Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd Airborne and Special Operations Command, is one of ten military installations across the nation named after Confederate figures or supporters that has been mandated by U.S. Congress to be renamed by 2023. Fort Bragg was named in

1918 for General Braxton Bragg, an officer who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

In order to solicit public opinion for the name change, Fort Bragg held a town hall style meeting on Sept. 14 and has encouraged the public to participate in a survey designed to gain feedback and insight for a name that will “exemplify our U.S. military and national values from every community member on Fort Bragg and surrounding communities.”

Names and descriptions outlined in the Fort Bragg Naming Commission survey include:

Airborne and Special Operations Base Fort Bragg is coined as the home of the airborne and special

operations forces.
 

Fort Airborne: Fort Bragg is the world’s premier power projection platform with a rich history of airborne

legacy and mission readiness.
 

Fort Benavidez: Master Sgt. Roy Benavidez was recognized with the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam. Benavidez has a rich history with the U.S. Special Forces and served in the 82nd Airborne Division.
 

Fort Bradley: Gen. Omar N. Bradley oversaw the U.S. military policy-making in the Korean War. The Bradley

Fighting vehicles were named after Gen. Bradley and known as a key armored vehicle for the U.S. military.
 

Fort Bragg:  Brig. Gen. Edward S. Bragg, cousin of Braxton Bragg,served in the Union Army in the Civil

War and served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Wisconsin. Later, he was United

States Minister to Mexico during the presidency of Grover Cleveland and consul-general to the Republic of

Cuba and British Hong Kong under President Theodore Roosevelt.
 

Fort Fayetteville: Fayetteville is known throughout history for its cultural diversity and military presence. It is named after the Marquis de Lafayette,

a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War, commanding American troops in several battles,

including the siege of Yorktown.

Fort Gavin: Lt. Gen. James Gavin’s gallant influence helped shape the first airborne division. He was the third commanding general of the

82nd Airborne Division during World War II. He was often referred to as ‘Jumping Jim Gavin.’
 

Fort Hernandez: Cpl. Rodolfo Perez ‘Rudy’ Hernandez received the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above the call of duty

for his actions during the Korean War.
 

Fort Lafayette: Marquis de Lafayette was a French aristocrat and military officer, who fought in the American Revolutionary War, commanding

American troops in several battles, including the siege of Yorktown.
 

Fort Liberty: Liberty connects with U.S. Army Special Operation Command’s motto ‘De Opresso Liber,’ and the second stanza of the 82nd

All-American song. In World War II, Liberty Makers were placed from Utah Beach to Bastogne as allied forces liberated French towns. According

to the 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence, all have a natural right to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’”
 

Fort Ridgway:  Gen. Matthew Ridgway fought with distinction during World War II while directly helping create the foundation of the first airborne

corps.
 

Fort Robinson: Gen. Roscoe Robinson, Jr. was the first African-American commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and the first African-American

Officer to reach the rank of four-star general. In his early career, Robinson served in the Korean War and received a Bronze Star for his actions.
 

Fort Sandhills: An area of North Carolina known for longleaf pines, sandy soil, and a unique history in its Sandhill towns of Cumberland, Moore,

Harnett, Hoke, Lee, and Robeson counties.
 

Fort Shelton: Gen. Henry H. Shelton’s legacy includes a history in both the Airborne and Special Operations community. Shelton’s leadership

extends from the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps. And the U.S. Special Operations Command, earning multiple awards including the

Bronze Star Medal with V device and the Purple Heart.

Fort Victory: The value of victory is a defining moment reflecting the achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds.
 

Fort Yarborough: Lt. Gen. William P. Yarborough left a mark in airborne, psychological warfare, and special operations. The physical manifestations

of the impact he’s left include the Green Beret, the Yarborough Knife, and the Parachutist Badge.
 

Joint Airborne and Special Operations Center: Fort Bragg is coined as the home of the airborne and special operations forces.

The name change does not come without question from the community and its business leaders. One major concern is the cost of the rebrand. Ret. LTC Steve Milburn, a 1976 graduate of West Point and former aviator/comptroller, opened his business, The UPS Store, with his wife in 1996. The UPS Store is located in Westwood Shopping Center and on Fort Bragg. A third location in Hope Mills is scheduled to open in early 2022.

“I can’t believe we are wasting money changing history. This is not going to be cheap,” said Milburn. “Where do you draw the line? What will be next?”

Congress has requested that the Naming Commission report on how much the effort will cost along with the name recommendations, so the full financial piece is still undetermined. The legislative request asks for a list of assets needing change although it is estimated that it will cost $7 million to rename Fort Bragg alone.

This price tag does not include the impact on businesses located in the Fayetteville area that include “Bragg” in their business name such as Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union or Fort Bragg Harley Davidson nor does it include the expense that surrounding communities would need to change their wayfinding signage and marketing/ promotional materials. (Editor’s note: At time of this writing, the aforementioned businesses were unavailable for comment on the future of their branding.)

Some local community members who attended the town hall including Grilley Mitchell with the Cumberland County Veterans Council who

recommended retaining the name Fort Bragg, but changing the namesake to Brig. Gen. Edward S. Bragg, who served on the Union side in

the Confederate War. This would mitigate much financial strain to the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg area and keep the sentiment for those who have served at Fort Bragg over the decades while still complying with Congressional mandates. Fort Bragg is the only installation out o the ten that has the opportunity to hold on to its identity in this manner.

Other installations to be renamed include Fort Polk and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana, Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Lee and Fort Pickett in Virginia and Fort Rucker in Alabama.

The Fort Bragg Naming Commission will make its final recommendation to Congress by October 1, 2022.