• A Pentagon commission announced new names for nine bases currently named for Confederate figures.
  • The suggestions would name bases after Black soldiers and women soldiers for the first time.
  • The commission's recommendations must be confirmed by Congress and implemented by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. 

A Pentagon commission revealed proposed names for nine Army bases that are currently named in honor of the Confederacy on Tuesday. The suggested base names include those honoring Black soldiers and women soldiers for the first time.

The Naming Commission chairwoman, retired Adm. Michelle Howard, said that the commission "sought to find names that would be inspirational to the Soldiers and civilians who serve on our Army posts, and to the communities who support them."

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin offered his support in a statement, writing that "today's announcement highlights the Commission's efforts to propose nine new installation names that reflect the courage, values, sacrifices, and diversity of our military men and women."

The panel will submit its final report to Congress in the fall, and Austin will ultimately be responsible for implementing the changes by January 2024, Military Times reported.

The following are the proposed name changes that could be coming to Army installations.

According to the list of proposed names from The Naming Commission, Fort Bragg in North Carolina would be renamed Fort Liberty after the value of liberty. It is the only base on the list named after a concept, with the rest named for men and women important to Army history. 

Fort Benning in Georgia would be renamed Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia Moore. Hal Moore was a famed Vietnam commander and pioneer in the Air Cavalry, while his wife Julia helped to create family support networks and improve the casualty notification system. Also in Georgia, Fort Gordon would be known as Fort Eisenhower after Dwight D. Eisenhower, a US Army general and the 34th president.

In Virginia, three US Army installations would be renamed.

Fort A.P. Hill would become Fort Walker, honoring Dr. Mary Walker, the Army's first female surgeon who recieved the Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War.

Fort Lee would be renamed Fort Gregg-Adams after Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Gregg, the only living namesake on the list, is a retired three-star general who served in logistics and helped integrate Black soldiers into the Army, and Adams was the first Black woman to be an officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and was one of the highest ranking female soldiers in World War II. 

And Fort Pickett would be renamed Fort Barfoot after Van Barfoot, a Native American who recieved the Medal of Honor for his service during World War II. 

Fort Hood in Texas would be renamed Fort Cavazos after Gen. Richard Cavazos, who was the first Latino to become a four-star general in the Army. Cavazos also received the Distinguished Service Cross for his service in the Vietnam War. 

Fort Polk in Louisiana would be renamed Fort Johnson after Sgt. William Henry Johnson, and Fort Rucker in Alabama would be renamed Fort Novosel after Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. Johnson and Novosel are both Medal of Honor recipients. 

Missing from the list is Camp Beauregard, home to Louisiana's National Guard, which is named after a Confederate leader who championed the use of the Confederate Flag. 

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