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The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School was established in the early Cold War period of the early 1950s.&nbsp;In 1960, counterinsurgency operations training was added to the curriculum. In 1962, the Special Warfare Center established a special&nbsp;training group to prepare enlisted volunteers for special&nbsp;operational missions or assignments. The Advanced Training Committee was created to improve and try operations in which to practice infiltration methods. &nbsp; The JFK Special Warfare Museum, like other U.S. Army Center for Military history museums, is where new soldiers and others who are able to come onto this military installation can learn about the soldiers and organizations of the past. Exhibits highlight World War I, the First Special Service Force, the Office of Strategic Service, Detachment 101 in World War II, the Korean conflict, Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The role special forces have played in peacetime is explored as well.

The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum explores the history of the Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations Regiments.

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One of sixty-four museums operated by the United States Army, this museum includes exhibits related to the origins and history of the U.S. Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, and predecessor organizations from the colonial period to the present. The museum is open to the public. 

John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum

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This tour starts at the Visitors Center where civilians need to make advance arrangements before entering Fort Bragg. The tour includes the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum, the 82nd Airborne Museum, and several historic buildings, parade grounds, and monuments such as Iron Mike. Like all active military installations, admission is limited to personnel who have a valid reason to be on the installation which includes civilians for special events and historical tours in coordination with security forces.

During WWI, Camp Bragg was used as a base for artillery training. After the war, the need for the base decreased, so in 1921 it was chosen to be abandoned. However, Fayetteville and the surrounding communities rallied together and the order was reversed by August of that year. 

In 1942 the Army established the Airborne Command at Fort Bragg. Along with this new command the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division arrived at Fort Bragg. Soon Camp Mackall was under construction to facilitate in the new Airborne operations occurring, as well as to accommodate all five Airborne Divisions by the end of the war. Upon returning from WWII the 82nd was permanently assigned to Fort Bragg, where it remains today as America’s Strategic Response Force.

Located outside the main gate of Fort Bragg, this is the point of entry for visitors to Fort Bragg's museums. Fort Bragg was first established in 1918 as Camp Bragg, named after North Carolina-native General Braxton Bragg of the Confederate Army. The location for the post was chosen as it provided the optimal environment conducive to military training at the time. Fort Bragg is the home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces and includes the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division, FORSCOM, and various Special Operations Commands and units. The fort is also home to several museums and other attractions that can be viewed by civilians with advance notice and a security screening. Like all active military installations, admission is limited to personnel who have a valid reason to be on the installation which includes civilians for special events and historical tours in coordination with security forces.  

Fort Bragg Visitors Center

Corporal&nbsp;Alvin C. York was from Fentress County, Tennessee. During WWI,&nbsp;York was assigned to G Co., 328th Infantry. During fighting near Chatel-Chehery, France, on 8 October 1918, CPL York took command of his platoon after three non-commissioned officers had been wounded or killed. He fearlessly charged a machine gun nest, capturing four German officers, 128 men, and several weapons.York Theater was a movie theater but following&nbsp;budget cuts and declining attendance, the theater does not shows movies as regularly as it did in previous era. The theater is most often utilized for briefings and other events by the military leaders at&nbsp;Fort Bragg. As with many military installations Fort Bragg has named several of its buildings, fields, and locations after important military figures from the past. This practice serves to honor the extraordinary achievements of past soldiers and leaders. This practice also teaches new soldiers about the past and the history of their unit and organization, as well as the post they are assigned to.

York Theater is a multipurpose theater located on Fort Bragg that is named in honor of Corporal Alvin C. York for his bravery and heroism under fire during World War I. The theater is used by the 82nd Airborne Division for various functions. This is one of many sites on Fort Bragg named for a Medal of Honor recipient. 

York Theater

The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army is an active infantry division that specializes in paratrooper assault operations into denied areas. Based In Fort Bragg, the division is part of the XVIII Airborne Corps.&nbsp; The 82nd division was established in 1917 as part of the National Army at Camp Gordon, Georgia. This initial group had members from all 48 states at the time, thus rendering the nickname "all American," which is the basis for its famed "AA" shoulder patch. The division has participated in almost every war since World War I. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The 82nd Airborne War Memorial Museum is dedicated to preserving and educating the public about the history of the division. It was founded in 1945 and features more than 5,600 feet of exhibit space. Exhibits start with the division's establishment (1917) and continue through today. All of the items on display are original; they were either used by division members or against them. The museum also features a theater and archive. Outside, there are several aircraft paratroopers have used since WWII as well as captured and used artillery pieces. A number of memorials are also located on the museum grounds. 

