Latest news with #FortLee
CBS News
16-07-2025
- CBS News
Fort Lee Police officer who fatally shot Victoria Lee will not face criminal charges, grand jury votes
A Fort Lee Police officer who fatally shot a woman at her apartment last year will not face criminal charges. The decision was made by a New Jersey grand jury Tuesday — almost one year after Victoria Lee, 25, was killed. Police were sent to Lee's apartment on July 28, 2024, after her brother called 911 and asked for an ambulance. The brother said Lee was having a mental health episode and was holding a foldable knife, and that their mother was also in the apartment. The dispatcher informed the brother police officers would be sent along with the ambulance. The brother later tried to cancel the call, but the dispatcher told him that would not be possible. The brother met the officers in the hallway outside the apartment, and body cam video shows Lee and her mother briefly opened the apartment door before closing it again. After trying to speak with Lee through the closed door, officers eventually pushed the door open. Video shows Lee or her mother drop an object that appears to be a cell phone, then Lee approaches the officers with a full water jug in her hand. An officer then shot Lee once in the chest. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The shooting sparked concerns about police response to mental health calls. Lee's father told CBS News New York last year he felt officers escalated the situation and could have waited to find out more about what was going on. Members of the Fort Lee community had called for the officer who killed Lee to be fired and prosecuted. The officer was moved to desk duty during the investigation.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
bb.q Chicken Debuts the Open Sandwich Club in Celebration of National Fried Chicken Day
Build Your Own Chicken Sandwich Platter Starting from $9.99 FORT LEE, N.J., July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- bb.q Chicken, Korea's Finest Fried Chicken™ is shaking up sandwich expectations with its latest launch: the Open Sandwich Club. Now available at participating U.S. locations, the Open Sandwich Club is served as a build-your-own platter that invites diners to enjoy their meal their way. Each set includes four crispy boneless chicken pieces, thick-cut Texas toast, a choice of Galbi Mayo or Hot Mayo—two sauces inspired by bold Korean flavors—and one side: fries, fried pickles, or coleslaw. With prices starting at just $9.99, the Open Sandwich Club offers flavor and flexibility at a great value—all in one generous plate. The Open Sandwich Club delivers on what today's guests crave: bold taste, excellent value, and freedom to create. Unlike traditional sandwiches, this deconstructed format encourages customers to dip, stack, or mix as they please—no rules, just good food. Launched just in time to celebrate summer and the season of fried chicken favorites, the new menu item gives a fresh twist on America's most beloved comfort food—perfect for those who marked National Fried Chicken Day with something extra crispy. Available at participating bb.q Chicken locations across the U.S. beginning June 23. Try it once, and you might just start your own sandwich club. About bb.q ChickenEstablished in 1995 as part of parent company Genesis BBQ, bb.q Chicken's mission is to always provide the most delicious premium chicken in the world, based on the belief that food is the gateway to all culture. bb.q (pronounced bee-bee-que) stands for Best of the Best Quality and serves as a promise to always make Korea's Finest Fried Chicken™ and other K-Food offerings at each location. The brand was recently recognized by Restaurant Business Magazine as one of the fastest growing chains in the U.S. and included in The Takeout's "11 Restaurant Chains to Watch in 2023." This year, bb.q was recognized by Yelp as the No. 2 fastest-growing brand in the restaurant sector and No. 7 overall across all categories. For more information on locations and franchise opportunities, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE bb.q Chicken Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
An Army base will now honor a Buffalo Soldier
When the U.S. Army announced on June 10 that it was changing the names of seven bases back to their earlier designations, it skipped over one major milestone: Fort Lee in Virginia will now be the first base to be named after a Buffalo Soldier. The bases reverted back to their names, which had previously honored Confederate leaders, although with new, non-Confederate namesakes. In the case of Fort Lee, rather than Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general, it's now named for Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Buffalo Soldier. Fitz Lee fought in the Spanish-American War and earned the Medal of Honor for his actions at Tayabacoa, Cuba, when he helped rescue trapped soldiers. Although the biography released by the Army noted he was a Buffalo Soldier, the Army's announcement did not highlight that this is the first time a base is named for someone who was a part of the units — four regiments of Black soldiers formed after the Civil War, who served notably during the wars on the western frontier and in the Spanish-American War. Cale Carter, a historian and the director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers Museum in Houston, Texas, said that he was taken aback by the choice of the base's namesake, in part because Fitz Lee is not widely known, and his service happened in a part of the Buffalo Soldiers' history that isn't largely focused on. 