A few years ago it was decided to rename multiple US Army posts from their former names after Confederate Generals to more modern names, reflecting diversity and loyal service to our nation.
President Trump has pledged to return Fort Bragg‘s name when he returns to office next year.
While it will always be Fort Bragg to me, at least for sentiment’s sake, I have always wondered why an installation filled with paratroopers would be named after a mediocre artillery general.
I think it would be best to rename the installation after an American hero. The name “Liberty” took on a 1984esque aura, which has seemed to demoralize rather than uplift the service members assigned there.
We’ve got a long list of great men who were associated with Fort Bragg or its units to choose from. For instance, Alvin York, a WWI member of the 82nd Division who didn’t want to go to war but answered when his nation called. Then, there’s Jumpin’ General James Gavin, WWII hero and 82nd Abn Div CG. We could honor Gen William Yarborough; known as the father of modern Green Berets; he served as a paratrooper in WWII, Korea and in SE Asia.
Looking to enlisted men for inspiration there is a bevy of Medal of Honor awardees from Vietnam like MSG Roy Benavidez. Or, we could take inspiration from more modern heroes by christening the Army Fort outside of Fayetteville with the names Shughart—Gordon in honor of their selfless sacrifice in Mogadishu.
What are your ideas?
When the bases were established during World War I and World War II, the country needed camps to house and train troops. Southern towns feverishly lobbied for them and for the economic benefits they would bring. The military officials in charge of naming the posts set only the vaguest of rules: The names should honor officers who had a connection to the region and who were “not unpopular” in the area. The military allowed the decision-making for base names to the local officials in an effort to build local goodwill. It allowed base names to be selected by small-town government officials, businesspeople, and the local chambers of commerce. In particular, the Roosevelt administration allowed bases to be named after Confederate officers to court Southern votes secure the support of Southern Democrats for the war, and encourage men from those states to volunteer for the war. Roosevelt knew southerners weren’t going to enlist at bases named after generals Hunter, Hooker, McClellan, or Burnside.
Thank you for that factual historical context – something which is rarely heard among all the wailing and nashing of teeth.
So, the original name was a political decision, just like the revised name, and also the desire to change it again.
Time to take politics out of the equation and give a name with true meaning and a solid connection to the units on the base: Yarborough for the win!
1. Yarborough designed the U.S. Army’s parachutist badge
2. He also designed the special paratrooper ‘jump’ boots
3. He disgned the famous M42 airborne jump uniform
4. He is known as the “Father of the Modern Green Berets” and persuaded Pres. Kennedy to authorize the green beret for the US Army Special Forces
Interestingly, there is also a link with one of our most important international allies – he was also descended from the Yorkshire House of Yarborough and was a distant cousin to such British noble figures as the Baron Deramore, Lord Alvingham, the Duke of Buccleugh and the Marquess of Bath.
I know why they were named that way. It still doesn’t dismiss the fact that Braxton Bragg in particular was a poor leader. If Soldiers knew about the guy they’d end up scratching their heads like I did.
Exactly. High time to fix that.
I’d always hoped that Liberty was just a place holder name until another administration had a chance to to pick something. It was always strange in my mind that every other base got a name but Bragg. I wondered if someone was secretly looking out for it. Like “Provo’s Privy” its gotta “sing” if its to truly replace Bragg in everyones vernacular. Gavin might do it.
Call it Ft Gavin and park an M113 out front.
If you know, you know.
I’d rather time, money, and resources be spent ridding our military of its weak and cowardly leadership, but yeah, a new base name is a bigger priority.
From a design standpoint, that “Fort Liberty” sign is terrible.
I like the Shughart—Gordon idea. Updates things a bit, while bringing to mind the highest standards
I second that. It may just be generational pride, but I think it would really resonate with everyone. Benavidez would be an excellent choice as well.
The sign looks like the first draft of a junior high design project… strange spacing, most boring font possible, how does that get OK’d?
Gavin can hardly run his own state, and when he is doing it it’s further into the ground.
Yo Trump!
Please don’t waste another dime changing the names back. It’s done and over with and we can move on.
Love,
Someone with most of a 28+ year career at Ft. Bragg/ Liberty
Just leave it a lone dude. Stop trying to erase history for pity’s sake. Stop tearing down statues, stop renaming everything, its disgusting an unamerican.
So leave it Fort Liberty?
If for no other reason we have to change it to get rid of the terrible local radio ads that target the NC communities around it. “Im talking to you Fort Liberty”, i don’t even know what they are selling but I can hear the ad in my head right now.
Is that the Lumberton Kia ad?
“And YA’LLLLL TOO Fort Liberty!”
Can we stop bulldozing over history and tearing up statues and arbitrarily renaming places. Healthy nations do not do this garbage. Change it back and leave it alone, this fake ass gesture won’t suddenly integrate people, only further divide them as you trample on our history. Absolutely disgusting behavior.
