Confederate memorials: An insult to families like mine
Confederate memorials are an insult not only to all African Americans but also to descendants of the Union Army troops who fought for our country from 1861 to the surrender of the rebellious traitors in 1865.
My great grandfather was 16 years old when, as a trooper in the 2nd Iowa Cavalry, he crashed through the Confederate line at the Battle of Nashville in December 1864.
The last line of the battle report is “We dispatched the rebel with saber!” Great grandfather’s saber hangs proudly in my home today.
Nashville was the final attempt by the Confederate Army led by General Hood to invade the North. Hood’s army was basically wiped out and sent running south.
My great grandfather was an Iowa farm boy, first generation from Ireland. Thousands of troopers, Black and white, were heroes in that battle.
Why would the U.S. Army have a fort named after Hood, a bloody traitor who set out to kill American troops like my great grandfather?
May I suggest Fort Hood, Texas, change its name for Pvt. Franklin Foley - 2nd Iowa Cavalry- a real American hero!
William F. Johnston, Tacoma
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 1:42 PM with the headline "Confederate memorials: An insult to families like mine."