(Pentagon) Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum renaming Fort Moore in Georgia to Fort Benning.
The new name pays tribute to Corporal (CPL) Fred G. Benning, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in action during World War I with the U.S. Army in France in 1918.
This change underscores the installation’s storied history of service to the United States of America, honors the warfighter ethos, and recognizes the heroes who have trained at the installation for decades and will continue to train on its storied ranges.
RENAMING-OF-FORT-BENNING (pdf)
Base Redesignation (Army Public Affairs)
Secretary of Defense Hegseth directed the Army to change the name of Fort Moore to Fort Benning in honor of Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) recipient, who heroically served in Machine-Gun Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France during World War I.
On October 9, 1918, the enemy killed Cpl. Benning’s platoon commander and disabled two senior noncommissioned officers in action south of Exermont, France.
The Army awarded Cpl. Benning the DSC for his heroic actions that day as he courageously led the remaining 20 men through heavy fire to their assigned objective in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
CPL Benning was the living embodiment of the Infantryman’s Creed: He was “swift, determined and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win.
Fort Benning, home of the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence, trains thousands of Infantry, Armor, and Ranger warfighters to answer their nation’s call. Secretary Hegseth’s directive honors the warrior ethos and recognizes the heroes who have trained at the installation for decades.
The Secretary of the Army will take immediate action to implement this decision.
Hegseth Restores Fort Moore to Fort Benning in Honor of WWI Soldier (DOD News)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum today directing Fort Moore, Georgia, to be renamed Fort Benning.
The installation will now be renamed in honor of Army Cpl. Fred G. Benning, who “served with extraordinary heroism during World War I with the United States Army, and in recognition of the installation’s storied history of service to the United States of America,” the memo reads.
Originally established and named Camp Benning in October 1918 after Civil War-era Confederate Gen. Henry L. Benning, the installation kept Benning’s name until being renamed Fort Moore — after Army Lt. Gen Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Compton Moore — in May 2023.
A native of Norfolk, Nebraska, Cpl. Benning enlisted in the Army in April 1917 at the age of 17. After completing basic training, Benning deployed to Europe and “served with distinction with the 16th Infantry Regiment,” according to the memo.
The Army awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to Benning for “extraordinary heroism in action” during events that took place Oct. 9, 1918, south of Exermont, France. (Benning received his award via U.S. mail, as he declined to have it presented to him with military honors. Officers at Benning’s local recruiting office stated that such modesty was emblematic of the spirit of soldiers who have merited such awards, according to a local newspaper clipping from the time).
“After the enemy killed his platoon commander and disabled two senior non-commissioned officers, Cpl. Benning took command of the surviving 20 men of his company and courageously led them through heavy fire to their assigned objective in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive,” the memo reads, adding that Benning “continued his selfless service” after returning home from the war Sept. 3, 1919, and ultimately going on to serve as the mayor of Neligh, Nebraska.
Benning died in May 1974.
“Cpl. Benning was the living embodiment of the Infantryman’s Creed, as he never failed his country’s trust and fought to the objective to triumph for his unit and his country,” the memo reads, adding that the directive to rename the installation after Benning both “recognizes the heroes who have trained for decades at the installation” and “honors the warfighter ethos.”
The Columbus, Georgia, Army installation supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, reserve component soldiers, family members, civilian employees and retirees.
The installation is home to the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School, the United States Army Infantry School, the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment and multiple other tenant units.
This is the second military installation that Hegseth has directed to be restored to its previous surname, albeit honoring separate individuals.
On Feb. 11, 2025, Hegseth directed Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to restore its name to Fort Bragg in honor of WWII Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, an airborne infantryman who received the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity — as well as a Purple Heart for wounds sustained — during the Battle of the Bulge.
🚨🚨Benning is Back!
I went to Fort Benning for the Infantry Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, the Pathfinder Course, the Jumpmaster Course, the Battalion Commanders Course…..all at “Benning”….this is like finding a lost friend pic.twitter.com/o7XJcznq8U— Phil Williams (@SenPhilWilliams) March 3, 2025
Thank you, @SecDef , for restoring the U.S. Army base Fort Moore back to Fort Benning! Awesome to see the base I started my military career + many training courses return to its original name!https://t.co/T9o0J3W5PK
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) March 4, 2025
I had no idea Fort Benning was actually changed. I cannot recall a single person here in Georgia actually calling it Fort Moore.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) March 3, 2025
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