By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. Dec. 5, 2023) — Three Fort Leonard Wood streets will have their names changed in the new year, following Department of Defense Naming Commission guidance.
The streets to be renamed — Wheeler Street, Forrest Street and Forrest Place — are all located in family housing areas. Wheeler Street will become Pecan Street, Forrest Street will be Ozark Street and Forrest Place will be Hickory Place.
Charlie Neel, Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division chief, said the Fort Leonard Wood Historical Board was given the responsibility of identifying and renaming the streets. He said the names chosen honor the area.
“We went with names that reflect the beautiful area we get to live and work in every day. The Ozark region is a fitting tribute because it is known for its charming springs, waterfalls, lakes, caves and caverns. And Pecan and Hickory trees are delightful, nut-bearing plants that can be found throughout the area,” Neel said.
According to a Nov. 21 memorandum signed by Col. Anthony Pollio, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood commander, the name changes are a result of a Department of the Army executive order directing installations to rename property that honors or commemorates the Confederacy.
Sarah Richard, a planning engineer for the DPW Master Planning Division, said the division has been working with Balfour Beatty Communities, Fort Leonard Wood’s housing partner, to ensure the changes are as seamless as possible for everyone.
House numbers will stay the same, Richard said. The only change will be to the street names, and residents will not need to fill out a change-of-address form with the U.S. Postal Service, as mail will be deliverable to both addresses for one calendar year.
After Jan. 1, however, Richard noted residents living in the renamed locations should update their address with their financial institutions, insurance agencies, TSA PreCheck, creditors, non-installation service providers, subscriptions, online shopping sites, Social Security Administration, Missouri voter registration and complete IRS change of address Form 8822.
“It is recommended that you change your addresses with military systems, such as the ID Card Office Online, Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, MyPay, Defense Travel System and Citi Bank government travel card,” Richard said.
Other documents, such as vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses and passports can be updated later when renewals become due, Richard added.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.