AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - About a year and a half after it became Fort Eisenhower, the local Army post became Fort Gordon again – and unlike the previous name change, this one happened overnight.

The change has Augustans’ heads spinning, but they say they’ll support it no matter what it’s called.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he was restoring the old name, then on Wednesday morning, Maj. Gen. Ryan Janovic, commander of the Army Cyber Center of Excellence at the post, said the change was effective immediately.

In the meantime, plans are being made for a more formal ceremony marking the change.

It’s one of nine military installations that have been renamed in recent years because the original names honored Confederates. Under Trump, the old names had been restored for two, and then on Tuesday, he announced seven more.

Although the installations will regain their former names, they won’t be named for the original Confederates they had honored. Instead, they’ll honor someone else who shared the same surname.

Fort Gordon was originally named after John Brown Gordon, a Confederate general who later served as a U.S. senator from Georgia and as governor.

As Fort Eisenhower, it has honored Dwight D. Eisenhower, the World War II general who went on to become president and who was known for his love of the Augusta area.

Now it will be named for Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon.

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New name: Who was Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon?

1. Fort Gordon now honors Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, who was recognized for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. He died defending wounded crew members at a helicopter crash site and held off an advancing enemy force. His death is documented in the movie “Blackhawk Down” from 2002.
2. On May 23, 1994, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor in recognition for his actions and sacrifice.
3. Also bearing his name is Gary Ivan Gordon Elementary School at Fort Bragg.

Janovic said Wednesday morning he would be speaking in the afternoon to Gordon’s widow.

He also said he’d spoken to the Eisenhower family, and they were “very kind and gracious” about the reversal of the name.

He said the post will continue to honor the former president in various ways, including the hospital, which had been known as Eisenhower Army Medical Center for decades before the post was renamed.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson said although the Fort Eisenhower name was fitting, the community is proud to honor Master Sgt. Gordon.

“His name carries great meaning, and we are honored to have his legacy forever tied to our region,” Johnson said.

He said local leaders “look ahead with deep respect for the past, confidence in our shared future, and gratitude for all who serve.”

He said the community’s commitment to the installation remains steadfast, regardless of its name.

A post spokeswoman thanked the community for that support.

“As we prepare to receive additional guidance from the Secretary of the Army, we appreciate the support and understanding of our Central Savannah River Area community that has been a stalwart proponent of the installation since its inception in the early 1940s,” she said.

Some local residents say they just got used to calling it Fort Eisenhower. Others never stopped calling it Fort Gordon.

“To even say it’s been two years since the name change, I was like, ‘I feel like this was made seven months ago that they changed the name.’ I was so shocked,” said Amy Hernandez, used to live near the post and worked there at one time.

When she and her brother moved here from Texas, they kept calling it Fort Hood because that’s what they were used to.

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“It took us about five years after living here to call it Fort Gordon, so now I’m not going back. It’s Fort Gordon forever and always. I don’t care what the signs say,” she said.

“If you have like any actual connection to the base, at least prior to the last two years, I don’t think anybody’s comfortable calling it Fort Eisenhower,” Hernandez said

A lot of signs will have to be changed once again.

We know the estimated cost in 2022 was $21 million for renaming all nine installations combined.

In addition to the signs at the gates, green signs maintained by the state and city along highways will have to be changed once again. Augusta traffic official John Ussery told us 2022 those signs cost $140 each.

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Also regaining their old names will be:

• Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia: It was originally named for Ambrose Powell Hill, then became Fort Walker in 2023. Now it will be named to commemorate three different people: Medal of Honor recipients Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Pvt. Bruce Anderson for heroism during the Civil War.
• Fort Hood in Texas. It was originally named for John Bell Hood, then in 2023 became Fort Cavazos. Now it will honor Col. Robert B. Hood, who received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during World War I, when he directed artillery fire in France.
• Fort Lee in Virginia. It was originally named for Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, then in 2023 became Fort Gregg-Adams. Now it will honor Pvt. Fitz Lee, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Spanish-American War, when he moved under fire to rescue wounded comrades.
• Fort Pickett in Virginia. It originally was named for George Edward Pickett. In 2023 it became Fort Barfoot, but now will honor 1st. Lt. Vernon W. Pickett. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during World War II when he fired grenades while pinned down by enemy machine gun fire and destroyed enemy positions. He was captured, then escaped and rejoined his unit, but was killed in action.
• Fort Polk in Louisiana. It was originally named for Leonidas Polk, then in 2023 became Fort Johnson. Now it will be named for Silver Star recipient Gen. James H. Polk. Then-Col. Polk was honored for gallantry during World War II, when he led reconnaissance and combat missions under fire. He later served as head of U.S. Army Europe.
• Fort Rucker in Alabama. It was originally named for Edmund Winchester Rucker, then in 2023 became Fort Novosel. Now it will honor Capt. Edward W. Rucker. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in World War I when he flew deep behind enemy lines in a daring air battle over France.

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