In 2023, the U.S. Army post long known as Fort Benning became Fort Moore. On Wednesday, the name officially changed back to Fort Benning. But this time, the name honors a different man.
About 70,000 soldiers, workers, and military family members are stationed at Fort Benning near Columbus, Georgia. It opened as Camp Benning in 1918, named for former Georgia Supreme Court Justice Henry L. Benning. Benning served as a brigadier general in the Confederate army during the Civil War. He openly opposed the abolition of slavery and called for secession from the Union.
In 2020, Congress started the process of changing Fort Benning’s name. During Joe Biden’s presidency, it officially became Fort Moore. The new name honored a couple. Hal Moore served as a commander in Vietnam. His wife, Julia Moore, advocated for military families.
Other military bases also took new monikers. Fort Bragg, named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg, became Fort Liberty. Fort Polk turned into Fort Johnson. U.S. law now forbids naming military bases after Confederates.
But this year, Pentagon officials found a workaround. In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that Fort Liberty be changed back to Fort Bragg. Now it honors Army Private First Class Roland L. Bragg. He received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
In March, Hegseth ordered Fort Moore’s change back to Fort Benning. This time, the name honors Fred Benning. He served as a corporal in World War I.
Changing a fort’s name takes more than a paint job. It means swapping the name on street signs, police cars, buildings, stationery, websites, and more. Officials estimated the switch to “Fort Moore” would cost $4.9 million. They haven’t said how much the change back will cost.
According to Fort Benning’s commanding general, most people there knew little about Fred Benning. But since the announcement, historians started researching his story. At just 18 years old, Benning received the nation’s second-highest honor for battlefield bravery. When his commander died, Benning took charge of his machine-gun platoon in France. He led 20 survivors through heavy gunfire.
His granddaughter, Sue Conger-Williams, attended the renaming ceremony on April 16. She remembers spending summers with her grandfather. They fished and dug for earthworms. She knew little about his military service.
“I am grateful for this glimpse into history, and I see some similarities, though, between Fred Benning the soldier and Fred Benning my grandpa,” she says. “These are integrity, hard work, and a commitment to service.”
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power. — 2 Thessalonians 1:11
