Seven Army Bases Reverted to Historic Names, Now Honor Decorated U.S. Soldiers

In a noteworthy renaming effort announced on Tuesday, President Donald Trump revealed that seven Army bases will revert to their original names, previously associated with Confederate leaders. Still, he will now pay tribute to nine distinguished U.S. Army soldiers who share those surnames.

During his address at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump stated, “We won a lot of battles out of those forts.” Now is not the moment for a shift. In a swift announcement, the Army unveiled a comprehensive list of new honorees, recognized for their bravery in conflicts spanning from the Spanish-American War to the War on Terror.

Fort Hood in Texas, recently renamed Fort Cavazos, will now honor Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I artillery commander recognized with the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery in France.

Fort Gordon, previously known as Fort Eisenhower in Georgia, will now pay tribute to Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, the Delta Force soldier who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia.

Among the distinguished individuals being recognized are Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Black Buffalo Soldier celebrated for his bravery in rescuing fellow soldiers under fire during the Spanish-American War, and Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient who commanded tank and reconnaissance units throughout Europe in World War II.

The Army highlighted that the updated names signify exceptional service rather than any ideological stance. Included in the list of honorees are five recipients of the Medal of Honor, alongside several trailblazers who have been historically overlooked in the official narrative of the Army.

The recent adjustments come in the wake of the decision to eliminate Confederate names from nine U.S. military bases during the years 2022 and 2023. Trump announced his decision to skip Saturday’s Army birthday parade in Washington, expressing, “I can’t wait.”