A special commission given the task of identifying new names for Army posts currently named after Confederate generals has come up with 87 suggestions.
The Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) reported that the panel would provide Congress with a final list by Oct. 1, after continuing to consult with civic, installation and community representatives.
AUSA provided a partial list, to include: Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe; 1st Lt. Vernon Baker; Master Sgt. Roy Benavidez; Mary Walker; Master Sgt. Gary Gordon; and Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shugart. Cashe, Baker, Benevidez and Walker each earned the Medal of Honor. Gordon and Shugart died in Somalia while protecting a downed Black Hawk helicopter from attackers. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gens. Omar Bradley and Matthew Ridgway, Lt. Gens. James Gavin and Hal Moore, and Maj. Audie Murphy (also a Medal of Honor holder) also are on the list. The names Comfort and Central Texas are also under consideration.
According to AUSA, the commission narrowed down the potential choices from 34,000 submissions that included 3,670 unique names.
The posts slated for new names are: Forts A.P. Hill, Lee and Pickett in Virginia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Forts Benning and Gordon, Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The secretary of defense would implement the plan by Jan. 1, 2024, AUSA reported, after presenting a report to Congress.
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