North Carolina's biggest military base is switching back to its former moniker. Sort of. Here's the story of a loophole in the law and an obscure soldier who committed an amazing act of bravery.
I grew up in Fayetteville and Ft. Bragg was (and is) etched into the fabric of the city and surrounding communities. It was shameful that such a formidable facility was named after a traitor, and many of us cheered the idea of renaming it, however... A) "Liberty" was an objectively lame pick, and B) you don't undo a century of familiarity overnight. There is still a Ft. Bragg Rd. and Bragg Blvd. in town. EVERYONE calls it "Ft. Bragg." Changing it back to "Bragg" in honor of someone as courageous and decent as PFC Bragg seemed to be works for me, despite the overt cynicism. Hegseth and Trump are world-class d*****-bags, but I, for one, will not miss this bit of "Liberty."
He WAS a hero. And good to see a Pfc receive attention. I hope the fort materials and signs call him by his rank as well as his name. Cynical? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet
This is true. The Airborne and Special Operations communities who are at (the former and future) Bragg could not agree on a name that suited both. Tribalism is deep there.
While I get this is seen as a cynical ploy… another view is honoring someone who served, had an incredible act of heroism (which Roland Bragg did), and then went home and lived a good life is EXACTLY the symbol the military needs.
What better example for young paratroopers to aspire to both during their service and for the rest of their lives?
Recognizing Pfc Roland Bragg is fine with me. Think of it this way— He represents a whole lot of other lowly ranked soldiers who committed acts of great selflessness and bravery in WWII. Sure,it is a thoroughly cynical move by the Trump administration, but like Tarhoosier says, we ain’t seen nothing yet.
“How would you know what a retreat looks like?” Bragg said sarcastically. “I should know,” the soldier supposedly replied, “I've been in your army almost two years.”
02/16/25: A classic retort. Warn people that you won't likely get away with that stuff today. I nearly got court-martialed merely for wearing an Aussie hat on a field exercise in Alaska. In the middle of nowhere.
With absolutely no one aware of or even remotely interested in our existence. We well might have lost the imaginary war because of that hat, and, immediately recognizing the danger of this ultra-realistic possibility, quickly deep-sixed it.
Why didn't my haberdasher warn me?!?!?!
Wish I had it today as a souvenir of my service with The Dolts.
Interesting article. I am distressed that Trump decided to do such an unnecessary and hateful act. For what it's worth, our family lore includes the story of having the youngest general in the Confederate Army. And he lived in Gates Country. So not sure about the Braxton Bragg being the only General from NC.
Bragg was certainly not the only CSA general from NC, not even with a stipulation of having first served in the US Army: see James Green Martin. Without that stipulation, the list is longer still, including figures like Thomas Lanier Clingman, a US Senator before his CSA commission, and your William Paul Roberts.
So this is going to cost another $8M to change signage? Doesn’t sound like an efficient used of government funds. If only we had someone to look into that.
- I've been told by a few folks around the military that Ft. Liberty was pretty much a punitive decision. They brought all the groups who use the base together to try and rename it and they could never come to a consensus, so voila, a suggestion none of them had proposed. Don't have any facts for that besides hearsay, though.
- One additional element to the original naming of Ft. Bragg, I believe, is that in addition to garnering support from local citizens, installations were also named for divisions which the bases operated with. As an artillery officer, Braxton Bragg was a doubly-fitting choice for what opened as an artillery training base.
The only jogging I do is my memory and I just recalled that King County in the State of Washington rechristened themselves after a different King a few years ago.
If I were a relative of Roland Bragg I would be very annoyed by this cynical move. If Trump and his ilk don't have the guts to just say "we're going to name it after a Confederate general" then they should have left well enough alone.
I grew up in Fayetteville and Ft. Bragg was (and is) etched into the fabric of the city and surrounding communities. It was shameful that such a formidable facility was named after a traitor, and many of us cheered the idea of renaming it, however... A) "Liberty" was an objectively lame pick, and B) you don't undo a century of familiarity overnight. There is still a Ft. Bragg Rd. and Bragg Blvd. in town. EVERYONE calls it "Ft. Bragg." Changing it back to "Bragg" in honor of someone as courageous and decent as PFC Bragg seemed to be works for me, despite the overt cynicism. Hegseth and Trump are world-class d*****-bags, but I, for one, will not miss this bit of "Liberty."
