Latest news with #HalMoore
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Benning takes back its old name, but to honor a different soldier
The Army is restoring the name Fort Benning to its storied training post in Georgia, only this time to honor an 18-year-old corporal who fought in World War I rather than a Confederate general. A ceremony to make the name change official was scheduled Wednesday at the base just outside Columbus. Roughly 70,000 soldiers, civilian workers and military family members are stationed at Fort Benning, which trains infantry troops and tank crews and is home to the elite Army Ranger School. It's the second time in less than two years that Fort Benning commanders have been tasked with swapping out the post's name on everything from signs marking gates, streets and buildings to official stationery and websites. The last name change in 2023 redesignated the post as Fort Moore as part of a move started by Congress in 2020 and completed during President Joe Biden's administration to remove names that honored Confederate leaders, including from nine Army posts. The name of Henry L. Benning, a former Georgia Supreme Court justice who vocally supported secession and served as a Confederate brigadier general in the Civil War, had adorned the base since it opened as Camp Benning in 1918. Federal law now prohibits naming military bases for Confederates. The Pentagon under President Donald Trump has found a workaround for reverting bases back to what they were formerly called, by finding new soldiers to honor with the same last name. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month ordered the change back to Fort Benning to honor Fred Benning, who was awarded the nation's second-highest honor for battlefield bravery as an 18-year-old corporal in 1918. Fred Benning received his Distinguished Service Cross after returning home to Nebraska, where he started a bakery and served as mayor of the small town of Neligh. He died in 1974. During its short time as Fort Moore, the Georgia post became the first in the Army named for a couple: the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Moore. Hal Moore served in Vietnam as commander of a cavalry battalion based at Fort Benning and was also a Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Julia Moore successfully lobbied the Pentagon to adopt a policy that military families would be notified of war casualties in person rather than by telegram. In his March 3 memo ordering the return to the name Fort Benning, Hegseth directed the Army to find a new way to honor the Moores 'in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army.' The Army hasn't said how much the switch back to Fort Benning will cost. An Army commission in 2022 estimated the change to Fort Moore would cost at least $4.9 million. Fort Benning is the second U.S. military base to have its 2023 name change reversed. The nation's largest Army installation was rechristened Fort Bragg in North Carolina last month, following a brief two years as Fort Liberty. TRENDING STORIES: 3 arrested as protestors disrupt Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall Little Caesars' attack leads to police raid at suspect's home, uncovers fentanyl and guns Witnesses say driver celebrated after chase, crash that killed 19-year-old innocent driver [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Benning officials moving quickly to comply with Department of Defense name-change order
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The day after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered Fort Benning to be restored to its original name, post officials are moving swiftly to comply. 'The Fort Benning Garrison team is rapidly working through the renaming process of updating our systems, facilities, and infrastructure in a deliberate and phased manner,' according to a statement from the post released late Wednesday. 'As we update assets across Fort Benning in honor of Distinguished Service Cross recipient Cpl. Fred G. Benning, we will also continue to honor the legacy of Lt. Gen. Hal Moore's storied military service and Julia Moore's family and casualty notification advocacy in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army.' The post is now named for a World War I corporal who was decorated for his actions in France. The names of Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia — who are buried in the Main Post Cemetery — have been removed. 'None of these changes happen without the support of our mission, and community partners at the local, city, and state level,' the Fort Benning statement continued. 'We are forever grateful for their contributions and support of the installation, our Service Members, and their Families. While the Army has constantly adapted and changed during nearly 250 years, it has remained mission focused. Likewise, the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning garrison remain focused on training Soldiers and leaders who are ready to deploy and fight tonight, and supporting the readiness and quality of life of their Families.' Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson said the city would continue to support the fort under a new name. 'I mean, here's the thing. We don't get a vote,' Henderson said. 'They never called me and asked me for my opinion. And, so, we're going to do what we've always done, and that is support soldiers. We understand that from a human capital standpoint and from a financial standpoint, they're vital to our region's success. So, we're going to continue to support the soldiers at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, whether it's called for more Fort Benning. We're just going to focus on the soldiers.' As Fort Benning officials work through the name change, a former Garrison Commander said the garrison command will do much of the heavy lifting. 'They immediately go into analysis and evaluation mode,' said retired Brig. Gen. Andy Hilmes. 'In this case, there will be many signs that need to be replaced. So, inventory and signage and figure out how many signs will need to be updated and changed. And that's everything from the access control points to normal signage along streets, signage out front of buildings and headquarters. It could be something as simple as the water towers. And do we need to repaint the water towers? Based on what's what's currently on them. So. So they're in gathering mode right now. But my guess is, having just done this less than two years ago, they have a pretty good sense of what will need to be done to properly apply labels and branding, if you will, to everything on the post.' U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff took exception to the action. 'I think this was a bad decision by Secretary Hegseth, and I think it's trying to drag us backward,' Ossoff said. 'Why should the most prestigious, the most important U.S. Army facility in the country be named after a Confederate general who fought to preserve slavery and who killed U.S. Army soldiers on the battlefield?' He does not buy that it is not named for Henry L. Benning. 'And I know that the secretary is saying, well, they found a different Benning,' Ossoff said. 'We all know what's going on here. No one is fooled by this sleight of hand. This is an effort to restore a name that honored a man who fought to preserve slavery. I think it's a deliberate provocation. I think it's a slap in the face to my black constituents. I think it's divisive, and I think it's wrong.' 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
