What’s in a Name?

What do these names mean to you – – Bragg, Benning, Gordon, AP Hill, Hood, Lee, Pickett, Polk and Rucker?

If you said Confederate generals and officers during the Civil War, you’re right.  They are also all traitors to the United States of America.  And yet, they are also all names of military bases in the United States.

A federal commission has been working on renaming these bases, with that to start at the beginning of 2024 – little more than a year and a half away.

From 34,000 names suggested by the public, the commission has come up with suggested changes.

Fort Bragg would become Fort Liberty (the 82nd Airborne’s song).

Fort Benning would become Fort Moore (Lt. Gen. Hal Moore who was immortalized in the movie and book ” We Were Soldiers Once – and  Young.”)

Fort Gordon would become Fort Eisenhower.

Fort AP Hill would become Fort Walker (after Civil War field physician Mary Walker)

Fort Hood would become Fort Cavazos (Korean War hero Richard Cavazos.)

Fort Lee would become Fort Gregg-Adams (after two black World War Two Army  logisticians Arthur Gregg and Charity Adams)

Fort Pickett would become Fort Barfoot (after Medal of Honor recipient Van Barfoot)

Fort Polk would become Fort Johnson (after Medal of Honor recipient William Henry Johnson)

Fort Rucker would become Fort Novosel (after Medal of Honor recipient Michael Novosel Sr.)

These may or may not be the final names selected by the Secretary of Defense.

I support cleansing the military’s infatuation with the Civil War and Confederate names.  It isn’t right that traitors be honored by having their names memorialized by the US government.  On the other hand, I’m not certain that these suggested name changes are the right ones.  It’s obvious that the commission tasked with changing names has tried to encompass every minority group and every gender available.  Woke consideration ran amuck.  Why was one Medal of Honor recipient selected over another?  Was it based on race or gender – or did that individual stand out so much that it was impossible not to give him or her the honor?

The names eventually selected will bring recognition to those individuals and to the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces.  I believe that race and gender should be a factor – but not the over-riding reason to be honored.  I would ask the commission to take a closer look at those selected and make the determination on the basis of pride in country and love and sacrifice for the Unites States of America.