Cnn
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The American army renounces a great base of the army in Georgia from Fort Moore to Fort Benning, returning the base to its original name – although this time secretary for defense Pete Hegseth Said that it was after a soldier of the First World War enlisted and a recipient of distinction of service cross, instead of the Confederate General to whom he had previously been appointed.
“The army awarded the distinction of service to CPL Benning for its extraordinary heroism in action south of Exermont in France, October 9, 1918, read a note signed by Hegseth leading the change on Monday on Monday. “After the enemy killed his peloton commander and has disabled two superior officers not communicated, the CPL Benning took command of the 20 surviving men of his company, and courageously led them through heavy fire to their objective assigned to the support of the offensive of Meuse-Argonne.”
The decision marks the second base of the renowned Hegseth army, after having announcement Last month, he awarded Fort Liberty, in North Carolina, returning to Fort Bragg – this time after a soldier of the Second World War and a recipient of Silver Star, instead of the failure of the Confederate General.
Fort Benning – Initially appointed according to a Confederate General, Henry Benning – was Ironed like Fort Moore In 2023 as part of a wider effort to fold the bases with names from the Confederate era. Moore had two homonyms – Lieutenant -General Harold “Hal” Moore and his wife, Julia.
Hal Moore served in the army from 1945 to 1977 and commanded the 1st army battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, which was represented in the 2002 film “We wredats soldiers”. Julia Moore was an instrumental figure in the establishment of how the army informs and takes care of the spouses of fallen soldiers.
The new Fort Benning is named after CPL. Fred G. Benning, who served in Europe during the First World War and was then elected mayor of Neligh, Nebraska, on his return home, according to the press release from the Ministry of Defense. He died in May 1974.
“CPL Benning was the embodiment of the belief in infantry, because he has never failed the confidence of his country and fought in the aim of triumphing for his unity and his country,” said the note of Hegseth’s note.
HAS The named ceremony In May 2023, David Moore – the son of Hal and Julie, and a retired army colonel – said that the installation “is alone because this re -engagement does not only concern a name or the achievements of a person – but, but rather concerning the personal character, represented by the army values, reinforcing the fundamental truth that the soldiers are fighting as a team.”
Moore, said that he had received a courtesy call from the base commander by informing his family of the change announced today.
“This is the idea of their service combined with the army, from community service and service to the nation, and the fact that the Secretary of Defense Hegseth has actively chosen to look at this and to reject this,” Moore told CNN. Moore’s family has a long history with the base.
Hal Moore began his infantry training in Fort Benning in the 1940s, one of his sons was born there, and the family was parked at the base before the deployment of the elder Moore in Vietnam, “said David Moore. His family had tried to make Hegseth known that Lieutenant-General Moore represented the values of “honor, integrity, altruistic service,” said young Moore.
Despite HegSeth’s public promise to return the names of the bare bases of their Confederate namesake, David Moore considered that the potentially name of Fort Moore “was going to survive, given the reputation, character and contributions of Hal and Julie Moore”.
“We are just deeply saddened,” said Moore. He said that his father’s last wish was to be buried among his men who fell in Vietnam, and he was buried at the base which briefly accumulated his name.
While the base is renamed, Hegseth declared that he ordered the army to “honor the legacy” of the Moores “in a way that celebrates their important contributions to the local community and the army”.
Last month, Hegseth indicated that more bases should be renowned.
“There are other bases which have been renamed that erudite this same heritage. There is a reason why I said Bragg and Benning when I entered the Pentagon on Day 1, but it’s not just Bragg and Benning, “he said. “There are many other members of the service who have connections and we will do our best to restore it. It is an honor to do so.