Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reversed the renaming of Fort Moore in Georgia, deciding that it should revert back to being called Fort Benning. This move is part of the Pentagon's effort to overturn the Biden administration's decision to remove names honoring Confederate leaders from nine Army bases.
Fort Benning was originally named after Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning, a Confederate officer who opposed the abolition of slavery during the Civil War. Now, it will be named in honor of Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a World War I veteran who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions in 1918.
The renaming of bases has led to decisions that have upset military heroes like Lt. Gen. Harold Gregory Moore Jr. and his wife, Julia. Lt. Gen. Moore, a decorated military leader, earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor in the Vietnam War. Julia Moore played a crucial role in creating teams for in-person notifications of military casualties.
Recently, Hegseth also restored the name of a North Carolina base back to Fort Bragg, which had been renamed Fort Liberty in 2023. The original namesake, Gen. Braxton Bragg, was a Confederate general known for owning slaves and losing key Civil War battles. The base is now named after Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero.
The cost of renaming these bases is uncertain, but the Naming Commission estimated it would cost $4.9 million to rename Fort Benning and around $8 million to rename Bragg. Hegseth emphasized the importance of honoring the legacy of troops who lived and served at these bases.
Overall, the renaming process involves extensive research to find service members with the same names who have also demonstrated military action and bravery deserving of recognition.
