The Pentagon has announced it is once again changing the name of one of its largest military bases, Fort Liberty, back to its original name, Fort Bragg, but with a twist.
Instead of bearing the name of Confederate General Braxton Bragg, the home of the 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Operations Command will now honor Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper who earned the Silver Star for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge.
Let’s be clear: There should never have been a military base named after Braxton Bragg in the first place. Beyond his role as a commander in an armed rebellion against the U.S. government, Bragg is widely regarded as one of the worst generals of the Civil War. His poor leadership and strategic failures were legendary even among his own troops.
For this reason alone, the original decision to rename Fort Bragg was commendable. However, in typical fashion, the Biden administration chose the uninspired and overly generic “Fort Liberty,” a safe, watered-down option seemingly designed to appease a segment of the Left that finds offense in just about everything.
Now, by rebranding Fort Bragg to honor a little-known WWII soldier, the Trump administration can claim to be restoring history erased by the Left’s insatiable appetite for faux outrage — all while sidestepping the awkwardness of celebrating a Confederate general who was both a notorious slave owner and an incompetent military leader.
Yet, in doing so, it has fallen into the same trap of opting for political appeasement rather than seizing the opportunity to honor a genuinely deserving American hero: General James M. Gavin. As the highly decorated third commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II, Gavin was more than just a leader; he was a visionary and a soldier’s general.
Nicknamed the “Jumping General,” Gavin personally participated in combat jumps alongside his troops in Sicily, in Italy, and during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. His leadership style exemplified courage, strategic brilliance, and an unwavering dedication to his men.
At just 37 years old, he became the youngest divisional commander in the U.S. Army, leading the 82nd Airborne Division with unparalleled effectiveness. Gavin’s actions directly contributed to the success of key military campaigns during WWII, and his innovative thinking shaped airborne operations for decades to come.
Gavin’s contributions extended far beyond WWII. In 1947, he incorporated the all-black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion into the 82nd Airborne, making it the first integrated division in the U.S. Army.
He also played a crucial role in shaping post-war military strategy, becoming one of the first senior officials to advocate a more agile and mobile fighting force. Gavin’s forward-thinking approach to logistics and rapid deployment, particularly using helicopters, was instrumental in developing the modern air cavalry.
The renaming of Fort Liberty to Fort Gavin would not only have paid homage to his exemplary military service but also served as a reminder of the kind of leadership and moral clarity that should define America’s armed forces.
Instead, the Pentagon chose to rename it Fort Roland L. Bragg, a name that has little connection to the installation’s rich history but conveniently aligns with an illusion of attempting to restore the past.
Before becoming secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth declared, regarding the initial renaming to Fort Liberty, “We should change it back because legacy matters.” Yet, when given the opportunity to correct past mistakes, Hegseth failed to honor the man who best embodied the institution’s legacy and ethos.
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The 82nd Airborne Division has prided itself on its legacy of excellence, resilience, and innovation. Naming the base after Gavin would have been the perfect way to honor those principles. Unfortunately, by disregarding Gavin’s legacy, the current administration missed the chance to connect Fort Bragg’s new identity to the soldiers who made it legendary.
General James M. Gavin was the embodiment of airborne excellence, a leader who defined the very institution Fort Bragg has housed for decades. By failing to recognize his contributions, the current administration has once again squandered an opportunity to tie the past, present, and future of one of the military’s most iconic bases to a leader who truly represented its values.
Tim McMillan is a retired police lieutenant, investigative reporter, and co-founder and executive director of TheDebrief. His writing covers defense, science, and the intelligence community. Follow him @lttimmcmillan.
