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
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 74
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I know MSG Roy Benavidez deserves to have a post named after him. Fort Hood maybe?
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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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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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Fort Bragg should be named for General Matthew Ridgeway. He commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps in World War II, and took over Korea when MacArthur was fired.
Fort Benning could be named for General Gavin who commanded the 82nd at Normandy
Fort Benning could be named for General Gavin who commanded the 82nd at Normandy
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
I agree with GEN Ridgway, I actually made the exact same recommendation, to use him as the replacement for Ft. Bragg. I don't know much about LTG Gavin, so I'll need to read up a bit more.
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CPL Joseph Elinger
Gen MacArthur, who ordered Troops to fire @ unarmed Veterans & their families protesting in DC.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver They could be renamed after five of the most distinguished Army Generals along with five of the Medal of Honor (Army) recipients.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
Certainly GEN Pershing would be a good candidate. We always think of WWII and tend to gloss over WWI, but he was certainly of note. He was also the highest ranking General of all time, after Washington (though even that wasn't corrected until 1976).
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CW4 Keith Dolliver Blow everyone's mind and change Ft Lee....to Ft Lee. Not Robert E Lee, but GEN JCH Lee the EUTO G4 in WWII.
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SSG Edward Tilton
It all goes to prove there are plenty of real Americans to name posts after. I live outside Ft Huachuca (thunder mountain)
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I like your idea sir. To all the naysayers that are worried about the cost of changing signs and letterheads let's dig though the records for "hero's" with the same last names. Granted at least one base will end up being named after someone who's highest award was an ARCOM but at least they weren't a traitor.
LTC Jason Mackay
CW3 Matt Tait no one will be happy until they are renamed with an alpha numeric like a faceless UIC that can pose no offense to anyone except the hexadecimal IP6 address appreciation society
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I think it is a crying shame to alter, rewrite, or disregard our history.
Yes, these were Confederate Generals. Both sides in the war that ended 160 years ago, fought for a cause they believed in. Some were distinguished graduates of West Point. Some were "regular folks" that proved to be brilliant tacticians in battle. That can be said for both sides.
If some liberal group decides five or ten years from now that they dislike something else about the military or the ground the post stands on, will we rename them yet again? The Civil War is over - it's time to move on.
Yes, these were Confederate Generals. Both sides in the war that ended 160 years ago, fought for a cause they believed in. Some were distinguished graduates of West Point. Some were "regular folks" that proved to be brilliant tacticians in battle. That can be said for both sides.
If some liberal group decides five or ten years from now that they dislike something else about the military or the ground the post stands on, will we rename them yet again? The Civil War is over - it's time to move on.
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Sgt Andrew Webster
"Fought for a cause they believe in..." That's a pretty sanitized way of saying one side declared war against the other because they believed that certain people should be able to be held as slaves. No one is altering or rewriting history by renaming bases named after traitors from the South.
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I am a fan of naming them after Medal of Honor recipients. They can be decided on based on where those MOH recipients were from, or what their MOS/branch was.
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I would stick with the Civil War era for continuity.
Grant, Sherman, Thomas, McPherson, Howard, Hancock, Sumner, Sheridan, Slocum, Chamberlain, Buford, Gibbon, and Warren are good possibilities, though some may already have facilities named after them that I do not remember.
Grant, Sherman, Thomas, McPherson, Howard, Hancock, Sumner, Sheridan, Slocum, Chamberlain, Buford, Gibbon, and Warren are good possibilities, though some may already have facilities named after them that I do not remember.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
Fort Sherman was a post in Panama before we gave it back in 1999, Fort McPherson was a base in Atlanta until about 10 years ago, and Fort Sheridan was a post outside Chicago until the mid-90s. I'm not sure if any of the other names have bases associated with their names.
While the civil war is still a major part of our history and some still deserve to be honored, I personally think we should focus on more recent achievements from the past century.
While the civil war is still a major part of our history and some still deserve to be honored, I personally think we should focus on more recent achievements from the past century.
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I like your idea Top. Flip and name the bases for Union soldiers that would really upset the contingent of people who are inexplicably bitter about the CSA loosing.
Renaming Hood to Fort Sheridan would be a particular irony as General Sheridan absolutely hated Texas. He was the military governor of Texas and Louisiana after the civil war as once said:
“If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent out Texas and live in Hell.”
Renaming Hood to Fort Sheridan would be a particular irony as General Sheridan absolutely hated Texas. He was the military governor of Texas and Louisiana after the civil war as once said:
“If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent out Texas and live in Hell.”
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Point and case. If a name offends you, you might have the wrong job.
Fort Butthurt, Camp Safespace, Fort snowflake
Fort Butthurt, Camp Safespace, Fort snowflake
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I had an idea relating to the statues (please bear with me). Keep the statues, but put up another statue of the Union General (the Confederate statues are all GO's) who defeated him. Associated with both statues should be a placard describing the battle in which the Confederate General was defeated by the Union General.
Riffing off that idea, how about this? Keep the name of the installation, but hyphenate it with the name of the Union General who defeated him.
