Proposed names include women, African Americans, Native American and Latin American servicemen, a penchant for the various ranks that the U.S. military has benefited from over the years. However, the Commission has also recommended renaming some of the bases for white men.
The Naming Commission proposed changing the name of Fort AP Hill, named after a Confederate general, to Fort Walker. Dr. Mary Walker was the first female surgeon in the Army and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War.
Fort Polk in Louisiana, also named after a Confederate general, could become Fort Johnson in honor of a sergeant. William Henry Johnson. The African-American soldier is considered one of the first heroes of the First World War, after he fought alone with about two dozen Germans, killing at least four. He was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Fort Bragg, one of the largest military installations in the world, could be called Fort Liberty, according to the commission’s recommendations, the only facility named after an American value instead of an individual or group of people.
The renaming of bases with Confederate names has become a hot political issue in recent months for the Trump administration, when then-President Donald Trump unveiled the idea, accusing others of wanting to “throw away those names.”
Trump vetoed the 2021 National Defense Permit Act, which included the Naming Commission, but in the weakening days of his administration, Congress gave the first and only revocation of the veto during his term, approving legislation with strong support from both parties. .
The Names Committee has asked for suggestions for possible new names for U.S. military bases through a public website. They received more than 34,000 requests for possible names to rename the bases, Brig. Gen. Retired U.S. Secretary of State Seidul said he was deputy chairman of the Naming Commission during a roundtable on Tuesday.
Out of 34,000 proposals, the committee narrowed the list to 3,670 names as possible contenders, then reduced it to 87 and finally to the list of recommendations they released today.
“Every name comes from or resonates with local communities. “The feedback we received helped us narrow down our opportunities and proved to be vital to help us reach our final recommendations,” Seidule said.
In addition to Forts AP Hill, Polk and Bragg, the commission recommended that Fort Benning, Georgia, be renamed Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Hal and Julia Moore. Hal Moore served in the army between 1945 and 1977, with assignments in Japan, Korea, Norway and Vietnam.
Fort Gordon in Georgia could become Fort Eisenhower after Army General Dwight Eisenhower, who continued to serve as the nation’s 34th president. Fort Hood in Texas could be renamed Fort Cavazos after General Richard Cavazos, who served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
The commission also proposed renaming Fort Lee, Virginia, Fort Greg-Adams after Lieutenant General Arthur Greg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Greg helped desegregate the military, including at Fort Lee, while Adams in 1944 was “elected to command the first part of African-American women to serve abroad.” Her mission included managing the 6888th Central Post Office in England.
Meanwhile, Fort Pickett in Virginia may be renamed Fort Barfut after Tech. Sergeant Van T. Barfut, who served for 34 years, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. And the commission proposed that Fort Rocker in Alabama be renamed Fort Novosel after Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel, a senior who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, where he carried out 2,543 evacuation missions, according to the commission.
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