Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that Fort Moore in Georgia will return to its previous name of Fort Benning, marking the second military base renaming reversal under his leadership.
The base will now honor World War I veteran Corporal Fred G. Benning, who received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroic actions in France in 1918. After his platoon leader was killed, Cpl. Benning led 20 men through heavy enemy fire during the Meuse-Argonne offensive.
This change removes the 2023 dedication to Vietnam War hero Lt. Gen. Harold Gregory Moore Jr. and his wife Julia Moore. Lt. Gen. Moore earned the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in the Battle of Ia Drang, while Julia Moore played a key role in reforming how the military notifies families of casualties.
The decision follows Hegseth's recent restoration of Fort Bragg in North Carolina, which had been renamed Fort Liberty. Like Fort Benning, Fort Bragg now honors a different namesake - World War II veteran Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge.
The original Fort Benning was named for Confederate Brigadier General Henry L. Benning, who opposed abolition. The 2023 renaming initiative removed Confederate names from nine Army bases as part of a broader national examination of military installations honoring Confederate leaders.
Retired Brigadier General Ty Seidule, who co-chaired the original renaming commission, criticized the reversal as "capricious and cruel," noting it overturns Congressional action and disrespects the Moore family's legacy.
The Pentagon has not released updated cost estimates for the name changes. Previous projections estimated spending $4.9 million to rename Fort Benning to Fort Moore.
Hegseth indicated more base name reversals may be forthcoming, stating his team is researching service members who share surnames with original base namesakes and have received military honors.