Posted on Mar 12, 2021
What should the Army posts that are currently named after Confederate generals be renamed?
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As part of the FY 2021 NDAA, there are 10 U.S. Army posts, currently named after men who were Confederate generals during the Civil War, which are required to be renamed by the end of 2023.
The posts being renamed are:
Camp Beauregard, LA
Fort Polk, LA
Fort Benning, GA
Fort Gordon, GA
Fort Bragg, NC
Fort A.P. Hill, VA
Fort Lee, VA
Fort Pickett, VA
Fort Rucker, AL
Fort Hood, TX
This post is not to debate the merits of whether or not they should be renamed (it's happening). I'm curious as to what you think the specific posts should be renamed and why?
The posts being renamed are:
Camp Beauregard, LA
Fort Polk, LA
Fort Benning, GA
Fort Gordon, GA
Fort Bragg, NC
Fort A.P. Hill, VA
Fort Lee, VA
Fort Pickett, VA
Fort Rucker, AL
Fort Hood, TX
This post is not to debate the merits of whether or not they should be renamed (it's happening). I'm curious as to what you think the specific posts should be renamed and why?
Medal of Honor
Honor
Military Career
Recognition
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 76
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I know MSG Roy Benavidez deserves to have a post named after him. Fort Hood maybe?
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Suspended Profile
SGT Gregory Reilly - It's crap that many of us have served at bases name after traitors. Oh and I am southern born and raised so if a guy from Mississippi can see how absurd it is that we have bases named after enemy generals than I think everyone else can get on board.
CW3 (Join to see)
And to everyone else...I've seen the Confederate flag in Rhode Island, where I'm from, so yes, people can be that stupid.
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MSgt Brian Williams
SGT Gregory Reilly - Mark the spot because you are all ass. Let's start with those who supported and defended the Constitution of the United States and didn't support, advocate, or participate in an insurrection against the United States. So now that we have eliminated the confederacy supporters, let's make sure we remember to include those who tweeted “Big protest in DC on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” and "to fight". With all that said, the post should be renamed after those American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, Space Force guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor and been awarded the United States government's highest and most prestigious military decoration.
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SSG Bill McCoy
I'm pretty lukewarm on the issue ... I think the reason for change is the ongoing "Cancel Culture," and I don't believe that's reason enough for the changes. While I don't necessarily agree with SGT Gregory Reilly, I do think you gents came down too hard on him because the current names were all chosen to further the reconcilation between North & South; NOT because any fought for slavery and/or even state's rights.
If posts are to be renamed, it should be to upgrade/modernize their image with CURRENT military heroes, and I agree that MSG Benavidez would be a TOP list candidate, and several WW2 Colonels and Generals (Col Rudder, Gen Bradley, Gen Patton, and others like perhaps Alvin York and so on.
If posts are to be renamed, it should be to upgrade/modernize their image with CURRENT military heroes, and I agree that MSG Benavidez would be a TOP list candidate, and several WW2 Colonels and Generals (Col Rudder, Gen Bradley, Gen Patton, and others like perhaps Alvin York and so on.
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Not a fan fiscally, historically or philosophically. It costs money to change signage, letterhead, etc., but more than that it denigrates the memories of American soldiers once considered worthy of recognition based on region and military accomplishment. Public Law 85-425, Sec 410, recognized all Confederate veterans as US veterans; this in the Lincolnian spirit of (if belated) "binding up the Nation's wounds." We heard a lot of references to Lincoln on the Senate floor recently but "malice toward none and charity to all" was not one of them. Sanitized history is not history. It is pablum. This great movement toward political correctness is a down hill slope. How do think a great many Native Americans feel about forts being named for Kit Carson, Phil Sheridan or, as in my home state of Indiana, Benjamin Harrison.
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SPC Paul LaBelle
((CONFEDERATE FORCES VETERANS
"SEC. 410. The Administrator shall pay to each person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War a monthly pension in the same amounts and subject to the same conditions as would have been applicable to such
person under the laws in effect on December 31, 1957, if his service in such forces had been service in the military or naval service of the United States.
Nowhere does this change their status from confederate to union. This merely gives a pension to confederate soldiers and widows (who were still alive 90 years after the civil war)!
"SEC. 410. The Administrator shall pay to each person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War a monthly pension in the same amounts and subject to the same conditions as would have been applicable to such
person under the laws in effect on December 31, 1957, if his service in such forces had been service in the military or naval service of the United States.
Nowhere does this change their status from confederate to union. This merely gives a pension to confederate soldiers and widows (who were still alive 90 years after the civil war)!
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CW3 (Join to see)
"Malice toward none and charity to all"?? What about charity to those of us who are uncomfortable serving on bases named after those who would keep us slaves? You kind of forgot about that, didn't you, LTC? Naming a military base after someone is putting that person's name in a place of honor. If that's something you want to give charity to, then I hope I never work for you, because I have absolutely NO confidence that I would be judged impartially or fairly against my melanin-challenged peers.
