By Suzanne Gamboa -
NBC News
As of May 9, the Fort Hood military base will be renamed Fort Cavazos, in honor of Richard Cavazos, a decorated war veteran who was the first Latino to become a four-star and brigadier general, the Army announced this Friday. .
Fort Hood, located in central Texas, is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood.
The change was recommended by the Defense Department's Naming Commission, created in 2021 after Congress mandated in a budget bill to remove images and titles honoring the Confederacy.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin ordered the name change in October, but so far had no execution date.
Cavazos, who died in 2017 at age 78, was a Mexican-American
born in Kingsville, Texas.
He was commander of the III Armored Corps, whose headquarters is at Fort Hood.
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“We are proud to rename Fort Hood Fort Cavazos in recognition of an outstanding American hero, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the first Hispanic to achieve the rank of four-star general in our Army,” said Sean Bernabe, commanding general. of the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood.
“Cavazos' battle-tested leadership, moral character and loyalty to his soldiers made him a respected and influential leader during his time in service and beyond,” Bernabe said.
Richard Cavazos.US Army via NBC News
Cavazos earned the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross for leading
Los Borinqueneers
, a segregated regiment of Puerto Rican soldiers during the Korean War.
Former President Barack Obama awarded the unit, officially named E Company, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, the 2014 Congressional Gold Medal.
“As a young lieutenant in Korea, he led his company in three separate offensives against an enemy position, returning to the field five times to evacuate his wounded soldiers before allowing medics to treat their injuries,” said Ty Seidule, Brig. retired from the Army and vice chairman of the Name Commission, when he announced his recommendation in May.
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Cavazos also served in Vietnam in 1967, commanding First Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, earning his second Distinguished Service Cross.
He retired in San Antonio (Texas) and is recognized as having mentored "many" Army commanders, the statement said.
Fort Hood is the headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Division and other divisions and commands.
More than 34,500 military personnel and 48,500 family members are stationed at the base, where at least 4,000 civilians work and which is also used by the Reserve and National Guard for training and mobilization.
The name change ceremony—open to guests and the media only—will be held at the base and will be broadcast live on their social media accounts.