'They went about with someone who had a Medal of Honor, but from a conflict you don't see much coverage of,' he said. Two years ago, the Army base that is once again known as Fort Lee was one of several U.S. military installations, buildings, and roads renamed in 2022 and 2023, following the recommendations of a special committee. The actions came from a wide push to remove names honoring members of the Confederacy, who violently opposed the Union. Many of the selected names instead honored notable soldiers and Army leaders, including Hal Moore and Medal of Honor recipient William Henry Johnson. Fort Lee was renamed to Fort Gregg-Adams, honoring both Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, Black service members who joined during a time when the Army was segregated. Gregg would eventually become the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics for the Army while Adams commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory during World War II. At the time, it was the first Army base to be named for African Americans. The reversion to Fort Lee strips the names of Gregg and Adams, but it also creates another milestone. The Buffalo Soldiers, as they came to be known, were first formed in 1866 in the aftermath of the Civil War. They initially started with cavalry units — the 9th and 10th Cavalry — and soon infantry regiments followed, formalized as the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. They found themselves active on the American western frontier, working on infrastructure as the Army pushed west and fighting skirmishes and small battles against Native Americans who resisted the expansion. The exact origin of the nickname 'Buffalo Soldiers' isn't clear, but it is widely believed to come from their actions fighting on the plains. However, as the American reach in the Western Hemisphere expanded, the soldiers from the regiments soon found themselves taking part in actions in Cuba, the Philippines and Mexico. It was then that the soldiers found themselves up against formal military forces. In Cuba, they took part in the Battle of San Juan Hill. 'When you look at the Spanish-American War, you start seeing these regiments get exposed to the wider public and gain more recognition,' Carter said. 'They're proving their performance under fire.' The Buffalo Soldier regiments themselves did not go overseas to join the American forces fighting in World War I. However, several of the veterans from those wars were brought in as non-commissioned officers for the newly formed 92nd and 93rd Infantry divisions that did, Carter said. The 92nd Infantry Division, which fought in both World Wars, gained the nickname 'The Buffalos,' drawing on the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers. The 25th Infantry Regiment would take part in the Pacific Theater of World War II, nearly 80 years after the initial Buffalo Soldier units were first raised. The term Buffalo Soldiers stuck around well into the 20th century. The last Buffalo Soldier, Robert Dixon, died in 2024 at the age of 103. Several monuments and markers at U.S. Army installations are named for the units. The once-again Fort Lee, located in Prince George County, Virginia, is a logistics hub for the U.S. Army. It's the home to the Army Combined Arms Support Command and several sustainment and transportation-related schools. There are limited details on Fitz Lee's early life, but according to the National Park Service, Fitz Lee was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia in June 1866, one year after the end of the Civil War. He joined the Army's 10th Cavalry as the United States found itself at war with Spain in the Philippines and the Caribbean. Lee went to Cuba. In 1898, he was part of a group of 10th Cavalry soldiers selected for a mission to get behind Spanish lines to connect with and resupply Cuban rebels. That is how Lee and other soldiers found themselves on the USS Florida on June 30, 1898, landing in Tayabacoa, Cuba. They ran into a Spanish blockhouse and were forced to retreat, but several American and Cuban fighters were left wounded. Four attempts to get to the trapped soldiers failed, with each party from the Florida falling back in the face of Spanish fire. A fifth rescue party was formed, with four soldiers of the 10th Cavalry volunteering. Lee, Pvt. Dennis Bell, Sgt. William H. Thompkins and Cpl. George H. Wanton went ashore with 2nd Lt. George Ahern. They succeeded in surprising the enemy, rescuing the captives and escaping back to the ship. For their actions, the four enlisted soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. They were the last Black soldiers to receive it outright for decades, rather than be awarded it years later via an ungraded award. Lee '[v]oluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts had been frustrated,' his Medal of Honor citation reads. The four enlisted soldiers each received the Medal of Honor for their actions in the following year. Lee, his health worsening after his time in Cuba, was at a hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas. He received a medical discharge from the Army on July 5. He moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, but his health continued to decline, with Lee eventually going blind. He died Sept. 14, 1899 and was buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. The exact illness isn't known, but it was at a time when more soldiers died from illness than combat, Carter noted. Alongside Fitz Lee, two other Black soldiers are now namesakes to the renamed bases. 