I have no clue with all the great people that have served that we couldnt come up with a better name. I am ok with Bragg at this point its a name not really a person. Maybe pick someone for SF or Airborne history and go with that. but above all dont spend miliions of dollars to change it. What a waste of money.
1. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. YES! We should change the name back to Ft. Bragg. If we forget where we came from we will forget who we are as a people
How about Fort Nathan Bedford Forrest?
Easiest and least political is the Dept of the Navy general naming convention: Named after nearest city. Fort Fayetteville (Bragg), Fort Mililani (Schofield), Fort Vernon (Polk)
Naming after individuals mays always be controversial to some grievance group, now or the unseen future. Take personalities out. Same with buildings, training areas. Yes boring but apolitical and it takes away the political whims of the narcissist who run for office.
I would add GEN Ridgeway as an option. Commanded the 82nd and the 18th Abn Corps during WWII and forces in Korea during that war. I would not want Bragg to be “reinstated” for all the reasons Eric mentioned in the piece.
TLB
RIDGWAY. Not Ridge Way.
Leo,
You are absolutely correct. Piss poor proofreading on my part. Thanks.
TLB
I would be happy with Ridgway, Gavin, or Yarborough – although I still would prefer Yarborough, for all the reasons I mentioned before.
My two cents – I would go with Ft. Gavin-Shughart-Gordon aka Ft. GSG. Make the 82nd and CAG/SF happy. All three are what every soldier who has stepped foot on Bragg strives to be.
Braxton Bragg was by all accounts a terrible general who helped lose the western theater to the union, on top of being a traitor to the united states it’s funny that anyone would want a US army base named after a loser like him but US Civil War history has never been well taught in US schools so I guess it’s a wash.
Drop the “traitor” stuff. It’s worn out by the usual suspects. What was in 1860 was no longer in 1960. Different time, different idea of what united States should be.
Leo,
From the original text of the Constitution, Treason is defined in Article III, Section 3 as “levying war against the United States or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” So, yes, Bragg was indeed a traitor – as were all the Confederate Generals. It was defined that way in 1789, it was defined that way in 1860, and it is still defined that way today. Facts are facts.
TLB
Someone much smarter than me once said, “if you want to really understand America in the 20th century, both the good and the bad things, you have to base that understanding in how America dealt with this terrible tragedy in the middle of the 19th century”
I think that pretty well sums up my position and I don’t think time spent learning the actual history of the American Civil war is time wasted!
Until such names are nominated that resonate with me, I just continue to say Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, etc. I leave it up to the listener to translate it into politically correct. Some of the ones proposed above are good, though.
I do the same thing. It’s hard to say Fort Eisenhower to my dad when he attended MP school at Fort Gordon in 1966.
My thoughts exactly. Biggest pet peeve of mine is when a new soldier says to me I’m at fort Moore or fort liberty. I immediately think shoot this kids going to Iraq. And the bases are so big there now. It’s not a fob but a fort.
I served three tours at Fort Bragg. I had the privilege of being at Fort Bragg on the last day it was called that. It was a Thursday. I drove home on Friday morning, but did not have to go on base. I still and probably always will refer to it as Fort Bragg, regardless. And I travel down there quarterly. Recently, I was down at Fort Benning for the maneuver warfare conference. All due respect to GEN Moore, it just did not roll off the tongue having graduated from multiple courses at Fort Benning over the years.
And this might sound sentimental, but when I rolled up to the visitor access point, the young specialist looked at my ID card and said welcome home.
C3
Being a Marine and not having a vested interest…
I throw my cover in the “Fort York” corner.
As the son of a WWII vet, growing up in late 50s/60s, Sgt York’s exploits were legendary to a kid reading about the great men and women of WWI and WWII.
Sgt York’s heroism is timeless.
Of course, any of the aforementioned people in the article are more than worthy.
The name Fort Bragg is just a highly recognizable name as an Army installation in NC and nothing more…no need to keep the name for prosperity sake.
Living for 30+ years in Raleigh, the name change to Fort Liberty always grew a smirk from “locals”. Dislike seeing the Fort Liberty sign driving down US1 or I95. Just doesn’t ring true.
It’s Bragg. Just like the Home of the Infantry is Fort Benning. 90% of those stationed there either didn’t know or didn’t care who they were named after. Soldiers just know that Bragg is home of the Airborne/ SOF and and Benning is home of the Infantry. It has been for over 70 freaking years. Notice I also didn’t use any “Maneuver Center of Excellence” bullshit terminology, either.
The place has taken over the name, more so than any mediocre Rebel general.
I will never understand the desire to hang on to and honor the heritage of people who committed treason against their country for the sole reason of owning others. More Lost Cause trash that needs to go.