It's official: Fort Hood will become Fort Cavazos on May 9

Killeen Daily Herald
Staff Report
March 24, 2023

Fort Hood will officially change its name to Fort Cavazos on May 9, officials said Friday.

The "redesignation" will honor the "Texas-born hero of the Korean and Vietnam wars, Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos. The ceremony will be held at the III Armored Corps Headquarters here," Fort Hood said in a news release.

The post is one of nine U.S. Army installations being renamed after a congressional mandate to remove the names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America.

Fort Hood is named after Gen. John Bell Hood, a Texas general and advocate for slavery, who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

“We are proud to be renaming Fort Hood as Fort Cavazos in recognition of an outstanding American hero, a veteran of the Korea and Vietnam wars and the first Hispanic to reach the rank of four-star general in our Army. General Cavazos’ combat proven leadership, his moral character, and his loyalty to his Soldiers and their families, made him the fearless yet respected and influential leader that he was during the time he served, and beyond,” said Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, commander of III Corps and Fort Hood. “We are ready and excited to be part of such a momentous part of history, while we honor a leader who we all admire.”

The ceremony will be open to invited guests and news media. It is not open to the general public due to space constraints, although there will be video from the ceremony livestreamed on our social media sites. The 1st Cavalry Division Band will provide ceremonial music during the event.

Cavazos was born on Jan. 31, 1929, in Kingsville, Texas, to Mexican American parents, Lauro and Thomasa Quintanilla Cavazos. His father was a World War I veteran who later became a ranch foreman of the King Ranch’s Santa Gertrudis division.

In 1951, Cavazos was commissioned into the Army and completed basic officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He began his military career deployed to Korea where he was the platoon leader of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment. The unit was known as the Boringueneers and was primarily made up of Soldiers from Puerto Rico, many of whom only spoke Spanish. As a result of his service and actions in Korea, Cavazos was awarded the Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross.

In 1953, Cavazos rotated back to the United States and was assigned to Fort Hood. Reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel, Cavazos deployed to Vietnam in 1967 where he commanded the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. It was as a result of his service and leadership during his time in Vietnam that he was awarded his second Distinguished Service Cross.

In 1976, Cavazos became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army. In 1980, now a lieutenant general, Cavazos served as the III Corps Commanding General.

In 1982, Cavazos was promoted to become the first Hispanic four-star general and succeeded Gen. Robert Shoemaker as commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command.

Cavazos retired from the Army in 1984 after 33 years of service.

During his 33 years of retirement, Cavazos lived in San Antonio, Texas, and was credited with mentoring many Army commanders. He died Oct. 29, 2017, and is buried at San Antonio's Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.