HomeWorldUSBases named for Confederates should honor women minorities instead, panel says

Bases named for Confederates should honor women minorities instead, panel says

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panel established by Congress to determine new names for nine Army installations honoring the Confederacy military officers submitted their recommendations on Tuesday, causing the Department of Defense one step closer to stripping some rebel nicknames of its most famous bases.

Nine installations, all built in time first half of 20th century located in former Confederate states and often called with contribution of regional leaders and groups who sympathized with rebel cause.

Names recommended by the commission include: for in first time, women and other minorities, a striking departure from years of practice of naming military installations for White men. Recommendations still need to be submitted to Congress, where are some republicans remain against renaming databases, as part of of official report before they can be approved by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

From Opinions: How to Rename Army Bases After the Confederation soldiers

Efforts to rename bases intensified in 2020 after murder of George Floyd, who rekindled the heated debate over national identity and history of racism. The commission was created in January 2021, with of annual defense authorization receipt required names that will changed within three years.

“Each name is either derived from or resonated with local communities,” Tai Seidule, retired one-star Army general who is the deputy chairman of the commission on names, said on Tuesday during a telephone conversation call with media announce list. panel received more more than 34,000 proposals from the public said Seydule from which they chose the shortlist of 3670, which were then narrowed down to less than 100 earlier this year. year.

panelcomposed of former military leaders recommended Fort Hood in Texas will be renamed Fort Kavazos in honor of Confederate General John Bell Hood. for Richard Cavasos, Army first Hispanic brigadier general general and Texas native who later commanded the III Corps, which was based there.

Fort Lee in Virginia, by name for Robert E. Lee, leader of The Confederate Army will be renamed Fort Gregg Adams in honor of two Black Army officers. who broke through racial barriers in service. When first stationed at Fort Lee, Arthur J. Gregg, who enlisted in 1940s and became a three-star general and highest-ranking black man in the military didn’t even allow it in all white officers club. As a result, it became a site of his retirement ceremony. Charity Adams meanwhile was first African American to become an officer in women’s auxiliary corps and commanded a postal battalion overseas During the Second World War.

William Henry Johnson, Sergeant in the Black Army posthumously recognized with medal of honor, nation highest combat valor award, for battlefield exploits during the First World War will become new namesake of Fort Polk in Louisiana.

Fort AP Hill in Virginia also named after a Confederate officer, may become Fort Walker after Mary Edwards Walker, surgeon during the Civil War and the only woman to receive a medal. of Honour. She served on battlefields in Commonwealth and was later imprisoned in Richmond during the war.

Army memorializes black soldier who was lynched on Base in Georgia 80 years ago

Commission also took opportunity to recognize military spouses recommending that Fort Benning in Georgia, im. for subjugator and ally general to be renamed Fort Moore for Hal Moore and his wife Julia. Hal Moore received the Distinguished Service Cross. for act of valor in Vietnam, and later co-authored We Were Soldiers Once…and Young. Julia Moore played an instrumental role in change way the army notified the families of soldiers killed in combat.

Rep. Adam Smith (WA), Chairman of The House Armed Services Committee released a statement on Tuesday in which list as “significant milestone” and “first step in appeal to the symbols of the Confederation in United States military”.

Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-Maryland), Army veteran who campaigned furiously for in changes made a similar note of optimism.

“I learned how to fly helicopters at Fort Rucker. I headed to Iraq from Fort Bragg and I earned my jump wings at Fort Benning. All these bases are revered men who will not want me or other black Americans serving in uniform, not to mention in Congress,” he said. “This is about more than names and symbols; who our military prefers to respect sets path forward for other necessary reforms to make our armed forces more comprehensive, varied and just”.

Not every proposed title elevates history of individual military personnel whose heroism has long been preserved in relative uncertainty. Dwight D. Eisenhower, famous general during World War II and 34th President of the United States, was a member of the commission pick inherit Fort Gordon in Georgia, not far from the Augusta National Golf Club where he played. And for Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the commission chose “Liberty” as new title.

General, of nine bases for what the committee proposed new names, three were proposed to dedicate women, in whole or in part two for black Americans, one Latino and one soldier of Indian origin. Three were recommended in White’s honor. men and one – Freedom is a concept.

“Do I think people some will disagree of our findings? I don’t doubt it at all,” Seidule said. However, he defended the choice, saying, “We listened carefully to the communities. in just in case and always in case of our recommendation of Fort Liberty.

Seidule said that the commission relied on in post commander at each base to convene a “broad representation” of local stakeholders, including “leaders of faith, those soldiers on postleaders on post”weigh in with their opinions. When asked, he said women and minorities were represented at every meeting.

“We were looking for names that would inspire the nation,” Seidule said. “We are diverse group who go up with these names, and we did it unanimously.”

Austin made a statement of thanks to the commission for This work still. “Today’s announcement highlights the commission’s efforts to propose nine new installation names reflecting courage, values, sacrifice and diversity of our military men and women,” he said. “… I look forward see them complete report it later year”.

Other proposed names refer to troops whose legacy has gone unnoticed.

Fort Rucker in Alabama, Mr. home of Army aviation will be named after pilot Mikhail Novosel Sr. who volunteered in its 40 years before fight in Vietnam after service in World War II and Korea. He later saved his son from a helicopter that was fired upon down, who in turn saved him father in separate incident a week later. selection of Novosel, medal of The recipient of the honor, had to recognize “service to generations, common trend in modern military”, the commission wrote.

Fort Pickett in Virginia will be renamed for Van Barfoot, a Mississippi Choctaw Indian whose bravery in The Second World War has become a legend. Barfoot as part of attack on German positions in Italy, broke off one under heavy fire attack three machine-gun nests, killing and grab a few enemies. Then in day, again alone, he used a bazooka to destroy tank before escorting two wounded soldiers almost a mile to medical attention. He also received a medal of Honour.

Commission also was instructed with definition of other military assets with Confederate ties, including street and building names to consider for also renaming. This is found more than 750 items through military installation.

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Tyler Hromadka
Tyler Hromadka
Tyler is working as the Author at World Weekly News. He has a love for writing and have been writing for a few years now as a free-lancer.

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