PHOTO GALLERY: Fort Polk renaming ceremony
Published 4:26 pm Friday, July 11, 2025
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James H. Polk, III speaks about his father during the garrison Renaming Ceremony at The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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James H. Polk, III speaks about his father during the garrison Renaming Ceremony at The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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James H. Polk III, son of Gen. James H. Polk II, is recognized on Friday during a ceremony renaming the Vernon Parish Army base after his father. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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James H. Polk III, son of Gen. James H. Polk II, is recognized on Friday during a ceremony renaming the Vernon Parish Army base after his father. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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James H. Polk III, son of Gen. James H. Polk II, is recognized on Friday during a ceremony renaming the Vernon Parish Army base after his father. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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Gen. James H. Polk was awarded the Silver Star during World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
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Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)
Fort Johnson, which was named after Albany war hero and World War I Sgt. Henry Johnson, was renamed Fort Polk on Friday. It was previously named for Leonidas Polk, a Confederate general, but has been renamed in honor of Gen. James H. Polk, who received the Silver Star for his service in World War II.
