, the new list did not include any women.
While the precise cost of changing the signs at these bases was not immediately available, this restoration marks a significant shift in the naming conventions of these military installations. The decision to restore the original names reflects a broader societal shift away from honoring Confederate figures within the U.S. military.
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