In 2023, a significant shift occurred regarding the names of seven Army bases in the United States, which were originally honored Confederate leaders. These bases underwent renaming due to the national conversation about race and the controversial legacy of the Confederacy. However, recent developments indicate that these bases are reverting to their original names, albeit with a twist—the new namesakes share the same surnames as the Confederates but instead honor other American service members.
The decision to revert these names has sparked considerable debate within military and civilian sectors. Critics express concern that this move undermines the efforts to distance military institutions from Confederate associations. The tension lies between those who wish to preserve aspects of Southern heritage and those who advocate for the removal of the legacies of slavery-supporting figures.
Marc Morial, the president and CEO of the National Urban League, articulated that the renaming represents a "difference without a distinction." Many of the names that were changed under the Biden administration had honored service members who were women or minorities. This counter-renaming is viewed by some, including Morial, as a cynical attempt by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to align military naming conventions with former President Trump's policies, which have aimed to diminish diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The bases involved in the name change process included Fort Bragg in North Carolina, which was initially renamed Fort Liberty by the Biden administration. The Army announced it would restore the name Bragg, finding a World War II soldier named Private Roland Bragg as a new figure to honor. This restoration approach reflects an adherence to a new federal law prohibiting the military from honoring Confederates while simultaneously attempting to invoke long-familiar names from military history.
Fort Benning in Georgia also saw its name reverted under Secretary Hegseth's order, restoring the name that previously honored Confederate general Henry Benning. This policy shift includes other bases such as Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee, Fort Gordon, Fort Hood, Fort Polk, and Fort Rucker, reflecting a broader trend wherein military installations are returned to names historically recognized by soldiers.
Beyond military bases, other military assets are also undergoing renaming. For instance, the USNS Harvey Milk, named after a notable gay rights activist, was set to be renamed after a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, aligning with the pattern of reevaluating historical figures associated with military honors.
Critics raise significant concerns regarding the implications of these name changes, questioning the motivations behind reverting to names with Confederate connotations. Morial asserted that it is inappropriate for military institutions to honor figures that sought to overthrow the government and questioned the rationale behind retaining these names at all. Arts and policy professor Stacy Rosenberg emphasized the concern about the financial inefficiency of renaming bases, suggesting that resources could have been allocated to more impactful initiatives.
In Louisiana, the political landscape reflected similar sentiments. Republican Governor Jeff Landry announced the restoration of the name of the state's largest National Guard training site, arguing that honoring "courage" rather than "cancel culture" is paramount. This context indicates a broader political dialogue surrounding military naming conventions and historical legacies.
Angela Betancourt, a public relations strategist and Air Force Reservist, noted that the changing names of military bases represent an administration's vision of what the military should embody. While Betancourt acknowledges the divisive nature of reverting such names, she emphasizes the importance of recognizing diverse and often overlooked heroes as namesakes for military bases.
As the discussions around these name changes continue, the military's approach to honoring historical figures remains at the forefront of public debate, revealing deep societal divisions on race, history, and heritage in America.