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Pvt. Bruce Anderson, who provided part of the name for Fort A.P. Hill. Both fought in the Civil War and also earned the Medal of Honor for their actions fighting for the Union. Carter hopes that with the new designation, the Army base will have an education element that can teach current soldiers not just about Lee but also the Buffalo Soldiers and their legacy. Lee, despite his early death after the war, does have photographs, but many decorated Buffalo Soldiers, particularly from the frontier conflicts, have limited biographies and information, Carter said, leaving them not particularly well known. 'Hopefully this will drive more interest in [Lee],' he said. Sailors who can't deploy will be moved to empty jobs under Navy program Air Force relieves commander of pilot training squadron US military's highest ranking transgender officer says separation process is broken Army bringing in big tech executives as lieutenant colonels Trump reverts 7 Army bases to former names with new honorees, including Delta Force soldier
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Private Fitz Lee: Dinwiddie native, Medal of Honor recipient and new namesake for Fort Lee
Fort Lee is officially back. The general order from the Department of Defense redesignating Fort Gregg-Adams has been signed, sealed and delivered. The next step is changing signs and other references both on and off post. Amid all the discussions on the name change, one question likely on the minds of citizens is, just for whom is the post being named? While he may not be as well-known as the original namesake, Fitz Lee does have ties to this community that Robert E. Lee did not. For example, Fitz Lee was born in Dinwiddie County in central Virginia, while Robert E. Lee was born in Westmoreland County, part of Virginia's Northern Neck and more than 100 miles from Dinwiddie. Fitz Lee never achieved an Army rank higher than private, while Robert E. Lee was a colonel in the United State Army before resigning his commission and becoming general and the commanding officer of Confederate forces in the Civil War. Fitz Lee was also born one year after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, ending the Civil War. Fitz Lee was a member of the famous 'Buffalo Soldiers' regiments consisting of all-Black soldiers in the U.S. Army who served west of the Mississippi River following the Civil War. He is one of 30 Buffalo Soldiers to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. To be clear, Fitz Lee has no familial connections to Robert E. Lee, so in restoring the name Lee to the Prince George County post, the change does not violate Section 1749 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, which renamed Fort Lee and two others in Virginia to represent diversity in the Army. More: What students, officials say about VSU appearance as only HBCU in prestigious NASA event While the two men are not related, there was in fact a 'Fitz Lee' within the Confederate general's family. Fitzhugh 'Fitz' Lee served as a general in the Confederate army under his uncle, Robert E. Lee, and later was Virginia governor from 1886-90. He had been indicted for treason for his Confederate role but was later pardoned and was one of four former Confederate generals to be brought back to U.S. military service during the Spanish-American War – even though he saw no action. Ironically, Fitzhugh Lee was a major general in the same war in which Private Fitz Lee served and received the Medal of Honor. Fitzhugh Lee retired from military service in 1901 and died four years later at the age of 69. More: Former Sycamore Grove developer reacts to Petersburg pulling contract: 'City simply walked away' A National Park Service online biography states that Fitz Lee was born in June 1866 in Dinwiddie County. In 1889 in Philadelphia, he enlisted in the Tenth Cavalry M Troop. As the U.S. mobilized for war with Spain in 1898, Lee was among 50 Buffalo soldiers chosen to go behind enemy lines in Cuba and reinforce freedom fighters supporting Cuban independence from Spain. Following an unsuccessful attempt to rescue wounded soldiers at Tayabacoa, Cuba, Lee and four comrades volunteered to try again. This time, they surprised the Spanish soldiers holding the wounded Americans and were able to get them aboard the USS Florida safely. The mission took its toll on Lee's health, though. He returned to the U.S. and was bedridden in the hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas, with severe abdominal pain, swollen limbs and fading eyesight. He received the Medal of Honor while in the hospital and was honorably discharged from the Army several days later. Lee went to Leavenworth, Kansas, to live with other former Buffalo Soldiers, but his health continued to deteriorate. He died Sept. 14, 1899, at a friend's home and was buried with full military honors in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. 