Beauregard-Sherman
Polk-McPherson
Benning-Harris
Gordon-Chamberlain
Bragg-Sherman
A.P. Hill-Ord
Lee-Grant
Pickett-Sheridan
Rucker-Thomas
Hood-Thomas
Riffing off that idea, how about this? Keep the name of the installation, but hyphenate it with the name of the Union General who defeated him.
Beauregard-Sherman
Polk-McPherson
Benning-Harris
Gordon-Chamberlain
Bragg-Sherman
A.P. Hill-Ord
Lee-Grant
Pickett-Sheridan
Rucker-Thomas
Hood-Thomas
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SPC Paul LaBelle
Put a Sherman monument complete with eternal flame next to every confederate memorial
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
SPC Paul LaBelle - Kinda' However Sherman wasn't the only Union General who won victories. The list I provided (above) is the best match-ups I could figure. (It's possible that better match-ups exist, but I'm sure I've gotten it fairly good.)
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1SG Daniel Falcon - Both tubman and douglass had significant roles during the civil war. So it is appropriate in my opinion. The information on them both is available in the internet.
During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman was also a secret spy and military leader. In 1863, Harriet Tubman led soldiers with Colonel James Montgomery to raid rice plantations along the Combahee River in South Carolina. They set fire to buildings, destroyed bridges, and freed many of the slaves on the plantations.
By 1860, Douglass was well known for his efforts to end slavery and his skill at public speaking. During the Civil War, Douglass was a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln and helped convince him that slaves should serve in the Union forces and that the abolition of slavery should be a goal of the war.
During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman was also a secret spy and military leader. In 1863, Harriet Tubman led soldiers with Colonel James Montgomery to raid rice plantations along the Combahee River in South Carolina. They set fire to buildings, destroyed bridges, and freed many of the slaves on the plantations.
By 1860, Douglass was well known for his efforts to end slavery and his skill at public speaking. During the Civil War, Douglass was a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln and helped convince him that slaves should serve in the Union forces and that the abolition of slavery should be a goal of the war.
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Shouldn't Jackson be on that list too? That'd be an easy switch from Stonewall to Andrew.
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If its named for President Andrew Jackson maybe it should be renamed too considering the trail of tears and his outright defiance of a supreme court order.
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CW3 Matt Tait - Well now we're getting into the "no one is worthy because no one is perfect" issue. Like how the People's Republic of California is removing Founding Father's names off schools because they owned slaves.
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CW2 (Join to see) I agree that we could probably pick apart anyone of historical significance so it could be that nothing gets named after anyone. I just hadn't previously correlated Andrew "trail of tears" Jackson with Fort Jackson and that's one of the worst moments in American history.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
I agree that, in general, we should be moving to an all joint concept, however none of the bases (with the exception of Bragg, which already absorbed Pope) are co-located with other services. Also, most are not exactly near real cities...and in the case of Fort Polk and Pickett, they're not near anything (Rucker's not much better). I also don't think Joint Base Killeen exactly has the appeal that Joint Base San Antonio does.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Bragg did not"absorb" Pope. BRAC got Pope AFB and per terms of the lease with the USAF, it was returned to the ARMY and resumed its former name Pope AAF.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
MAJ Ronnie Reams - Whatever you call it, the end result is the same. Territory that belonged to Pope now belongs to Bragg.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Did not belong to the USAF, they were a tenant. In fact, there was much discussion at Willies* of kicking them out back when they violated lease conditions of no F nor P ac being stationed there when a F-16 crashed into the Green Ramp. I was at the old confinement facility, which was USASOC HQ at the time. Sounded as if the 10th Marines were out of the impact zone. LOL We immediately had to check if we had any strap hangers that were there. The post engineer was ready to send them packing, but Pentagon said no.
*In case you not been there, that is the basement bar at the main FBOOM, a casual bar. Lots of decisions made there, as it main watering hole for seniors,as it right across street from Generals Row and other senior officer quarters.
*In case you not been there, that is the basement bar at the main FBOOM, a casual bar. Lots of decisions made there, as it main watering hole for seniors,as it right across street from Generals Row and other senior officer quarters.
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I'd like to add, I think it would be a good idea to name a few medical facilities after nurses who lost their lives in combat zones, such as 1LT Sharon Lane who was the only nurse to die by enemy fire during the Vietnam War.
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Fort Rucker should be renamed after one of the Warrant Officer aviators that received the Medal of Honor thus tying to the two primary things Fort Rucker does: train Warrant Officers and train aviators.
Fort Novosel would be my vote but there are a few others along with several enlisted soldiers and regular officers that would also be good choices.
Other training bases should be named after soldiers that represent one of the MOS that is trained there and even better if they are from the area. For Benning's replacement I'm sure that there are many infantry MOH or other valorous award recipients from Georgia. Non training bases would do well to be renamed along the same lines: someone local and a MOH or other valorous award recipient.
Fort Novosel would be my vote but there are a few others along with several enlisted soldiers and regular officers that would also be good choices.
Other training bases should be named after soldiers that represent one of the MOS that is trained there and even better if they are from the area. For Benning's replacement I'm sure that there are many infantry MOH or other valorous award recipients from Georgia. Non training bases would do well to be renamed along the same lines: someone local and a MOH or other valorous award recipient.
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