Latest news with #FredG.Benning
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fort Benning officially renamed in ceremony on Wednesday morning
The Brief Fort Benning was renamed Wednesday in honor of U.S. Army Corporal Fred G. Benning, a World War I hero awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The post was previously named after Confederate General Henry L. Benning and briefly renamed Fort Moore in 2023 to honor Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife. The 10 a.m. ceremony will include a colors casing and uncasing and the unveiling of a memorial plaque at the base, which trains infantry, tank crews, and Army Rangers. A renaming ceremony took place Wednesday morning at Fort Benning to officially restore the post's name—this time in honor of a different Benning. What we know Originally named after Confederate General Henry L. Benning, the base was renamed Fort Moore in 2023 to honor Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia. Now, it will bear the name of U.S. Army Corporal Fred G. Benning, a World War I hero who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in France. PREVIOUS: Fort Moore reverts to Fort Benning, honoring WWI hero Cpl. Fred G. Benning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the most recent change, emphasizing a move away from Confederate ties while honoring valor in military service. Fort Benning is home to approximately 70,000 soldiers, civilian personnel, and their families. It plays a vital role in Army training, hosting both infantry and tank crew instruction, as well as the elite Army Ranger School. Dig deeper No word yet on whether four other forts that were renamed in recent years will also revert their names. These include: Fort Hood, Texas, named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, was renamed to Fort Cavazos in May 2023, honoring General Richard E. Cavazos, a Texas-born hero of the Korean and Vietnam wars and the U.S. Army's first Hispanic four-star general. Fort Pickett, Virginia, named after Confederate General George Pickett, was renamed Fort Barfoot in March 2023, in honor of Colonel Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties. Fort Lee, Virginia, named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in April 2023, honoring Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg and Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams, both pioneering African American officers. Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, named after Confederate General A.P. Hill, was renamed Fort Walker in August 2023, honoring Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War-era surgeon and the only female Medal of Honor recipient.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fort Benning: Who was Sergeant Fred Benning?
FORT BENNING, Ga. () — In March, it was announced that Fort Moore would become Fort Benning once again. This time, it is named after Sgt. Fred G. Benning. Before it was called Fort Moore, Fort Benning's namesake was Henry Benning, a confederate officer and Columbus native. Now, the U.S. Army Installation is named for Sgt. Fred G. Benning, a World War I veteran, Distinguished Service Cross recipient, baker and the former mayor of Neligh, Nebraska. Few images of Benning are available, but the City of Neligh provided a photo of Benning during his mayoral tenure from 1948 to 1952. Initial releases from the Department of Defense listed Benning as a corporal, but U.S. Army officials at Fort Benning officials say later research revealed he was promoted before leaving the Army in 1919. Benning was 17 years old when he enlisted in the Army in 1917, becoming a 'doughboy.' He was only slightly older when he deployed to France with a machine gun company in what is now known as the 1st Infantry Division. After Benning's platoon commander was killed, the young soldier took control and led 20 men through enemy fire near Exermont, France, in one of the final attacks of WWI. His actions earned him the Distinguished Service Cross as corporal in 1918. Benning left the Army after the war and returned to Nebraska where he married Florence Reiter and opened a bakery with his brother Henry, which he ran for 46 years. During that time, Benning became the commander for American Legion Post #172 and the Mayor of Neligh, home to roughly 1,500 today. Although Benning received attention when he accidentally shot someone during a 1949 city council meeting, he was well-liked in the community and won reelection in 1950. Neligh's current mayor spoke with the Associated Press about Benning's appointment as the new namesake of Fort Benning. 'I think it's great. There are a lot of people who come and go in our community, and sometimes you don't know what their history is,' Neligh Mayor Joe Hartz told the AP. In a phone call with WRBL, he said the Neligh community is preparing to recognize Benning's appointment as the namesake of Fort Benning with a ceremony this summer. City Clerk Dana Klabenes said she has been receiving calls since the new name for the U.S. Army installation was announced in early March. Benning died in 1974, he is survived by his granddaughter Sue Conger-Williams and now, the U.S. Army installation which bears his name. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Moore reverts to Fort Benning, honoring WWI hero Cpl. Fred G. Benning
The Brief Fort Moore, previously named Fort Benning, will revert to its original name, Fort Benning, honoring Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a World War I hero. The base was initially renamed Fort Moore to honor Lieutenant General Hal Moore and his wife Julia for their contributions to the military and support systems for service members' families. This renaming marks the second instance of a military base reverting to its pre-Biden-era name, following Fort Bragg's return from Fort Liberty. Nearly two years after being renamed, the U.S. Army base near Columbus will receive another name. Fort Moore is being renamed Fort Benning. The backstory In May 2023, Fort Benning was one of a half-dozen military installations that were to be renamed because they were named for Confederate soldiers. It originally took its name from Confederate General Henry L. Benning. Fort Benning became Fort Moore, named in honor of Lieutenant General Hal Moore and his wife Julia. The name change was intended to recognize the couple's contributions to the military and support systems for service members' families. On Monday, it was announced that it would once again be named Fort Benning, this time for Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient who heroically served in Machine-Gun Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, American Expeditionary Forces, in France during World War I. What they're saying All official documentation, signage, and digital platforms will eventually switch fully to Fort Benning. "We look forward to inviting the community to attend an official ceremony at a date to be determined in the very near future," a spokesperson for the base wrote in a press release on Monday. Big picture view This is the second base to revert to its pre-Biden-era name. Fort Bragg, North Carolina, originally named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg, was renamed in June 2023 to Fort Liberty. Last month, it reverted to Fort Bragg, this time to honor Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who received the Silver Star for gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge. Dig deeper No word yet on whether four other forts that were renamed in recent years will also revert their names. These include: Fort Hood, Texas, named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, was renamed to Fort Cavazos in May 2023, honoring General Richard E. Cavazos, a Texas-born hero of the Korean and Vietnam wars and the U.S. Army's first Hispanic four-star general. Fort Pickett, Virginia, named after Confederate General George Pickett, was renamed Fort Barfoot in March 2023, in honor of Colonel Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties. Fort Lee, Virginia, named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in April 2023, honoring Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg and Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams, both pioneering African American officers. Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, named after Confederate General A.P. Hill, was renamed Fort Walker in August 2023, honoring Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War-era surgeon and the only female Medal of Honor recipient. SEE ALSO: Thousands of Georgia Army trainees heading home for the holidays Fort Benning renaming ceremony scheduled for May Army officially designates Fort Moore, dropping Confederate name Benning A lynching at Fort Benning was never solved. Now it will no longer be forgotten The Source The details in this article were provided by the U.S. Army. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Moore renamed back to Fort Benning
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The Secretary of Defense has renamed Fort Moore back to Fort Benning after less than two years under the current name. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum today, which confirmed the new Benning will be named after Cpl. Fred G. Benning. For nearly a century, the U.S. Army installation was named for Confederate officer Henry L. Benning, a Columbus native. It was one of nine military installations congress ordered renamed three years ago. This move by Hegseth is similar to one last month, renaming Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg after Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg. In both cases it was not named for the Confederates, but rather soldiers of the same name. Cpl. Benning was a Distinguished Service Cross recipient, following his actions in France during World War I, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. 'This change underscores the installation's storied history of service to the United States of America, honors the warfighter ethos, and recognizes the heroes who have trained at the installation for decades and will continue to train on its storied ranges,' said the press release from the U.S. Department of Defense. WRBL has reached out to officials at Fort Moore/Benning for comment. They are in meetings discussing the changes that were announced mid-afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