82nd Airborne War Memorial Museum

The stadium was named for Private John R. Towle who was from Cleveland, Ohio. Pvt Towle was assigned to C Co, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment during WWII. On 21 September 1944 near Oosterhout, Holland, Private Towle moved into an exposed fighting position and broke up a German counterattack of 100 infantrymen supported by two tanks and a half-track before he was mortally wounded by a mortar shell. The stadium has seen its fair share of tragedy. On October 27, 1995, Sargeant Kreutzer opened fire on 1300 of his fellow paratroopers. He killed 18 of his fellow soldiers before being apprehended by authorities. This tragedy is largely unknown today but not forgotten by the soldiers assigned to Fort Bragg.As with many military installations, Fort Bragg has named several of its buildings, fields, and locations after important military figures from the past. This practice serves to honor the extraordinary achievements of past soldiers and leaders and also teaches new soldiers about the past and the history of their unit, organization, and Fort Bragg.&nbsp;

Towle Stadium is an athletic field and gym complex on Fort Bragg NC. The Stadium is named for an 82nd Airborne Division Medal of Honor Recipient Private John R. Towle. The stadium has been recently renovated. It is also the site of a tragic mass shooting that claimed the lives of eighteen soldiers in 1995. 

Towle Stadium

LTC Emory J. Pike was from Columbus City, Iowa. LTC Pike was the Division Machine Gun Officer, during fighting near Vandieras on15 September 1918. While on a front line reconnaissance mission, his unit received heavy shelling, which caused&nbsp;disorganizing of&nbsp;advancing infantry units. He reorganized the units, secured the position against attack, and was severely wounded by shellfire when he went to the aid of a wounded Paratrooper.&nbsp;As with many military installations Fort Bragg has named several of its buildings, fields, and locations after important military figures from the past. This practice serves to honor the extraordinary achievements of past soldiers and leaders. This practice also teaches new soldiers about the past and the history of their unit and organization, as well as the post they are assigned to.

Pike Field is named for LTC Emory J. Pike. The field is mainly used for parades. Brigade Level Change of Command ceremonies along with static displays are very common occurrences on Pike Field. The Field is best known for the Division Pass and Review during All American Week

Pike FIeld

Pope Field was officially established in 1919. During 1927
Pope Field played a key role in developing strategies to shorten WWII. As the
war progressed Pope Field began to grow and develop. Paved Runways and updated
equipment began to replace the current dirt runways.

Pope Air Force Base would go on to augment the operations of
the 82nd Airborne Division as well as Various Special Operations Agencies
from the end of WWII to 2005. In 2005 BRAC began its transition to realign the
base. In 2011 the base was transferred over to Fort Bragg officially. 

The Pope Air Force Base Air Park is remaining piece of the
former Air Force Base. The Air Park is Located on Reily Road. The park Features
several current and historic aircraft including a C-47, C-123, and C-130H,
along with other airframes. The park also has monuments and memorials dedicated
to the men and women of the United States Military as well as those lost in
aviation accidents on Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg.

Pope Army Airfield is located at the northwest portion of Fort Bragg. Pope AAF used to be Pope Air Force Base. Pope AAF serves as a focal point of Airborne Operations at Fort Bragg. The airfield is run by the 43rd Air Lift Group and the 440th Airlift Wing. Some of the lasting lineage of Pope Air Force Base can be seen at the Pope Air Force Base Air Park.

