MAY 9, 2023 — After nearly a year of preparation, Fort Hood will officially redesignate to Fort Cavazos on May 9, 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 has raised numerous questions, including concerns about sign modifications, birth certificate updates for those born on the installation and even mail delivery.
Brian Dosa, Fort Hood Directorate of Public Works director, is at the forefront of this massive undertaking. He and his team are responsible for changing over signs throughout the base, including the large welcome signs and water tanks that dot the installation’s landscape.
“We are in the process of changing more than 400 signs,” Dosa said, “including the six large welcome signs at our entry gates and the elevated water tanks at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and Clear Creek/Tank Destroyer Blvd.”
Dosa went on to say Fort Hood’s redesignation to Fort Cavazos has garnered tremendous support from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Despite the logistical challenges, TxDOT has shown a remarkable commitment to making the transition as smooth as possible.
“TxDOT has been a great partner in changing approximately 31 signs along I-14, SH195 and other state-owned roads,” Dosa stated. “They will initially be placing placards that read Fort Cavazos over top of existing signs as a temporary change until new signs are procured and installed later this year. Because our new name is a little longer, some highway signs will be larger and require a bigger support.”
As the redesignation of Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos progresses, there have been only a few minor hiccups along the way. Despite this, the changeover has gone according to plan.
“Other than a minor error when the letters for the gate signs came in the wrong font, things have gone smoothly,” Dosa explained. “I should note, however, that we have been working closely with TxDOT on which highway signs not to change, as the city of Killeen hasn’t made final decisions on the new names of Fort Hood Street or the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional airport.”
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.
In this week’s editorial column, Col. Chad R. Foster, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Hood commander, expressed his thoughts on the re-designation of Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos. Foster emphasized that although the name of the base is changing, the legacy of service and sacrifice that it represents will endure. He added that the proud history of Fort Hood will continue in this new chapter, with each new page written by the community’s people, demonstrating their quality and strength. As Foster put it, the redesignation to Fort Cavazos is about the continuation of a shared legacy, a legacy that will be remembered as long as we live.
“Although names change, our legacy of service and sacrifice endures,” Foster wrote. “No one will ever forget Fort Hood as long as we live because we are simply entering a new chapter of that same proud history. 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.”
The redesignation ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 9 at III Armored Corps Headquarters. The general public is invited to watch the event via a livestream on the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood Facebook page.
By Eric Franklin
Fort Hood Public Affairs