He WAS a hero. And good to see a Pfc receive attention. I hope the fort materials and signs call him by his rank as well as his name. Cynical? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet
Interesting story! I am meh about it. I wish Fort Porter would’ve been kickass, but those were pilot divisions.
This is true. The Airborne and Special Operations communities who are at (the former and future) Bragg could not agree on a name that suited both. Tribalism is deep there.
While I get this is seen as a cynical ploy… another view is honoring someone who served, had an incredible act of heroism (which Roland Bragg did), and then went home and lived a good life is EXACTLY the symbol the military needs.
What better example for young paratroopers to aspire to both during their service and for the rest of their lives?
Amazing story. Clear up alot for me. Loved the last line.
Visited Bragg in early 70"s as aNCNG connon cocker fresh from Douglas Air Port with the 113th. I liked both sides of the story Who Knew?
Recognizing Pfc Roland Bragg is fine with me. Think of it this way— He represents a whole lot of other lowly ranked soldiers who committed acts of great selflessness and bravery in WWII. Sure,it is a thoroughly cynical move by the Trump administration, but like Tarhoosier says, we ain’t seen nothing yet.
“How would you know what a retreat looks like?” Bragg said sarcastically. “I should know,” the soldier supposedly replied, “I've been in your army almost two years.”
Hahahaha!
02/16/25: A classic retort. Warn people that you won't likely get away with that stuff today. I nearly got court-martialed merely for wearing an Aussie hat on a field exercise in Alaska. In the middle of nowhere.
With absolutely no one aware of or even remotely interested in our existence. We well might have lost the imaginary war because of that hat, and, immediately recognizing the danger of this ultra-realistic possibility, quickly deep-sixed it.
Why didn't my haberdasher warn me?!?!?!
Wish I had it today as a souvenir of my service with The Dolts.
Interesting article. I am distressed that Trump decided to do such an unnecessary and hateful act. For what it's worth, our family lore includes the story of having the youngest general in the Confederate Army. And he lived in Gates Country. So not sure about the Braxton Bragg being the only General from NC.
Keep up the good work.
Bragg was certainly not the only CSA general from NC, not even with a stipulation of having first served in the US Army: see James Green Martin. Without that stipulation, the list is longer still, including figures like Thomas Lanier Clingman, a US Senator before his CSA commission, and your William Paul Roberts.
Probably should have noted that the N&O article from 1918 makes that claim, but as you all are pointing out, it's doesn't seem to be accurate!
So this is going to cost another $8M to change signage? Doesn’t sound like an efficient used of government funds. If only we had someone to look into that.
02/16/25: Relax. Lee Zeldin just prevented $20,000,000,000 from going down the rathole.
Two very minor additions to your great story:
- I've been told by a few folks around the military that Ft. Liberty was pretty much a punitive decision. They brought all the groups who use the base together to try and rename it and they could never come to a consensus, so voila, a suggestion none of them had proposed. Don't have any facts for that besides hearsay, though.
- One additional element to the original naming of Ft. Bragg, I believe, is that in addition to garnering support from local citizens, installations were also named for divisions which the bases operated with. As an artillery officer, Braxton Bragg was a doubly-fitting choice for what opened as an artillery training base.
02/16/25: Given the moral turpitude of the Biden administration, it's amazing they didn't rename the base "Fort Liberace"!
Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CblV6EwzKxg ----- and -----
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace]
A very well-written story. Thank you!
The only jogging I do is my memory and I just recalled that King County in the State of Washington rechristened themselves after a different King a few years ago.
Wouldn't it be something if it came out he was gay. Just saying, stranger things have happened.
If I were a relative of Roland Bragg I would be very annoyed by this cynical move. If Trump and his ilk don't have the guts to just say "we're going to name it after a Confederate general" then they should have left well enough alone.