'Fitz Lee's legacy is one of bravery, humility, and unshakable dedication to his fellow soldiers,' Major Gen. Donahue said in a June 16 statement from the post. 'By bearing his name, this installation deepens its connection to our local heritage and our Army's enduring values.' Fort Lee's former name that was issued in April 2023 honored the late Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and the late Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Gregg was a logistics expert who served at Fort Lee on several occasions and was the highest-ranking officer of color when he retired. Adams led a group of Black women soldiers who delivered mail to the battlegrounds of the European Theater in World War II. More: More changes ahead for Fort Gregg-Adams. What's the future for U.S. Army Women's Museum? The renaming order, signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, is simple and straightforward in its wording. The name change became effective June 11 and states that Fort Gregg-Adams is 'redesignated as Fort Lee in honor of Private Fitz Lee.' It was issued on the same day as orders renaming Fort Barfoot in Nottoway County as Fort Pickett and Fort Walker in Caroline County as Fort Anderson-Pinn-Hill, shortened to 'A.P. Hill.' Fort Pickett is named for First Lt. Vernon Pickett, who received the Distinguished Service Cross for World War II service. Originally named for Confederal Gen. George Pickett, the now-headquarters of the Virginia National Guard was changed to Fort Barfoot in 2023 in memory of Col. Van Barfoot, a World War II hero of Native American heritage who received the Medal of Honor. Fort A.P. Hill is named for Private Bruce Anderson, First Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Lt. Col. Edward Hill. All three received the Medal of Honor for their bravery in Virginia and North Carolina campaigns. It was originally named for Confederate Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill Jr. but was changed to Fort Walker in memory of Dr. Mary Walker, a Civil War surgeon and the only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor. While the general order has been issued, an Army spokesperson told The Progress-Index that the 'implementation order' – setting the schedule and logistics for the new name and its signage – has not been issued. Asked when that will take place, the spokesperson replied, 'Soon.' A Fort Lee spokesperson told The Progress-Index that the post was already working on sign changes and other materials, and plans to launch an educational campaign highlighting the life of its new namesake. More: More changes ahead for Fort Gregg-Adams. What's the future for U.S. Army Women's Museum? Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Fort Lee's new namesake is a Medal of Honor winner from Dinwiddie County
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
No, Not That Lee. Pentagon Finds Black Hero to Rechristen Base Long Named for Robert E.
In its latest move to undo diversity efforts, the Army announced this week that it had found ways to restore the names of seven installations that long venerated Confederate heroes. But in the case of Fort Lee in Prince George County, Va., the Pentagon did it with a curious twist. Rather than restore the name of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the Confederate commander who defended slavery, the Army found Pvt. Fitz Lee, who was Black and fought in the Spanish-American War. Private Lee, who had kidney disease, died in 1899 within months of being awarded a Medal of Honor. The Army announced the plans for Fort Lee in a list of the seven installations it intended to soon rebrand. The move would cancel changes adopted during the Biden administration at the recommendation of a commission created by Congress to find worthy replacements for base names with ties to the Confederacy. The base was named for General Lee from 1917 until 2023. But for the past two years, it was named Fort Gregg-Adams for Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, the first Black man to reach the rank of an Army three-star general, and Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley, the highest-ranking Black woman to serve as an Army officer in World War II. The renaming effort is just the most recent by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to dismantle their predecessors' diversity inclusion measures. In March, the administration stopped calling the large military base in North Carolina 'Fort Liberty,' reverting it to its previous name, Fort Bragg. 'We're not interested in your woke garbage or your political correctness,' Mr. Hegseth said in a speech there on Tuesday, to the cheers of an audience of soldiers in battle dress uniforms and red berets. Like General Robert E., Private Fitz was born in Virginia. He was one of four Buffalo Soldiers who received a Medal of Honor for valor on June 30, 1898, halfway into the war with Spain in Cuba. They went ashore from the U.S.S. Florida, a steamer, to rescue wounded Cuban and American soldiers from a beach near Tunas de Zaza, after a losing skirmish with Spanish forces. 'This after several previous attempts at rescue had been frustrated,' said their Medal of Honor citation, recounting their valor after what American historians have called the Battle of Tayabacoa. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
