Local Army soldier reacts to Fort Gordon name change, honoring different soldier sharing same last name
President Donald Trump announced plans Tuesday to rename seven military bases across the country.
Along with Fort Eisenhower, others included in that list are Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Lee, Fort Polk, Fort Rucker, and Fort A.P. Hill.
Fort Liberty was also changed names back to Fort Bragg just 4 months ago.
The military base was named in honor of late president and general Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 2023—his granddaughter, Susan, traveled to Augusta for the ceremony.
Officials tell NewsChannel 6 the name change is effective immediately.
'The installation is immediately underway with the planning required to make this a reality. The commanding general has contacted the Eisenhower family and the foundation,' said Dr. Tom Clark, executive director of the Alliance for Fort Eisenhower.
The Army Post was known for decades as Fort Gordon, named after John Brown Gordon—who served as a major general for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Now, the new name change will honor Master Sgt. Gary Gordon—remembered for his bravery in combat in East Africa.
He died in October 1993.
'He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in Mogadishu, Somalia. They made a movie about him and his comrade, and it's titled 'Black Hawk Down,' Clark said.
According to data from the Naming Commission, the cost to change the name to Fort Eisenhower was just shy of $600,000.
While they're working on costs for this name change, some local soldiers say changing it again was the right call.
'I think it's a good thing. It definitely holds the historical integrity of why it was named Gordon in the first place, and naming it after someone that is very worthy of that honor is really cool,' said Alec Nathaniel Baldwin.
'It is an amazing choice of an American hero that our installation will now be named after,' said Clark.
Officials say the name change is effective immediately, and while the name is changing, the mission to serve our country remains the same.
To learn more about the announcement from the U.S. Army, click here.
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