Fort Moore (Columbus, Georgia, Georgia)
Columbus, Georgia · Georgia · World War I onwards
History & Significance
The Infantry School of Arms relocated to Columbus in autumn 1918 to address overcrowding at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and to provide expanded training capacity for rapidly mobilizing World War I forces. The post initially provided basic training for World War I units, and Dwight D. Eisenhower served there from December 1918 until March 1919.
Congress authorized establishment of the camp in fall 1918 on land in Columbus, Georgia, chosen for climate, terrain, and transportation. In February 1920, Congress declared Camp Benning permanent and appropriated more than one million dollars for the Infantry School of Arms; by fall 1920, the post housed more than 350 officers, 7,000 troops and 650 student officers.
In 1922, Camp Benning became Fort Benning. In 1963, the Eleventh Air Assault Division was formed at the fort to test the air assault concept, which resulted in creation of the airmobile concept adopted by the First Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War. In 2005, it was transformed into the Maneuver Center of Excellence following the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision to consolidate schools, including the move of the Armor School from Fort Knox.
Key Facts
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Benning
- https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/fort-benning/
- https://www.army.mil/article/283521/hegseth_restores_fort_moore_to_fort_benning_in_honor_of_wwi_soldier
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fort-benning.htm
- https://www.britannica.com/place/Fort-Moore