• The Pentagon has changed the name of Fort Moore back to Fort Benning, honoring Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a World War I veteran.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed the memorandum signaling this name change, reversing earlier efforts to honor a couple, Hal and Julie Moore.
• The decision is part of a broader initiative to rename military bases that commemorated Confederate figures, a response to calls for social justice sparked by recent events.

The Pentagon has announced that Fort Moore, a military base located in Georgia, will revert to its former name, Fort Benning, as part of an ongoing push by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This renaming honors Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism during World War I, instead of the original namesake, Confederate General Henry Benning, who opposed the abolition of slavery. Hegseth's memorandum emphasizes the installation's “storied history of service to the United States of America” and is reflective of a broader campaign to restore names to military installations that have historical ties to the Confederacy.

Fort Moore was named in May 2023 after the Moores, who dedicated their lives to supporting Army families. However, the name change faced criticism, including from Steve Moore, the couple’s son, who expressed disappointment towards the decision, stating that it seemed to disregard their significant contributions to military families. The reversal of Fort Moore's name aligns with Hegseth’s earlier directive to rename Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, citing similar motivations rooted in honoring soldiers who earned their names through valorous service rather than the historical context that originally dictated these names.

This decision reflects a larger shift in defense policy post-2020, amid heightened scrutiny of military ties to figures associated with the Confederacy. The Pentagon’s renaming initiatives stemmed from the Forbes commission established to assess and recommend changes to such commemorative names. Furthermore, the establishment of casualty notification teams in part followed the efforts of Julie Moore as she worked to make the notification process more humane; her contribution showcases the deep impact military families can have.

The Pentagon has actively sought to honor servicemen and women with recognized valor, aiming to ensure that new names reflect their legacy. Both the renaming of Fort Liberty and now Fort Moore underscore this commitment to change, marked by a desire to pay homage to individuals whose sacrifices defined honorable military history. While the name Fort Benning has now returned, the initiative remains sensitive to preserving the legacy of those like Hal and Julie Moore, whose dedication to military families resonated deeply within the community.

For further details, visit CBS News, The Hill, India Times, and Forbes.