Fort Hood could be renamed Fort Cavazos, after first Hispanic four-star general
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Fort Hood, the sprawling Central Texas Military publish, need to be renamed Fort Cavazos, following Gen. Richard Cavazos, a hugely embellished war veteran who was the 1st Latino brigadier and 4-star normal, a congressional fee recommended Tuesday.
The Naming Commission was designed to rename 9 Army posts and other military services property that bear the names of men and women who voluntarily fought for the Confederacy.
Fort Hood is named for Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood, who commanded the Texas Brigade in the Civil War.
Cavazos acquired the Silver Star and Distinguished Support Cross for major the Puerto Rican regiment “The Borinqueers” for the duration of the Korean War and later in Vietnam, together with numerous other honors.
“As a young lieutenant in Korea, he led his firm on 3 individual prices of an enemy placement, returned to the industry 5 instances to evacuate his wounded troopers just before allowing medics to address his wounds for that action,” Ty Seidule, a retired Army brigadier typical who is vice chair of the fee, mentioned of Cavazos.
Cavazos, who died in 2017 at 78, was a Mexican American from Kingsville, Texas, who commanded III Corps, headquartered at Fort Hood, amid other assignments.
“He overcame racism and other road blocks via his 33 several years of company and finally led the U.S. Army Forces Command, making him a single of the greatest-ranked Army officers of his time,” the Congressional Hispanic Caucus claimed final summertime in a letter pushing for thing to consider of his title to substitute Hood’s.
Rep. Joaquín Castro, D-Texas, who was energetic in pushing the commission to contemplate Latinos, including Hispanics and African People who have been not officers, stated that he was grateful that the Naming Fee recommended that Fort Hood be renamed following Cavazos.
He named Cavazos a “heritage-building Latino who fought bravely and motivated generations of younger company members to follow in his footsteps.”
“Through our nation’s record, Hispanic and Latino assistance users have served with valor and difference — in spite of, at periods, facing discrimination at residence and abroad,” Castro mentioned in a statement.
“These courageous gentlemen and girls have played necessary roles in our most defining battles and secured independence across the planet. I hope the new Fort Cavazos will be a welcoming group that our services associates and navy families are proud to phone their residence,” explained Castro.
Latino leaders had hoped that Fort Bragg, in North Carolina, would be renamed for Medal of Honor winner Grasp Sgt. Roy Benavidez.
But the commission selected not to propose a navy hero’s title for Fort Bragg, home to Army’s elite forces, which is named soon after Braxton Bragg, a Confederate standard and slave proprietor. It is recommending that the Military publish, the major in conditions of inhabitants, be renamed Fort Liberty.
Seidule stated the commission took very seriously Congress’ mandate that the commission hear to community communities in deciding names. He stated diverse groups of individuals were concerned, gathered by the set up commander.
Ridding army amenities and property of Confederate names was opposed by former President Donald Trump, who vetoed a defense shelling out bill in late 2020, in aspect due to the fact it licensed the renaming of armed forces installations. Congress overrode his veto.
Trump experienced named the renamings a politically inspired try “to wash absent history and to dishonor the immense progress our country has fought for in noticing our founding rules.”
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