Trump Revokes Army Base Name Honoring Only Female Medal of Honor Recipient

In a surprising decision, President Donald Trump has mandated the reinstatement of nine Army base names. One of them is Fort Walker — the sole base that had been renamed to pay tribute to a Union hero from the Civil War.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a groundbreaking Army surgeon and the sole female recipient of the Medal of Honor, had a Virginia base named in her honor for a short period in 2023. Relatives of Walker say the decision reflects the historical wrongs she has faced.

In 1917, the Army revoked her Medal of Honor following a postwar review, citing that she was ineligible due to her civilian status at the time the award was granted. Walker steadfastly held onto the medal, wearing it with pride until her passing in 1919.

“I believe she would feel anger, much like I do, but I doubt she would find it unexpected,” stated Greg Therriault, a descendant of Walker’s sister. “She grasped the intricacies of acknowledgment.”

Walker, the only woman to graduate from her medical class in 1855, stepped up to serve as a surgeon during the Civil War after being rejected by the Army.

In 1864, she was taken prisoner by Confederate forces, enduring significant health challenges throughout her time in captivity. In 1865, President Andrew Johnson recognized her service and bravery by awarding her the Medal of Honor.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter reinstated her medal after a campaign spearheaded by her family. Michelle Marra, a descendant of one of Walker’s sisters, expressed that the recent decision to reverse the renaming is “sad and wasteful,” highlighting the significant efforts of the naming commission that chose her.

Fort Walker is set to be renamed Fort A.P. Hill, this time in tribute to Union soldiers Anderson, Pinn, and Hill. Nevertheless, Walker's legacy remains significant. She has received recognition through a postage stamp, a U.S. Mint quarter, and her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

“I have hope,” Marra said, “that one day America will once more bestow upon her a name that endures.”

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