BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH
KENDYLH@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
SMITHS STATION —
During an otherwise slow month, Fort Benning Garrison Commander Colin P. Mahle visited the March 14 Smiths Station City Council meeting to discuss the military post’s pending name change.
Fort Benning formally entered an Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) with the city of Smiths Station in December 2022.
“We’ve got you all as community partners and neighbors, and we want to make sure that you understand the implications and the process that we’re moving forward with,” Mahle said at the meeting.
Mahle explained that nine Army bases across the country were mandated to be renamed by Jan. 1, 2024, in accordance with 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. He said senior leaders at the Pentagon the week prior had approved Thursday, May 11, as the day Fort Benning’s name will officially change to Fort Moore.
This will affect other assets bearing the Benning name, Mahle added.
“We’ve completed our internal review of physical and operational assets on buildings and roads and those kinds of things,” he said. “We have a full database of anything that references the Benning name. I want to let you know and let the citizens of Smiths Station know that this process is being implemented with great care, and our stakeholders and community partners — we want to make sure they’re involved throughout this process.”
The new name, Fort Moore, honors the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Compton Moore. Mahle revered the Moores for their fine example and contributions to the American military.
“They exemplified the very essence of what it means to be an Army family. I couldn’t think of a better role model to inspire our next generation of men and women that volunteer for service, come to Fort Benning for their training — really inspirational to be able to connect to the character and commitment of the Moore family as they train themselves for the crucible of combat, and ultimately to emerge victorious,” Mahle said.
Hal was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, and Julia was a lifelong volunteer for the American Red Cross. She also helped streamline some of the casualty notification processes in the military.
The Moores each spent their final days in Auburn and were buried at the Fort Benning cemetery. They had five children, including son David, who lives in Auburn.
“The lieutenant general wanted to be buried with his troopers, and I think that speaks volumes about his service and sacrifice, and the sacrifice of both Hal and Julia Moore,” Mahle said.
Fort Benning is the only post to be renamed after a husband and wife, according to Mahle, which he said is “really special.”
“We recognize the spirit and the service the Moore family represents … and our number-one priority remains training and producing soldiers for the Armed Forces at the highest level,” he said. “… Working together with great community partners like yourselves, we’re grateful for your support throughout this process, and we look forward to continuing to expand our partnership throughout the related details of that.”
At the March 28 meeting, the council approved:
• the levy of annual property tax that the county collects and sends to the city annually by resolution,
• a back-to-school sales tax holiday for July 21 to 23,
• a pavilion event request for April 8,
• the general fund budget statement for February 2023, which showed a net income of nearly $58,700 for the city.
