Fort Hood, one of the world's largest military installations located in Texas, was officially renamed after eight decades - its new name, Fort Cavazos, was given in honor of the first four-star Latino general and the first Latino brigadier general.

The renaming of the military installation comes after years of controversy surrounding Fort Hood, which was previously named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. The base has been the scene of several high-profile incidents, including the murder of Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old Army soldier who was killed at the base in 2020.

The base received its new name after a years-long process by the Department of Defense's Names Commission to redesignate the facilities that commemorated the Confederacy.

Cavazos, who died in 2017 at age 78, grew up on a cattle ranch in Kingsville, Texas, and was of Mexican-American descent. He commanded the III Armored Corps and took on numerous assignments while rising through the ranks in a career that spanned 33 years.  He would earn a Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross for leading "The Borinqueneers," a segregated regiment made up of Puerto Rican soldiers during the Korean War. Former President Barack Obama officially gave the unit, officially E Company, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014, according to the NBC News.

According to NBC, “Also attending the ceremony was Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, also known as LULAC, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights group. Garcia described Gen. Cavazos as a "true American hero" and "a true Texan who served his country”.

Fort Cavazos is home to the 1st Cavalry Division and other divisions and commands. More than 34,500 military personnel and 48,500 family members are stationed at the base, which is also used by the U.S. Reserve and the National Guard for training and mobilizing. It employs more than 4,000 civilians, according to the base’s statement.

The renaming of the facility is seen as an important step toward recognizing the contributions of Latin Americans in the military and addressing the legacy of racism and discrimination in the institution.