U.S. Military base Fort Hood, named for a Accomplice main common who led troops into battle in opposition to the USA throughout the Civil Battle, will likely be renamed for a Latino postwar four-star Military common.
The brand new title will honor Gen. Richard Cavazos, who’s famous for his management throughout the Korean Battle, when he earned the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross for main the Puerto Rican regiment “The Borinqueers.” He additionally served in Vietnam.
U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin ordered the renaming Thursday.
Cavazos is a Mexican American from Kingsville, Texas, who commanded III Corps, headquartered at Fort Hood, amongst different assignments.
The renaming, which might take months to finish, falls underneath the 2021 Protection Authorization Act that directed the elimination of all imagery and titles that “honor or commemorate the Accomplice States of America.”
The motion to take away Accomplice monuments from public areas all through the nation gained momentum after the 2017 lethal Unite the Proper rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and once more after George Floyd’s homicide in Minneapolis in 2020.
Naming the bottom for a Latino Texas native fulfills the Congressional Naming Fee’s purpose of inspiring service members from numerous communities by giving navy services “proud new names which might be rooted of their native communities and that honor American heroes whose valor, braveness, and patriotism exemplify the perfect of the USA navy,” based on the memo’s reference to the phrases of Naming Fee Chair and Admiral Michelle M. Howard.
Cavazos died in 2017 at 78.
“He overcame racism and different obstacles by way of his 33 years of service and ultimately led the U.S. Military Forces Command, making him one of many highest-ranked Military officers of his time,” the Congressional Hispanic Caucus stated in a letter that advisable the late common’s title exchange Hood’s.
Multiple in 4 folks within the Military base’s residence county of Bell is Hispanic, based on the U.S. Census Bureau.
Rep. Joaquín Castro, D-Texas, supported renaming extra navy belongings for Latinos, and was pleased to see the fee advocate Cavazos in Could.
“All through our nation’s historical past, Hispanic and Latino service members have served with valor and distinction — regardless of, at instances, dealing with discrimination at residence and overseas,” he stated in an announcement on the time.
Fort Cavazos will likely be a “welcoming group that our service members and navy households are proud to name their residence,” he stated.
Eight different Military posts had been additionally to be renamed underneath fee suggestions.
Hood was from Kentucky, and he was maybe finest recognized for commanding the Accomplice Military’s Texas brigade, a task that put him within the historical past books as an aggressive chief who personally led his troops into hurt’s approach. He joined the Confederacy after resigning from the U.S. Military.
