Army Renames Louisiana Base for Black WWI Soldier Decorated for Heroism

Fort Polk military base in Louisiana is being renamed as part of an effort to strip Confederate leaders of honor and instead honor Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black US soldier during World War I who fought off about two dozen Germans alone, killing at least four.
The base is now named Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson after Johnson, who was awarded a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor posthumously and was outspoken about the racism experienced by Black soldiers.
The renaming is part of the U.S. military's efforts to address historic racial injustice, including changing the names of nine Army posts that commemorated Confederate officers.
Johnson fought off a German night raid near the Argonne Forest, was wounded 21 times, and prevented a wounded Black comrade from being taken prisoner, though his heroism was not recognized by the Army at the time.
The renaming marks the first time bases will be named after Black soldiers and women, though the original naming process involved local communities and left out Black residents.