From AFT:
“Panel unveils nine Army base
name recommendations”
(The XVIII Airborne Corps
Headquarters sign is displayed at Fort Bragg, N.C. on June 28, 2019.)
A Pentagon commission on Tuesday
offered its recommendations for renaming nine Army bases that currently have
Confederate figures as their namesakes. The suggestions would rename locations
after African American soldiers and women soldiers for the first time. Officials
with the Defense Department naming commission said the changes were designed to
guarantee that prominent military locations have names “that evoke confidence
in all who serve.” The panel will issue its final report to Congress later this
fall, and the defense secretary will be charged with implementing the changes
by January 2024. “During many conversations within the commission, with
installation personnel, civic leaders, and communities, we sought to find names
that would be inspirational to the soldiers and civilians who serve on our Army
posts, and to the communities who support them,” retired Adm. Michelle Howard,
chairwoman of the commission, said in a statement. “We realized quickly that we
had more heroes than we did bases to name. And we were overwhelmed with the
greatness of the American soldier — from those who gave their entire adult
lives to the Army, to those who sacrificed themselves in valorous acts.”
Stripping military bases of
Confederate names stirs passions Fort Pickett’s namesake is Maj. Gen.
George E. Pickett, best remembered for a failed Confederate assault at
Gettysburg that became known as Pickett’s Charge. For the last 16 months, the
commission has been collecting recommendations from the public and groups
connected with each of the bases on what the next steps should be.
The final list is:
Fort Benning, Ga. — recommended
to be renamed Fort Moore, for Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia. Hal Moore
received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in the Vietnam War. Julia
Moore was an advocate for military families.
Fort Bragg, N.C. — recommended to
be renamed Fort Liberty, after the value of liberty.
Fort Gordon, Ga. — recommended to
be renamed Fort Eisenhower, after President Dwight Eisenhower, who also served
as general of the Army.
Fort A.P. Hill, Va. — recommended
to be renamed Fort Walker, after Dr. Mary Walker, the Army’s first female
surgeon.
Fort Hood, Tx. — recommended to
be renamed Fort Cavazos, after Gen. Richard Cavazos, who received the
Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in the Vietnam War
Fort Lee, Va. — recommended to be
renamed Fort Gregg-Adams, after Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity
Adams. Gregg was a key figure in the integration of black soldiers into the
Army. Adams was one of the highest ranking female soldiers in World War II.
Fort Pickett, Va. — recommended
to be renamed Fort Barfoot, after Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot, a Medal of Honor
recipient.
Fort Polk, La. — recommended to
be renamed Fort Johnson, after Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Medal of Honor
recipient.
Fort Rucker, Ala. — recommended
to be renamed Fort Novosel after Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel
Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient.
The renaming process has proved
controversial on Capitol Hill, with numerous Republican lawmakers opposing the
effort. Former President Donald Trump publicly opposed the idea during his time
in office, saying that changing the names ignored the history of the military
sites and dishonored the troops that served at each. But enough Republican
lawmakers sided with Democrats to advance the measure forcing the name changes.
The new name for Fort Bragg could be the most controversial of the
recommendations, given that it’s the only one not named for a military hero.
Commissioners acknowledged that
“Liberty” had not been one of the 87 finalists previously announced, either.
But in between their first visit to Fort Bragg last year and a final visit this
spring, they said that community leaders had coalesced around the name and
powerfully recommended it to them. Commission member Jerry Buchanan said that
community members there were concerned about naming for an individual. “Maybe
this individual [is] 100% acceptable right now, [but they] might not be 20
years from now for whatever reason.” The term “liberty” has featured
prominently in the history and mottos of the installation’s units, too. The
82nd Airborne Division’s World War II route from Normandy, France, east towards
Germany forms part of the commemorative “Liberty Road” featuring painted
kilometer markers with a prominent image of a torch. And the Latin motto of the
Army’s Special Forces branch — De Oppresso Liber — is traditionally translated
to mean “to liberate the oppressed.” In a statement, House Armed Services
Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., praised the recommendations as “a first
step in addressing Confederate symbolism in the U.S. military.” “This process
has created a new opportunity to foster a more inclusive environment for our
service members by remembering and acknowledging our country’s history while
honoring the valor and sacrifice of our service members and their families,” he
said.
^ Other than Fort Liberty I like
the new names. ^
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