After nearly a year of preparation, Fort Hood was officially redesignated to Fort Cavazos in a May 9 ceremony at III Armored Corps Headquarters, in compliance with the 2021 legislation that required the removal or modification of any Department of Defense assets commemorating the Confederate States of America or anyone who voluntarily served under the Confederacy.
“The redesignation of our installation to Fort Cavazos marks a new chapter in the history of the Great Place,” Army Colonel Chad R. Foster stated of name change. “General Richard Cavazos, a native son of Texas and a war hero, will be our new namesake. His example is emblematic of who we were yesterday, who we are today and who we will be in the future.”
Born and raised in Kingsville, Texas, close to where the fort is located, Cavazos fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars after graduating from Texas Tech University. He earned two Distinguished Service crosses for his service and went on to become commanding general of the III Armored Corps at the formerly known Fort Hood.
In 1982, Cavazos became the commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command and the first Hispanic American to be promoted to the status of 4-star general. After retiring, Cavazos continued to serve in a different capacity, acting as a mentor for other Army commanders and aiding in the Army’s senior training program.
The newly-named Forty Cavazos will continue its legacy as the Army’s leading site for training and deployment of armored forces—a title it has held since World War II.
“General Richard Cavazos is one of our own,” Colonel Foster said of General Cavazos. “The Cavazos legacy lives on today in the thousands of Soldiers, families and Department of the Army civilians who currently serve across our installation.”
Along with the name change, Fort Cavazos has gone on to answer some important questions for current and previous families who have undergone important life changes under the fort’s former name.
Kimberly A. Pugh, a medical support assistant working on the mother/baby ward at CRDAMC, has clarified that parents need not worry about amending their child’s birth certificate due to the redesignation of Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos. According to Pugh, if a child’s birth certificate indicates Fort Hood as their place of birth, it will remain unchanged. Once the Texas Vital Statistics Section updates its system, birth certificates will automatically reflect the new name, eliminating the need for any amendments. Pugh’s comments offer some reassurance to parents who may have been concerned about the potential impact of the redesignation on their child’s legal documentation.
In addition, Headquarters, U.S. Army, coordinated with the postmaster general to ensure updated names are populated in the U.S. Postal Service system. The Garrison has also coordinated with the local postmaster, who oversees delivery on the post, to ensure mail continues being delivered to where it needs to be. For those living on the installation, there is no need to submit an address change as the postmaster general has already updated it.
Any signs on freeways and on the base itself will also be changed to the proper name in a timely matter.
“Although names change, our legacy of service and sacrifice endures,” Colonel Foster additionally stated. “The redesignation to Fort Cavazos is really about the continuation of this legacy. Each new page that is added to our long, shared history will be written by us, showing the quality of our people and the strength of our community.”
Sources: U.S. Army, Eric Franklin, Fort Hoods Public Affairs, Wikipedia
