Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Have we finally let go of a war that we waged against our own 160 years ago? I know there is still systemic racism, and I am afraid that I won’t see that go away in my lifetime. Sports teams and Stadiums and States are finally relinquishing their flying the Confederate Flag which is very positive although there has been uproar from the southern heritage groups.

The step toward abandoning the idolization of the confederacy this is finally happening is that the U.S. military is finally renaming bases that were named after confederate generals. I was in the Army in the 80s and could never figure out why we had Bases named for people that waged war against the United States.

To be sure not many Americans follow history and probably didn’t realize that some military bases were named after confederates. Here is a list of the Bases and their new names as of this year.

There are/were nine major U.S. military bases named in honor of Confederate military leaders, all in former Confederate States that will be renamed before the end of 2023:

• Fort Benning (1917), near Columbus, Georgia, named for Confederate General Henry L. Benning is scheduled to be redesignated Fort Moore on 11 May 2023 in honor of General Hal Moore and his wife Julia Compton Moore
• Fort Bragg (1918), in North Carolina, named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg is scheduled to be redesignated Fort Liberty on 2 June 2023 in honor of Liberty
• Fort Gordon (1917), near Augusta, Georgia, named for Confederate General John Brown Gordon is scheduled to be redesignated Fort Eisenhower in late 2023 in honor of president Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Fort A.P. Hill (1941), near Bowling Green, Virginia, named for Confederate General A. P. Hill is scheduled to be redesignated Fort Walker in late 2023 in honor of Medal of Honor recipient and army surgeon Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
• Fort Hood (1942), in Killeen, Texas, formerly named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, is live-streaming the redesignation ceremony for Fort Cavazos at 9AM on 9 May 2023 in honor of General Richard Cavazos (closed event)
• Fort Lee (1917), in Prince George County, Virginia, named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee was redesignated Fort Gregg-Adams on 27 April 2023 in honor of Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg and Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams
• Fort Pickett (1942), near Blackstone, Virginia, a Virginia National Guard installation named for Confederate General George Pickett was officially redesignated Fort Barfoot on 24 March 2023 in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Van T. Barfoot
• Fort Polk (1941), near Leesville, Louisiana, named for Episcopal bishop and Confederate general Leonidas Polk is scheduled to be redesignated Fort Johnson on 13 June 2023, in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant William Henry Johnson
• Fort Rucker (1942), in Dale County, Alabama, named for Confederate colonel Edmund Rucker, was officially redesignated Fort Novosel on 10 April 2023 in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel

As someone who served and was stationed on a number of these bases, I have happy that the names are changing even though I will still unfortunately revert to the pre 2023 renaming because its human nature to remember the moniker that has been used for decades.

I am just waiting for the kerfuffle from the South will rise again crowd opposing the name changes but for now I can applaud that was a nation we are finally at least trying to move forward.