Pentagon Restores Fort Benning Name, Honoring WWI Hero

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reverses 2023 renaming of Georgia Army base, now honoring Cpl. Fred G. Benning instead of Confederate General Henry Benning.

Fort Benning, originally named after Confederate General Henry Benning, had been renamed Fort Moore in 2023 to honor Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Moore.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the base will now honor Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a World War I hero awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918.
The 2023 renaming of Fort Benning to Fort Moore was part of a broader Congressional effort to remove Confederate names from military bases following racial justice protests in 2020.
Hegseth's decision aligns with his earlier move to rename Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, signaling a broader effort to restore certain base names while maintaining compliance with Congressional restrictions on Confederate ties.
The Defense Department memo emphasized honoring Cpl. Benning's heroism and the legacy of soldiers trained at the installation while recognizing the contributions of the Moores in a different manner.