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An honest-to-God American hero got the shaft this week.
Lt. Gen. Hal Moore had his name removed from the Army base located in Columbus, Ga., so a former TV host-made-defense secretary by a draft-dodging bone spur of a president could be flippant. The name is being changed back to Ft. Benning.
Fox News Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the change Monday, saying, with a turd-eating grin, that the name would honor Fred Benning, a U.S. Army corporal who served in World War I, instead of Henry Benning, the former Confederate general for which the base was originally named.
It’s an absolute disgrace.
This is no knock on Fred Benning. He was a fine soldier and received the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery in a battle in France. He took command of his small platoon after the commanding officer was killed and led the way.
Certainly, such bravery and service should be honored.
But that’s not why his name is on an Army base, and we all know it. Instead, he’s being used as a pawn by an unserious person whose only goal is to “own the libs.” In this instance, that’s coming up with a way to restore the name of a Confederate general to the base.
And in doing so, he is removing the name of an actual hero. Of a good and decent man.
Because that was Hal Moore. One of the best.
So good, in fact, they made an actual movie (“We Were Soldiers”) about him and his bravery and his leadership. Google the guy up sometime and read about his heroism, and read the comments from those who served with him and those who just had the pleasure to know him.
Better yet, read this, because it’s everything you need to know about him as a person: “These times, indeed all times, demand national political leaders who know not only our history but the history of the world and its nations and peoples. We need leaders of principle, courage, character, wisdom, and discipline; and yet we seem trapped by a system of choosing our presidents that pushes those who possess those traits aside in favor of others who look good on television, are skilled at slandering and demonizing their opponents in a campaign, and are able to raise the hundreds of millions of dollars required to ensure election at any cost.”
Actually, reading that, it’s fairly easy to understand why he wouldn’t be a favorite of the Trump administration.
Moore, who resided in Auburn in the years prior to his death in 2017, was everything we expect heroes to be. And then some.
At the battle of la Drang in the Vietnam War, Moore led the 1st battalion of the 7th Infantry against a much larger North Vietnamese force. He started firing from the helicopter before setting foot on the ground and never stopped. He was in constant motion, managing to keep his soldiers a step ahead of the enemy forces and their planned attacks.
By the time the week-long battle was over – after four separate all-out attacks by the North Vietnamese – Moore led his battalion out, leaving more than 800 North Vietnamese dead.
Moore, himself, was injured at some point during the fighting, but he never slowed. When he was awarded the Purple Heart for his injury during battle, Moore tried (unsuccessfully) to return it because he didn’t feel he had been injured enough.
He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during battle.
But Moore was not simply a war hero or a good soldier. He was also a decent human being who fought for equal treatment of all in the military.
In the 1940s – the 19-dadgum-40s! – Moore threatened to boycott his West Point graduation celebration if a Black classmate was excluded. In the 1970s, he took a stand against racial injustice within the Army’s officer ranks and had several racist non-commissioned officers removed. He later instilled training programs that are credited with addressing racism within the small unit ranks.
“A good leader never discriminates or alienates based on race, color, or other genetic factors,” Moore once said.
And you know, maybe that is exactly why Hal Moore’s name was removed from the Columbus base. Because he was a true leader, a man who inspired others with actions and the way he carried himself. A man who stood for something, who protected the weak, who took no pleasure in the demoralizing of the marginalized, who did not tolerate fools or phonies.
A man who would be a constant reminder to those who removed his name of everything they lacked.
