[Story By Jacob Lehrer]

Located in Bell County, Texas, Fort Hood is the largest United States Army base. But it will no longer be named Fort Hood. The Army base is getting renamed to Fort Cavazos after the Army’s first Hispanic four-star General. Fort Hood is one of nine U.S. Army bases getting renamed. Furthermore, the Department of Defense is renaming other entities under the Department of Defense.

According to a bill passed by Congress, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 states that, “the Secretary of Defense shall implement the plan submitted by the commission described in paragraph (b) and remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the ”Confederacy”) or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from all assets of the Department of Defense.”

The Naming Commission in charge of…well…renaming these entities and emblems, changed Fort Hood to be named Fort Cavazos. Fort Hood was named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, like many other fort names named after confederate generals. All of the Naming Commission’s recommended changes approved by the Secretary of Defense can be located here.

In response and approval of the recommendations, the Secretary of Defense stated they will “give proud new names that are rooted in their local communities and that honor American heroes whose valor, courage, and patriotism exemplify the very best of the United States military.”

Fort Cavazos is named after Army General Richard E. Cavazos. Cavazos was a sixth generation Texan and a graduate of Texas Tech University where he was in ROTC. It was after he graduated Texas Tech in 1951 where he went into the army. According to the Naming Commission, Cavazos went through infantry officer training and airborne training before entering the Korean war where he made notable and distinguishable efforts and advancements during battles, usually leading the troops.

Additionally, Cavazos was acclaimed during the Vietnam war. According to the Association of the US Army, “[Cavazos] exposed himself to hostile fire and exploding grenades while moving among his troops to direct a counterattack after his unit faced heavy fire while on a search and destroy operation.” In the theater of war, Cavazos stood out as a man focused on his duty and compassion for his troops.

General Cavazos was not only recognized as the Army’s first Hispanic four-star. Throughout his entire service, Cavazos has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross twice, which is the Army’s second highest award. He was also awarded two Legions of Merit, a Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. That does not include all of his medals and awards.

“Becoming the first Hispanic-American promoted to brigadier general in 1973 and continuing to rise throughout the decade, Cavazos commanded the 9th Infantry Division, and III Corps back in central Texas. In 1982, he became the first Hispanic-American to pin on four stars,” said the Department of Defense Naming Commission. Cavazos died in 2017.

“The installations and facilities that our Department operates are more than vital national security assets,” said the Secretary. “They are also powerful public symbols of our military, and of course, they are the places where our Service members and their families work and live,” said the Secretary of Defense. Next year is when many of these remodelings and renaming will be conducted.