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SrA John Monette
CW3 (Join to see) - maybe we should name the bases after the cities/states they are located in. just because the person served under the Confederacy does not immediately mean they would want to enslave you. Many were just being loyal to their state when it seceded
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LTC Tom Jones
CW3 (Join to see) - I'm just talking history and healing, Chief. Race did not figure into my comment. Perhaps it should have. I respect your point of view just as I respect the fact that you have achieved your CW3 status. You've obviously performed your duties well. You needn't worry about working for me obviously. At 75, the only thing I command is my dog and, being that she's a husky, that only works she wants it to. In terms of the civil war, SrA John Monette had it right when he said "many were just being loyal to their state when it seceded." Actually, it was more like the overwhelming majority and it was a time deep seeded division in this country. This marker is located in a grave yard about three miles from our home in the Piedmont of NC. Life was much harder on everybody back in that day. Given time and convenience it is easy to look back a century and a half and tell what was right and what not. You might want to examine that chip on your shoulder.
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My personal opinion is:
Fort Gordon, GA - should be someone of note from the Signal Corps
Fort Lee, VA - should be someone of note from the Quartermaster Corps
Fort Benning, GA - should be named in honor of GEN Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Infantryman, CENTCOM Cdr 1988-1991 and Commander during the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Pretty much our last conventional war, and I think one that everyone can agree was a decisive victory.
Fort Bragg, NC - should be named in honor of GEN Matthew B. Ridgway, 82nd CG (1942-1944), XVIII Airborne Corps CDR (1944-1945), and ultimately Army Chief of Staff (1953-1955). Veteran of WWII and Korean War.
Fort Rucker, AL - should be named in honor of CW4 Michael J. Novosel (1922-2006). MoH recipient and veteran of the Army Air Corps during WWII, USAF during the Korean War, and Army Aviation during Vietnam. When he wanted to return to active duty to serve in Vietnam the USAF was over-strength LTCs so he resigned his commission and joined the Army flying as a CW2, making his way to CW4 (the most senior WO rank at the time) before retiring in 1985. His actions as a MEDEVAC pilot on 2 Oct 69 would ultimately see him receive the Medal of Honor.
Fort Hood, TX - should be named in honor of MG Robert L. Howze, first commander of 1st Cav Division and Medal of Honor recipient from the Indian Wars. Also a veteran of the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and WWI. Anyone stationed in the western corridor of Korea before 2005 might remember there used to be a camp named after him that was closed down during base consolidation.
I also think a post somewhere should be named in honor of GEN Patton, but not sure which might be most appropriate. The other posts that I didn't mention I have no opinion on, but curious to hear what other great leaders or military heroes might be deserving of the honor. My personal opinion is it should be someone deceased, but other than that I'm open.
Fort Gordon, GA - should be someone of note from the Signal Corps
Fort Lee, VA - should be someone of note from the Quartermaster Corps
Fort Benning, GA - should be named in honor of GEN Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Infantryman, CENTCOM Cdr 1988-1991 and Commander during the Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Pretty much our last conventional war, and I think one that everyone can agree was a decisive victory.
Fort Bragg, NC - should be named in honor of GEN Matthew B. Ridgway, 82nd CG (1942-1944), XVIII Airborne Corps CDR (1944-1945), and ultimately Army Chief of Staff (1953-1955). Veteran of WWII and Korean War.
Fort Rucker, AL - should be named in honor of CW4 Michael J. Novosel (1922-2006). MoH recipient and veteran of the Army Air Corps during WWII, USAF during the Korean War, and Army Aviation during Vietnam. When he wanted to return to active duty to serve in Vietnam the USAF was over-strength LTCs so he resigned his commission and joined the Army flying as a CW2, making his way to CW4 (the most senior WO rank at the time) before retiring in 1985. His actions as a MEDEVAC pilot on 2 Oct 69 would ultimately see him receive the Medal of Honor.
Fort Hood, TX - should be named in honor of MG Robert L. Howze, first commander of 1st Cav Division and Medal of Honor recipient from the Indian Wars. Also a veteran of the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and WWI. Anyone stationed in the western corridor of Korea before 2005 might remember there used to be a camp named after him that was closed down during base consolidation.
I also think a post somewhere should be named in honor of GEN Patton, but not sure which might be most appropriate. The other posts that I didn't mention I have no opinion on, but curious to hear what other great leaders or military heroes might be deserving of the honor. My personal opinion is it should be someone deceased, but other than that I'm open.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
CPL Joseph Elinger - I had considered Colin Powell as well, but I personally just think it's weird to name something in honor of someone when they're still alive. (But that's just my opinion.)
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PO3 David Mabo
I like some of the choices. I agree they should be renamed. As a former sailor, I do not have the depth to provide names for some posts. But We have some many past leaders and heroes who are deserving.
What about Pershing and Ike?
What about Pershing and Ike?
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
Well, the suggested names were just released and looks like I at least go one of them right. Fort Rucker is being recommended to be renamed Fort Novosel. Naming Ft. Bragg 'Fort Liberty' "after the value of liberty" seems a bit cheesy, but the rest of the name recommendations seem well thought out.
PO3 David Mabo It looks like Fort Gordon will be renamed Fort Eisenhower in honor of Ike. I think Pershing would have been a good choice somewhere too. As a nation we are fairly well versed in our WWII heroes and history, but know very little about about WWI.
https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/05/24/panel-to-push-for-fort-bragg-to-be-renamed-fort-liberty/
PO3 David Mabo It looks like Fort Gordon will be renamed Fort Eisenhower in honor of Ike. I think Pershing would have been a good choice somewhere too. As a nation we are fairly well versed in our WWII heroes and history, but know very little about about WWI.
https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/05/24/panel-to-push-for-fort-bragg-to-be-renamed-fort-liberty/
Panel unveils nine Army base name recommendations
The commission is charged with renaming bases whose names currently honor Confederate leaders.
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