Pope Air Force Base Air Park

Established in September of 1918, the 'Base Hospital' at what was formerly known as Camp Bragg (present-day Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, was originally designed to serve United States Army soldiers and their families and consisted of 22 total different buildings. The facility contained two dispensaries, one headquarters and 500 beds set aside to aid those injured at, what the time, was established as an artillery training post.In June of 1932, the original hospital was retired and a new three-story treatment facility was constructed and was named the USA Station Hospital One. This new hospital, although state-of-the-art, modern and well-equipped, was much smaller than the original Base Hospital, containing only 83 beds to serve the entire post's population of approximately 2,500 soldiers. Hospital One served the base well for most of the 1930s, however, after the population continued to slowly grow to 5,500 by 1939, the decision was made it was time to build yet again. This building&nbsp;is currently&nbsp;serving as Headquarters for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg.By February of 1941, the Quartermaster Corps had built two additional buildings, appropriately named USA Station Hospitals Two and Three, this time well prepared for&nbsp;the increasing population. Hospital Two contained 1,680 beds and Hospital Three housed 1,002, adding an additional 2,682 beds to the entire base to care for the incessantly rising population. These buildings were located north of Reilly and Pelham Streets and were connected by a covered walkway. By 1949, all of Fort Bragg's medical facilities were moved to the site of USA Station Hospital Two and was renamed simply the U.S. Army Station Hospital.A few years went by and the once new Army Station Hospital began to once again, succumb to the rising population of approximately 100,000 soldiers by the end of World War II. It was time for the base hospital to be rebuilt yet again and in May of 1955, ground was broken to prepare for the construction of what would be known as&nbsp;the Womack Army Community Hospital. This treatment facility was named after North Carolina native and Medal of Honor recipient, Private First Class Bryant H. Womack for his valiant efforts as a combat medic during the Korean War.The Womack Army Community Hospital opened its doors for the first time on August 3, 1958 and contained 500 beds - the exact same number of beds in the original Camp Bragg Base Hospital. The facility was 9-stories tall and added the Ambulatory Patient Care Annex in March of 1974. On October 1, 1991,&nbsp;was renamed the Womack Army Medical Center&nbsp;and remained standing for 40 years as Fort Bragg's primary treatment facility.One year after its renaming, ground was once again broken at the new and current site of the Womack Army Medical Center on September 3, 1992. By March 9, 2000, construction of the state-of-the-art, $400 million, 1,020,359 square-feet&nbsp;medical campus was completed and a dedication ceremony was held at the east entrance of the complex. This campus currently covers 163 acres of wooded land and is home to specialists from all over the country.

The Womack Army Medical Center is a military hospital under the command of the United States Army located on post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The hospital was originally called the Camp Bragg Base Hospital and was the first brick and mortar medical facility to be constructed on what was formerly known as Camp Bragg (now Fort Bragg). Presently named after Army Private First Class Bryant H. Womack, a native of Mill Spring, North Carolina, for his heroic efforts during the Korean War, the original site of the Camp Bragg Base Hospital is now the Bastogne Gables neighborhood and the present establishment is located just east of Ryder Golf Course. This medical facility currently treats approximately 200,000 soldiers, family members, and otherwise eligible patients annually in the largest beneficiary population in the United States Army. 

Womack Army Medical Center

Iron Mike is a sculpture of a WWII Paratrooper. It was originally placed at the entrance to Fort Bragg but was later moved to the front of the post headquarters. The original statue was 16 feet tall. Due to natural deterioration of the original materials, the statue was replaced by a bronze version in 2005. After repairs, the original Iron Mike statue was moved to the Airborne &amp; Special Operations Museum (this has its own Clio entry) in downtown Fayetteville, NC. Both statues are a popular attraction with returning veterans.

Sculpted in 1961, the "Iron Mike" statue is an iconic fixture in the Airborne and Special Operations Community. The statue stands for all Paratroopers past, present and future, and is often used in various logos and symbols for various organizations throughout the airborne community. 

Iron Mike

The Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery was established in 1918, when it served as a burial ground for many soldiers and civilians who&nbsp;died during the worldwide influenza epidemic that claimed the lives of an estimated six to seven hundred thousand Americans and as many as twenty to fifty million Americans. The cemetery includes many local residents who worked at the base and Puerto Rican Nationals who also died in the epidemic. The cemetery also holds the remains of German POW's who died in captivity at Fort Bragg.&nbsp;The cemetery also holds the remains of many American servicemen and women. During the early 1940s, Fort Bragg became the home of the US Army Airborne which included&nbsp;dangerous training exercises. Those buried here include soldiers who died in training accidents. The cemetery stopped interning soldiers and civilians in the 1990s after the Sandhills Veterans Cemetery opened.&nbsp;

Fort Bragg's Main Post Cemetery was established in 1918 and serves as the final resting place of American soldiers from World War I to the present along with a number of civilians and foreign soldiers who were held here as prisoners of war. Many of the first internees lost their lives in the influenza pandemic that came at the end of World War I. 

Tour of Fort Bragg

John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information