As of today, Fort Benning no longer exists near Columbus, Georgia. It’s now Fort Moore.
The former Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Augusta were among 9 military installations whose names were linked to the Confederacy. A commission was formed to recommend new names for those installations.
Fort Moore, as it is now called, honors the late Lt. General Hal Moore and his wife, Julia. Moore was a U.S. commander during the Vietnam War while Julia was an Army Community Service advocate.
Fort Gordon in Augusta will become Fort Eisenhower later this year, honoring former President and five-star General Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to the Military Times, garrison officials are tentatively expecting the name change in October to coincide with Eisenhower’s birthday. The hospital at Fort Gordon already bears Eisenhower’s name.
Six of the 9 military installations slated for redesignation have already undergone name changes. Fort Hood in Texas has become Fort Cavazos; Fort Pickett in Virginia is now Fort Barfoot; Fort Rucker in Alabama was renamed Fort Novosel; Fort Lee in Virginia is now Fort Gregg-Adams; Fort Benning becomes Fort Moore today; and on June 2, Fort Bragg in North Carolina will become Fort Liberty.
No dates have been set for name changes at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, and Fort Polk in Louisiana.
