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Seven more U.S. Army bases will revert to their long-standing names, President Donald Trump said June 10 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, but not to honor their original namesakes.
The seven are among nine installations given new names in 2022 that were recommended by the congressionally created Naming Commission and approved by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III.
Congress created the commission in the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to remove references of the Confederate States of America from U.S. military assets.
The nine had all been named for Confederate general officers. They included Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, which is in Georgia.
Trump vetoed the fiscal 2020 NDAA, citing the legislation’s “politically motivated attempts ... to wash away history.” Congress overrode his veto.
“We won a lot of battles out of those forts,” he told troops at Fort Bragg. “It’s no time to change. And I'm superstitious, you know, I like to keep it going, right?”
Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth returned Fort Bragg and Fort Benning to their longstanding names, but not in recognition of Confederate figures.
Fort Bragg now honors Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper, and Fort Benning is named for Sgt. Fred G. Benning, a World War I veteran.
The name changes the president announced last week follow suit, according to an Army press release.
Fort Rucker, formerly Fort Novosel, Alabama, will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Capt. Edward W. Rucker, an Army aviator, for heroism during World War I.
Fort Gordon, formerly Fort Eisenhower, Georgia, will now recognize Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia.
Fort A.P. Hill, formerly Fort Walker, Virginia, will be named in honor of Medal of Honor recipients Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Pvt. Bruce Anderson for gallantry during the Civil War in support of the U.S. Army.
Fort Lee, formerly Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, will now recognize Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Fitz Lee for his valor during the Spanish-American War.
Fort Pickett, formerly Fort Barfoot, Virginia, will be named in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett for his heroism in World War II.
Fort Hood, formerly Fort Cavazos, Texas, will now recognize Distinguished Service Cross recipient Col. Robert B. Hood for his valor in World War I.
Fort Polk, formerly Fort Johnson, Louisianna, will be named in honor of Silver Star recipient Gen. James H. Polk for his gallantry in action as commanding officer of the 3rd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) during operations across Europe in World War II. He later commanded U.S. Army Europe.
Army officials say the redesignations are in accordance with the fiscal 2020 NDAA.
—By John Goheen
