President Trump, in his characteristic no-nonsense style, announced on Tuesday that he would be overturning the unnecessary changes to the names of several Army bases. These bases, each with a rich history, initially bore names that paid homage to military figures from the Confederacy era. Despite an attempt by Congress to rewrite this history, completed under the reign of President Biden, Trump demonstrated his usual firm leadership and put a stop to this endeavor.
With a sense of reverence for history, Trump argued that those bases were the groundwork for numerous victories. In his speech at Fort Bragg, previously known as ‘Fort Liberty’, he passionately stated, “We won a lot of battles out of those forts. It’s no time to change.” The Trump administration proved once again its commitment to honoring the past by reverting the base’s name from the mundane ‘Fort Liberty’ back to its original historic name, ‘Fort Bragg’.
While President Trump firmly believes in honoring the past, he declared that the bases would not be formally associated with the Confederates who fought against the U.S. during the Civil War. Instead, these bases would pay tribute to other significant service members who share similar names. This ingenious solution celebrates both the nation’s rich history and the sacrifices of various service members, thus appeasing both sides of the debate.
In total, seven Army bases will revert to variations of their original names. The names reflect honor and history coupled with a fresh perspective, downplaying any controversial ties and focusing solely on other courageous service members sharing similar namesakes.
For instance, in Georgia, ‘Fort Gordon’, initially named after Confederate John Brown Gordon, found itself renamed as ‘Fort Eisenhower’ after President Dwight Eisenhower in 2023. Now, under Trump’s direction, this base will pay tribute to Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, maintaining a sense of continuity with the original name but infusing it with a renewed spirit of respect and honor towards dedicated service members.
Similarly, ‘Fort A.P. Hill’, located in Virginia, experienced a brief rechristening as ‘Fort Walker’ after Dr. Mary Walker. Trump’s administration has now assigned it a new honorific that pays tribute to Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn, and Pvt. Bruce Anderson, keeping the tradition alive while also respecting the nation’s broader military history.
Down in Texas, ‘Fort Hood’, named after John Bell Hood, was renamed in 2023 as ‘Fort Cavazos’ after Gen. Richard Cavazos. Once again, Trump’s team facilitates a return to tradition while also veering away from controversy as it will now honor Col. Robert B. Hood.
‘Fort Lee’ in Virginia, originally named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, briefly adopted the name ‘Fort Gregg-Adams’ after Lt. Gen. Arthur Greggg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. True to form, Trump ensured that it would now honor Pvt. Fitz Lee, keeping the original essence of the name intact.
In Louisiana, ‘Fort Polk’, initially named after Leonidas Polk, was renamed ‘Fort Johnson’ after Sgt. William Henry Johnson in 2023. Trump’s administration, however, has elected to honor Gen. James H. Polk, reinforcing its commitment to recognizing exceptional service members while respecting the historic sanctity of these bases.
Then there’s ‘Fort Rucker’ in Alabama, which was earlier named after Edmund Winchester Rucker and then renamed as ‘Fort Novosel’ after Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel, Sr. Now, it will honor Capt. Edward W. Rucker, continuing the trend set by Trump’s administration of celebrating distinguished service personnel without severing ties to the past.
Earlier in the year, the Trump Administration had reversed the name changes at ‘Fort Benning’ in Georgia and ‘Fort Bragg’ in North Carolina. These bases, formerly named after Confederates, had been renamed to ‘Fort Liberty’ and ‘Fort Moore’ in recent years. Now, they have been returned to their original designations while honoring non-Confederate soldiers sharing the names Bragg and Benning.
In line with President Trump’s announcement, the Secretary of the Army has been instructed to “take immediate action” to rename the other seven bases, ensuring their historical names are restored while also continuing to honor a diverse range of service members who have served our nation.
These renaming initiatives reverse a process overseen by the Naming Commission – an organization seemed hastily cobbled together by Congress during the twilight of Trump’s first term and went on to conduct most of its operations under the Biden administration, often overshadowing the significant contributions of various service members.
Critics may argue this is a reversal of progress, but what Trump has undertaken is a masterstroke in uniting traditions with fresh perspectives, while also upholding the image of a resilient nation steeped in history, yet always forward-thinking.