FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. — U.S. Military Virginia garrison, Fort Lee, was renamed Thursday to Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of two Black officers who helped advance inclusivity and made vital marks within the navy.
The publish is certainly one of 9 that will likely be redesignated to take away the names, symbols, shows, monuments, and paraphernalia that commemorate the Confederacy, based on the Division of Protection.
The trail to retired Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg’s identify being positioned on an Military publish began out on the honored-to-be-included stage and ended with him being “overwhelmed” at being chosen.
“I used to be clearly very honored that they felt I used to be worthy of my identify being right here,” Gregg mentioned Thursday afternoon, not lengthy after Fort Lee formally grew to become Fort Gregg-Adams. “When the choice was made that the publish can be redesignated Gregg-Adams, I used to be actually overwhelmed with pleasure and with pleasure.”
Historical past was made on a number of fronts Thursday afternoon when the drapes have been pulled off the brand new gate indicators bearing the names of Gregg and the late Lt. Col. Charity Adams.
It’s the first time in navy historical past that an set up was named after Black troopers and the primary time in fashionable navy historical past that an Military publish was named for somebody nonetheless residing — Gregg is 94, and Adams died in 2002 on the age of 83 — and one which carries the names of two folks.
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First publish named after Black officers
Gregg, who as soon as taught at Fort Lee and even retired from the publish in 1981, was the primary Black officer to realize the rank of three-star (lieutenant) normal. On the time of his retirement, Gregg was the highest-ranked Military officer of coloration.
Adams was the primary Black lady to be made an officer within the Military and the primary to command a battalion of Black and Hispanic feminine troopers in World Battle II. Her command, referred to as the 6888th, delivered mail and different requirements to troopers on the entrance strains of the European Theater.
“She was at all times extraordinarily pleased with the 6-Triple 8,” her son Stanley Earley mentioned throughout a information convention after the ceremony. He and his sister, Judith, represented the Adams household on the ceremony and helped take away the drapes, however they didn’t converse through the occasion.
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Renaming displays range, inclusivity
The names of Gregg and Adams changed that of Accomplice Gen. Robert E. Lee, a adorned U.S. Military officer who resigned his fee to steer the Accomplice military within the Civil Battle.
In 2020, Congress ordered the names of Lee and eight different Accomplice leaders eliminated and changed with those that replicate range and inclusivity of at this time’s Military following a collection of protests earlier within the 12 months over racial inequality. These protests have been prompted by the high-profile deaths of Black residents by the hands of law enforcement officials throughout the nation.
Through the information convention, Gregg was requested if he discovered the thought disturbing {that a} navy publish, particularly one the place he was denied entry into civic and social locations and capabilities due to his pores and skin coloration, can be named for an officer whose authorities he fought for stood for racial segregation.
“It was troubling,” Gregg mentioned. “Basic Lee had an amazing report as a soldier, as a graduate of the Army Academy. However throughout a vital time in our historical past and definitely in his life, he elected to go to the opposite aspect.
“We’re troubled by anybody deserting the US Military and going to the opposite aspect and preventing in opposition to us.”
Gregg mentioned he thinks Lee was “judged on two ranges” — as a cadet at West Level and U.S. Military soldier, after which as a frontrunner of the Confederacy. “He was considered negatively due to his battle in opposition to the US of America,” Gregg mentioned.
Honoring Gregg and Adams
The 50-minute invitation-only ceremony Thursday was held beneath a tent in entrance of the Gregg-Adams Membership and was packed to the flaps. A number of hundred folks, together with federal and state representatives, attended and expressed their help for the redesignation.
Maj. Gen. Mark Simerly, the ultimate commanding normal of Fort Lee and the primary commanding normal of Fort Gregg-Adams, mentioned the identify change offers the Military the chance “to inform the story of two nice People.”
“As our commonwealth and our nation proceed working to dismantle long-standing programs of oppression and tackle institutional racism, that is one other encouraging step in these efforts,” Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Virginia, whose district contains Fort Gregg-Adams, mentioned in an announcement.
Throughout his temporary remarks, Gregg thanked his mother and father and different mentors. He made a particular point out of his late spouse, Charlene.
“She was an impressive Military spouse and a loving companion,” Gregg mentioned. “And with out her love and help, I’d not be standing right here at this time.”
Fort Gregg-Adams is the second of three navy posts in Virginia earmarked for change. Final month, Fort Pickett in Nottoway County was renamed Fort Barfoot in reminiscence of Lt. Col. Van Barfoot, who acquired the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in World Battle II.
Fort A.P. Hill is to be renamed Fort Walker in reminiscence of Civil Battle surgeon Dr. Mary Walker, the primary and to this point solely lady to obtain the Medal of Honor. The date for that ceremony has not but been scheduled.
Invoice Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking information, authorities and politics. Attain him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.
