Video

Video by Cpl. Rhianna Ballenger, Douglas Lovely, Leopold Medina, Sgt. Jessica Rutledge

Fort Walker Redesignation Ceremony

Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington

Aug. 25, 2023 | 25:54

U.S. Army Fort A.P. Hill was redesignated as Fort Walker during a ceremony at Fort Walker, Virginia, Aug 25, 2023. Named after Dr. Mary E. Walker, the only female to receive the Medal of Honor. Dr. Walker was one of the first female surgeons in the United States and volunteered for the Union Army. After unpaid work organizing the Women's Relief Organization and field hospitals in Washington D.C and Virginia, she was appointed a War Department surgeon in 1863. She often crossed battle lines to care for soldiers and civilians, and was held as a prisoner of war for four months by the South in 1864 and continued to provide medical support for her fellow prisoners. After the war, Dr. Walker was a major proponent of Women's Rights.