Fort Dr. Mary Walker?

[major bill]

It has been suggested that Fort A.P. Hill be renamed Fort Dr. Mary Walker. This appears to be working it's way through Congress. If we do get a Fort Dr. Mary Walker, what should all the forum members know about her? To start with she is considered to be the first woman to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. Anyone want to help use know her better?

 

[Library Lady]

This might be of some interest.

Dr. Mary Walker’s Civil War: An Interview with Theresa Kaminski - National Medal of Honor Museum

Dr. Mary Walker remains the only female recipient of the Medal of Honor. Walker was determined to serve her country during the American Civil War. Seeking to overcome restrictions on females, Walker was a tireless advocate for an increased role for women in the U.S. Army and in society. The...

mohmuseum.org

Rowman & Littlefield | Bloomsbury is the new home for Rowman & Littlefield

Rowman & Littlefield and its imprints are now part of Bloomsbury's growing catalog, bringing an expanded selection of trusted nonfiction to one place.

rowman.com

The Salt Creek Civil War Round Table will have Dr. Theresa Kaminski speak on Dr. Mary Walker's Civil War at their 60th anniversary banquet on June 17, 2022.

 

[major bill]

This might be of some interest.

Dr. Mary Walker’s Civil War: An Interview with Theresa Kaminski - National Medal of Honor Museum

Dr. Mary Walker remains the only female recipient of the Medal of Honor. Walker was determined to serve her country during the American Civil War. Seeking to overcome restrictions on females, Walker was a tireless advocate for an increased role for women in the U.S. Army and in society. The...

mohmuseum.org

Rowman & Littlefield | Bloomsbury is the new home for Rowman & Littlefield

Rowman & Littlefield and its imprints are now part of Bloomsbury's growing catalog, bringing an expanded selection of trusted nonfiction to one place.

rowman.com

The Salt Creek Civil War Round Table will have Dr. Theresa Kaminski speak on Dr. Mary Walker's Civil War at their 60th anniversary banquet on June 17, 2022.

Might be an interesting talk. I know I have read about Dr. Walker in the past, but with the possibility/probability of a Fort being named for her it might be a good time to revisit her as a soldier who deserves to have a Fort named for her.

 

[NedBaldwin]

It has been suggested that Fort A.P. Hill be renamed Fort Dr. Mary Walker. This appears to be working it's way through Congress. If we do get a Fort Dr. Mary Walker, what should all the forum members know about her? To start with she is considered to be the first woman to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. Anyone want to help use know her better?

Turned in at 9 after giving the Major a "blowing up" for lending my horse to that detestable Mrs Dr Mary Walker.
- my great great Grandfather, September 3, 1863, Warrenton VA

 

[Pollaco]

I think it will have a negative effect on morale.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I think it will have a negative effect on morale.

I disagree. I think you overestimate the knowledge and appreciation for history in the ranks and in the general population. Most troops will greet the news with a ¨who?¨ and ¨does this effect how I get paid?¨
I´m a little ambivalent about this one. Mary Walker is a bit of a problematic character. She was not an army doctor, nor was she ever commissioned, which is why her Medal was rescinded in 1917. (She was buried with it when she died anyway.) It was re-instated in the 70s. I get that she´s the only woman MoH recipient, so it´s not exactly a crowded field if that´s important criterion. Here´s a positive Army article on her.

Meet Dr. Mary Walker: The only female Medal of Honor recipient

Out of more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients, only one was a woman - just one - and it was an award that was rescinded just before the honoree died.

www.army.mil

 

[Copperhead-mi]

When Sherman destroyed the mills supplying the Confederate military in Roswell and sent all the female employees and their children North, it was Mary Walker who placed most of these women in boarding houses in Indiana and the Louisville, KY area and found them employment. At the end of the War some of the women returned South while others chose to remain in the North.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Walker was captured in Tennessee on April 10, 1864, dressed in her usual male attire and charged as a spy after crossing Confederate lines and helping a Confederate surgeon perform an amputation. She was sent to Castle Thunder in Richmond and refused to wear the women's clothing the prison provided her and was finally exchanged for a Confederate medical officer on August 12, 1864.

 

[Pollaco]

From what I've read ,Walker was not held in that high esteem by her colleagues.Unladylike habits liked greasy hair, dirty nails, and nose picking didn't go over too well with other doctors.

 

[ColonelKlink1942]

Sincere apologies if I come off as ignorant, though I legitimately have no knowledge of why such a thing happens in this context, but what is the reason for wanting to rename this fort or any fort for that matter?

 

[7thWisconsin]

@ ColonelKlink1942: In the United States, it has become a genuine issue that a large number of military installations were named in the last century and primarily in the southern states, for generals who led the Confederate war effort. There is a re-appraisal of the appropriateness of this practice, especially considering how racially desegregated the present United States military is.
It´s hard to tell how much of those objections were justifiable and how much was breaking cultural expectations. Army surgeons were not renowned for the clinical cleanliness of their practice. She does seem to have been a competent and dedicated doctor, at a time when the medical profession was really opposed to women practitioners.

 

[JerryD]

Sincere apologies if I come off as ignorant, though I legitimately have no knowledge of why such a thing happens in this context, but what is the reason for wanting to rename this fort or any fort for that matter?

There is a movement that thinks its wrong to have US Army bases named for people who fought against the US Army. Not a radical idea, when you think about it. The precedent for this is renaming of Fort Arnold to Fort Clinton at West Point.

 

[Pollaco]

There is a movement that thinks its wrong to have US Army bases named for people who fought against the US Army. Not a radical idea, when you think about it. The precedent for this is renaming of Fort Arnold to West Point.

Besides some politicians want to give the impression that they are actually doing something.Some people just can't leave well enough alone.

 

[JerryD]

Besides some politicians want to give the impression that they are actually doing something.Some people just can't leave well enough alone.

I'm not in the take down statutes crowd, but given the diversity of US armed forces these days, and the fact these bases are named for people who made it their business to kill US armed forces, I support renaming the bases.

 

[Pollaco]

Many, many soldiers came through those bases with their chin held high and with no apparent mental damage.Why spent a million bucks on name changes? It is not a necessary move.

 

[major bill]

Walker is the only Civil War figure that appears to be a candidate for have a Fort renamed for them. I believe this will be the first fort or base named for a woman.

 

[Pollaco]

It very well maybe the "first", but watch and see, it won't be the "only".

 

[JerryD]

It very well maybe the "first", but watch and see, it won't be the "only".

Is that a problem, naming bases after women?

 

[Pollaco]

Not in the least if it were a necessary move. There was a recent street name change in San Antonio it Only cost $80,000.

 

[major bill]

Dr. Mary Walker is a well-known Civil War figure. It is nice that the Congressional renaming Committee chose at least one Civil War soldier. Doctor, prisoner of War, first female MOH winner. I see nothing wrong with naming bases for MOH winners.