Pentagon Renames Fort Moore Back to Fort Benning Amid Controversy

FORT BENNING, Georgia — In a controversial decision, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Monday that Fort Moore will be reverted back to its original name, Fort Benning. The change is intended to honor Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a World War I soldier and Distinguished Service Cross recipient, rather than the Confederate general Henry Benning, after whom the base was originally named.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo explaining the reasoning behind the name change. “The Army awarded CPL Benning the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in action south of Exermont, France, on October 9, 1918,” the memo stated. “After the enemy killed his platoon commander and disabled two senior non-commissioned officers, CPL Benning took command of the surviving 20 men of his company and courageously led them through heavy fire to their assigned objective.”

This announcement marks the second name reversal made by Hegseth since taking office, following the recent return of Fort Liberty in North Carolina back to its previous name, Fort Bragg. The previous namesake was a Confederate general, a decision that faced significant backlash over the past couple of years.

Fort Moore had been named in 2023 to honor Lt. Gen. Harold “Hal” Moore and his wife, Julia. Hal Moore was celebrated for his leadership during the Vietnam War and is featured in the film “We Were Soldiers.” Julia Moore played a crucial role in shaping military notifications for families of fallen service members.

As the base changes back to Fort Benning, it will now pay tribute to CPL Fred G. Benning, who, after serving in Europe, became the mayor of Neligh, Nebraska, until his passing in May 1974. Hegseth noted that CPL Benning exemplified the Infantryman’s Creed by never failing in his duty to his country.

David Moore, son of the late Lt. Gen. Harold Moore, expressed disappointment over the decision. He stated, “It’s the idea of their combined service to the Army, service to the community, and service to the nation.” He recalled his family’s deep ties to Fort Moore, noting that his father trained there and had been stationed at the base prior to his Vietnam deployment. David also mentioned that the family had hoped to convey Hal Moore’s values to Hegseth.

Despite the renaming efforts, which aim to restore bases to honor service members rather than Confederate leaders, David Moore expressed sadness over the choice. He believed that Fort Moore held significance and represented his parents’ legacy of honor, integrity, and selfless service.

In the memo, Hegseth stated that the Army would honor the Moores’ legacy “in a manner that celebrates their significant contributions to the community and the Army.”

Looking ahead, Hegseth warned that more renamings of military installations could be expected, indicating that there are several other bases with similar issues surrounding their current names. “There are a lot of other service members that have connections,” he remarked. “We’re going to do our best to restore it. It’s an honor to do so.”