July 1, 2025 Story by: Editor
In a significant shift in commemoration, the U.S. Army installation long known as Fort Lee—formerly honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee—will now bear the name of Pvt. Fitz Lee, a decorated Buffalo Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient. This marks the first time a military installation is named after an enlisted African American soldier.
Photo Caption: Pvt. Fitz Lee of Troop M, 10th Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor for rescuing wounded soldiers under fire on June 30, 1898, after a landing party was ambushed near Tayabacoa, Cuba, during the Spanish–American War.Photo courtesy of: The Congressional Medal of Honor Society — Fitz Lee Recipient Profile.
The Life and Valor of Fitz Lee (1866–1899)
- Early life & military entry: Born in June 1866 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, Fitz Lee enlisted in Troop M, 10th Cavalry, in December 1889 in Philadelphia.
- Spanish–American War heroics: On June 30, 1898, amid the Battle of Tayabacoa, Pvt. Lee joined a perilous rescue mission aboard the U.S.S. Florida under fire, to retrieve wounded American and Cuban allies stranded after failed landing attempts. Alongside three fellow Buffalo Soldiers and a lieutenant, he successfully saved the survivors.
- Award and health decline: For his bravery, he received the Medal of Honor on June 23, 1899, at Fort Bliss, Texas. Soon after, debilitating health issues—severely impaired vision, swollen limbs, and abdominal pain—left him hospitalized for three months, leading to medical discharge on July 5, 1899.
- Final days: Lee relocated to Leavenworth, Kansas, to live with fellow Buffalo Soldiers. By September 14, 1899, “in constant pain and totally blind,” he passed away at a friend’s home and was buried with full military honors at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Photo caption: On June 30, 1898, Pvt. Fitz Lee and three fellow Buffalo Soldiers volunteered to rescue wounded men stranded ashore after previous attempts had failed. Under heavy fire, they surprised Spanish forces, freed the prisoners, and returned safely to the USS Florida. Lee received the Medal of Honor on June 23, 1899. (Photo courtesy of: Congressional Medal of Honor Society – Fitz Lee Recipient Profile)
From Confederate Namesake to Buffalo Soldier’s Legacy
- Renaming the base: Following broad directives to remove Confederate names from federal installations, the fort initially became Fort Gregg-Adams, honoring Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Maj. Charity Adams Earley. Later, the base was rededicated to Pvt. Fitz Lee, making it the first Army base named after an African American enlisted soldier
- Symbolic significance: Experts note this change is “a living reminder” that military valor—and the narrative of U.S. service—must reflect those previously marginalized in American memory.
Following the recommendations of a special committee, Fort Lee was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams to honor Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Both joined the Army prior to its desegregation, with Gregg rising to become the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics for the Army while Adams commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory during the Second World War.
It was the first Army base in U.S. history to be named for Black Americans.
However, under Trump, the fort will yet again be the home of another milestone. It will be renamed for Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Buffalo soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Spanish-American War.
Legacy and Continuing Impact
- Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions: The 10th Cavalry was among the original all-Black regiments formed in 1866, earning renown across the Spanish–American War and the American frontier.
- Honoring unsung valor: The military’s choice to elevate Pvt. Lee’s name places often-overlooked enlisted heroism at the forefront—shifting recognition away from controversial figures and toward historically undervalued American courage.
Sources: Military Times / National Park Service – Fitz Lee profile
