The Purge
28 DECEMBER 2020
THE PURGE
In the first decades of the 21st century, a series of untoward events involving minority citizens led to the assertion that racism is systemic in American society. With the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May 2020 at the hands of law enforcement, the Black Lives Matter movement, “Woke” philosophy, and other efforts against social inequity, sexism, white privilege, and in favor of slavery reparations, gained political momentum. The Confederacy of our Civil War became a symbol of social injustice. In consideration of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in Congress, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) proposed an amendment that required the retitling of US Army bases named in remembrance of Confederate soldiers. An 8-member Congressional commission convened, chaired by retired ADM Michelle Howard, USN, the highest-ranking female in the DoD of that day, and our Navy’s third African American 4-star Admiral. The commission expanded Warren’s view, spurring Congress to add to H.R. 6395, the final FY2021 NDAA, a mandate to: “remove the names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from all assets of the Department of Defense.” President Donald Trump vetoed the bill on 23 December 2020. His veto was overridden on this date in the House, however, by a vote of 322-87. Four days later the Senate voted 81-13 to override as well. The purge became law, with our Navy given three years to comply.
Maury Hall at the Naval Academy and the superintendent’s quarters, Buchanan House, both named for Confederate naval officers, became Carter Hall (Jimmy Carter) and Farragut House (David G. Farragut), respectively. Our oceanographic survey vessel USNS MAURY (T-AGS-66) was rechristened USNS MARIE THARP, after the civilian geologist and cartographer. Two warships were scrutinized. USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG-62), remembering a Confederate victory in the Civil War, was renamed for Robert Smalls, an escaped slave who joined the Union Navy and later served in Congress. USS ANTIETAM (CG-54), named for a battle that was arguably a draw, was scheduled to decommission and was left intact. Five cruisers named for Union victories, including MOBILE BAY (CG-53) and GETTYSBURG (CG-64), were not affected. By March 2023, the Navy had complied fully with the FY2021 NDAA provision.
The purge of Confederate references remains controversial. In his veto, President Trump expressed that it was a political whitewash of history that dishonored, “the immense progress our country has fought for in realizing our founding principles.
Watch for more “Today in Naval History” 4 JAN 24
CAPT James Bloom, Ret.
Baumgart, Jacob. “Naval Academy Renames Superintendent’s House, Citing Confederate Ties.” Patch website, 11 May 2023. AT: https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/naval-academy=renames-superintendents-house-citing-confederate-ties/, retrieved 3 August 2023.
House of Representatives Repository. “Final Passage, FY2021 NDAA.” 1 July 2023. retrieved 3 August 2023.
Naming Commission Final Report to Congress, August 2022. AT: https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/public-affairs/congressional_naming_commission/naming_commission_final_report_part_II.pdf, retrieved 3 August 2023.
Navy Press Release. “SECNAV Renames United States Naval Academy Campus Building after Former President Carter.” 17 February 2023. AT: https://www.navy.mil/press-office/press-releases/display-pressreleases/article/3301924/secnav-renames-united-states-naval-academy-campus-after-former-preside/, retrieved 3 August 2023.
Schmall, Emily. “Stripping Confederate Ties, the U.S. Navy Renames Two Vessels.” New York Times, 11 March 2023. AT: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/11/us/navy-ship-confederate-robert-smalls.html, retrieved 3 August 2023.
Trump, Donald. “Presidential Veto Message to the House of Representatives for H.R. 6395–The White House.” 23 December 2020. AT: trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov, retrieved 3 August 2023.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: The full official title of the naming commission was: “Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or any Person Who Served Voluntarily in the Confederate States of America.” The Naming Commission additionally suggested ninety alternative names to be considered as replacements, predominantly those of notable female, African American, or Hispanic figures. None of these suggested names was adopted by the Navy.
Dr. Marie Tharp (1920-2006) is credited with discovering the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This led to the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics. She had no Navy service, though much of her research had been conducted aboard USNS KANE (T-AGS-27) and ATLANTIS (T-AGOR-25).