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth orders iconic Georgia base to revert to Fort Benning, but with a twist
The U.S. Army's installation that trains all of its infantry and armor soldiers, will be renamed Fort Benning, its original designation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered the Columbus, Georgia, military post to revert to its old name after it was re-designated as Fort Moore during the Biden administration. However, the base won't honor Confederate Gen. Henry L. Benning, its original namesake. Instead, it will be renamed after Cpl. Fred G. Benning, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" in action during World War I in France in 1918. Hegseth Says Fort Bragg In Coming Back, But With A Twist "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," Hegseth said in a statement. The name change is part of the Trump administration's effort to dismantle a Biden-era Defense Department initiative motivated by the 2020 George Floyd protests to change the names of military installations named after Confederate military figures. Read On The Fox News App In February, Hegseth ordered that Fort Liberty revert back to Fort Bragg. The base was originally named in 1918 for Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, who was known for owning slaves and losing key Civil War battles that contributed to the Confederacy's downfall. The new name pays tribute to Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge. Military Installations, Ships Named After Confederates Begin Renaming Process Fort Benning has long been home to the Army's infantry school and is home to the service's elite Army Ranger School, as well as basic training for soldiers in non-combat fields. In recent years, the Army's armor school relocated from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to the Georgia installation. Fort Moore was named after Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia. Hal Moore served in Vietnam as commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Benning and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His service during the first major battle of the Vietnam War at Ia Drang was depicted in the 2002 Mel Gibson film "We Were Soldiers." Julia Moore successfully lobbied the Pentagon to adopt a policy that military families would be notified of war casualties in person rather than by telegram. "I further direct the Army to honor the legacy of Lieutenant General Harold Moore's storied military service and Ms. Julia Moore's family and casualty notification advocacy in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the local community and the Army," Hegseth article source: Hegseth orders iconic Georgia base to revert to Fort Benning, but with a twist
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth Scraps Fort Moore Name in Latest Move to Undo Congress' Base Renamings
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday announced that he is renaming Fort Moore -- the name chosen to honor decorated Vietnam Army commander Hal Moore and his wife Julia -- less than two years after the base was scrubbed of its previous name honoring a Confederate general. The Army will return the famed Georgia base to Fort Benning, the name originally chosen in honor of Confederate Henry Benning. However, to keep the name and adhere to a law passed by Congress to eliminate names honoring Confederates, Hegseth chose a World War I junior noncommissioned officer, Cpl. Fred G. Benning, who served with valor and earned the Distinguished Service Cross, as the base's new namesake. The latest renaming comes after President Donald Trump opposed a bipartisan push by Congress during his first term to remove the names of Confederates, who fought against the U.S. during the Civil War, from bases and military property. Trump vetoed the legislation but Congress overrode the veto, and Trump has now started to roll back the renaming of nine bases in the U.S. Read Next: Defense Health Agency Director Ends 32-Year Career with Unceremonious, Abrupt Retirement The move Monday by Hegseth comes after the defense secretary ordered Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to return to Fort Bragg -- though like the former Fort Moore, the new name honors Pfc. Roland Bragg, a World War II paratrooper who earned the Silver Star while serving with the 17th Airborne Division, instead of its original Confederate namesake, The Georgia base was named in 2023 after Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, known best for commanding 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in 1965, which was among the first major engagements of the Vietnam War. The battle was immortalized in the book and movie "We Were Soldiers," and saw the first major use of contemporary air assault tactics, including soldiers being swiftly inserted into battle and the wounded being rescued with helicopters. Moore died in 2017. He was also a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. Moore's wife, Julia Moore, also served as the base's namesake. She transformed the military's approach to notifying the families of fallen service members. Her push for a more compassionate process led to the requirement that notifications be delivered in person by uniformed officers, replacing the cold, impersonal telegrams of previous wars. She died in 2004. Hal Moore was a trailblazer in pushing for racial integration in the Army, advocating for Black soldiers to serve alongside their white counterparts at a time of deep-seated resistance within the ranks. His tenure in South Korea as commander of the 7th Infantry Division laid the groundwork for what would later become the Army's equal opportunity policies. Benning is the center of gravity for much of the Army's ground combat training, serving as the home for basic training for infantry, cavalry scouts and tankers -- as well as the service's legendary Ranger school. In the 2021 defense budget, Congress mandated the renaming of nine U.S. military installations that bore Confederate names, a move driven by efforts to remove tributes to those who fought against the Union and on the side of slavery. A commission of civilian and retired military officials overseeing the renaming process made clear in its report that it deliberately avoided selecting new names that coincided with the Confederate honorees being replaced. Cpl. Benning served in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France, according to a Pentagon news release. On Oct. 9, 1918, his platoon commander was killed and two senior noncommissioned officers were wounded. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for leading the remaining 20 soldiers in his unit to capture an objective during the Meuse-Argonne offensive -- a significant battle on the Western Front that stretched to the end of the war in which some 26,000 Americans were killed alongside 35,000 French troops. The Army initially established Camp Benning in 1918. Henry Benning, the original Confederate honoree, said in a 1861 speech that his motivation to fight was squarely on preventing the freedom of slaves. "If things are allowed to go on as they are, it is certain that slavery is to be abolished," Henry Benning said. "By the time the North shall have attained the power, the Black race will be in a large majority, and then we will have Black governors, Black legislatures, Black juries, Black everything." Related: Fort Moore Was Named After My Parents. A Letter Mom Wrote Shows Why It Shouldn't Go Back to Benning
