SecDef Announces Members of Base-Naming Commission to rename “items” that commemorate the Confederacy

INTRO : Congress, Dec 11

Provision Renaming Bases Included in FY21 NDAA

Provision Similar to Bacon Brown Legislation

The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by Congress this week includes a process to renames military installations named after Confederate soldiers; the provision is similar to legislation drafted by Congressmen Don Bacon (NE-02), a retired brigadier general and nearly 30-year Air Force veteran, and Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), House Armed Services Vice Chair and 30-year Army veteran.

The provision forms the National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations, composed of individuals appointed by service secretaries as well as members of Congress. The independent commission will review and make recommendations for renaming installations and department property which have designations not in line with the values of this country or the mission of the United States military.

Military leaders, active-duty troops, veterans, civil rights organizations, and every day Americans have long called for changing the names of these installations. Recent instances of racial violence and racism have underscored the immediate need for change, and Reps. Bacon and Brown have been champions in making this a reality. 

“Our military bases should bear the names of America’s war heroes who went above and beyond to answer the call of duty, and who represent the best ideals of our Republic, such as Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients, or other national heroes,” said Rep. Bacon. “Right now, many of our military bases are named after Confederate leaders who betrayed their Constitutional oath and caused the death of over 600,000 people because of slavery. I thank my colleague Congressman Brown for his leadership in working across the aisle to reach consensus. This is the way we come together and move our country forward.”

“Who our military honors and reflects our values. We cannot ask young servicemembers to live, train and raise their families on bases honoring men who betrayed their country to keep Black men, women and children in bondage,” said Vice Chair Anthony Brown. “The United States does not lack for heroes we should honor and whose examples can serve as inspirations. For our values and military readiness, we will get this done. I want to thank my colleague Congressman Bacon for his support and advocacy on this important and historic change.” 

The U.S. Army currently has 10 bases and facilities named after leaders of the Confederacy. 

Austin announces Members of Base-Naming Commission

FEB. 12, 2021 | BY DAVID VERGUN, DOD NEWS

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today the Defense Department’s representatives to the Congressionally-mandated commission on the naming of items in the department that commemorate the Confederacy.

I am pleased to announce today the names of four outstanding leaders who have agreed to serve as the Department’s representatives to the Congressionally-mandated commission on the naming of items of the Department of Defense that commemorate the Confederate States of America.

They are:

• Admiral Michelle Howard, U.S. Navy, retired
• General Bob Neller, U.S. Marine Corps, retired
• Dr. Kori Schake, Director of Foreign & Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute
• Brigadier General Ty Seidule, U.S. Army, retired (Emeritus Professor of History, U.S. Military Academy)

Each of these individuals possesses unique and relevant experience, in and out of government, that I know will inform this important effort.  I am enormously grateful for their willingness to serve the nation again, and I thank them in advance for the wise counsel I am confident they will provide.

I also thank the Congress for establishing this process, and I continue to pledge my personal commitment – and that of the Department – to making sure it succeeds.  I look forward to seeing the results of the commission’s work in the months ahead.

Retired Navy Adm. Michelle Howard; retired Marine Corps Gen. Bob Neller; Dr. Kori Schake, director of Foreign & Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute; and retired Army Brig. Gen. Ty Seidule, emeritus professor of history, U.S. Military Academy, will serve on what’s commonly called the Confederate Base Naming Commission.

“Each of these individuals possesses unique and relevant experience in and out of government that I know will inform this important effort. I am enormously grateful for their willingness to serve the nation again, and I thank them in advance for the wise counsel I am confident they will provide,” Austin stated.

“I also thank the Congress for establishing this process, and I continue to pledge my personal commitment — and that of the department — to making sure it succeeds. I look forward to seeing the results of the commission’s work in the months ahead,” he added.