5 unique things that are only found at Fort Bragg

FORT BRAGG — At countless ceremonies on Fort Bragg, phrases are uttered like “center of the universe” or “when the nation calls 911, the phone rings at Fort Bragg."

The most-populated Army Installation in the U.S., Fort Bragg is home to more than 55,000 soldiers and is the headquarters of major commands like the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command and Joint Special Operations Command

It is also home to the 18th Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division, with capabilities to rapidly deploy worldwide within 18 hours.

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• Who are Fort Bragg’s buildings and roads named after?

• What at Fort Bragg's monuments?

• These are the stories of Fort Bragg's Medal of Honor recipients

• Famous faces that have visited Bragg

• Fort Bragg is home to rare plants and animals

• Fayetteville Explained: How the city got the nickname Fayettenam, and how it has changed.

Below are five random things unique to Fort Bragg.

1. All the way

Depending on which unit might be rotating gate duty, some soldiers will tell you, “All the way,” as you drive through.

The 82nd Airborne Division credits Maj. Jim Riffe for introducing the phrase in 1957 as a response to the greeting, "Airborne."

Riffe at the time was the training officer for the 2nd Airborne Battle Group of the 503rd Military Police Battalion. He went on to become chief of staff of the division as a colonel.

But even before that, “All The Way,” was the original motto of the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1942

2. All American Band and Chorus

Sure, the Army has its own band and chorus, but the 82nd Airborne Division does, too.

According to its website, the 82nd band was first organized on March 29, 1942, before the 82nd Infantry Division Artillery activated.

By March 1, 1945, it reorganized as the 82nd Airborne Division band.

After being allotted to the regular Army at the end of World War II, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 82nd Administration Company in 1972, the 82nd Adjutant General Company in 1975, then redesignated as the 82nd Airborne Division Band in September 1987.

When there are 82nd Airborne Division events at Fort Bragg, chances are you’ll hear the band, chorus or both. Each Christmas, the chorus, band and rock band team up for their annual holiday concert. The groups also travel off the post for community events and can be requested.

3. Nasty Nick

Nasty Nick is the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School’s obstacle course for Special Forces Assessment and Selection at Camp Mackall, North Carolina.

According to a 2013 Army article, it is named after former Special Forces Col. James "Nick" Rowe. Rowe was a Vietnam War veteran held captive for more than five years, and one of only 34 American prisoners of war to escape captivity, the article says.

He used his knowledge as a surviving prisoner of war to create the survival, evasion, resistance and escape training program that all special Forces Soldiers must complete.

4. Green Berets song

Often called the “quiet professionals” because of the secret nature of their jobs without boasting individual accolades, the Green Berets have a song penned by one of their own.

Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler was a Green Beret combat medic who was wounded during the Vietnam War and served at Fort Bragg in 1964 and 1965.

In January 1966, Sadler recorded "The Ballad of the Green Berets,” which was co-written by Robin Moore, author of the book, "The Green Berets."

The song, which has the lyrics, “silver wings upon their chest, these are men, America's best,” is played to date at Special Forces ceremonies at Fort Bragg.

5. Endangered species

The red-cockaded woodpecker may arguably be the most infamous of Fort Bragg's rare and endangered species. In 1988, the presence of the small bird on Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall brought into question whether the bird and the military could coexist. Soldiers curtailed training for several years as officials debated whether soldiers would need to be moved to other installations and lawmakers considered bills to exempt Fort Bragg from the Endangered Species Act.

But in the decades since, thousands of acres of woodpecker habitat around post have since been protected through conservation and public-private partnerships.

Another species more exclusive to Fort Bragg, though, is the Saint Francis’ satyr.

The satyr is a small, dark brown butterfly with dark-reddish brown eyespots encircled with yellow on the underside of the wings. Its wings have four orange-colored bands across them and spread 1 to 2 inches in width.

It was listed as endangered in 1995, and Fort Bragg hosts the only known population of the rare insect.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: From Green Berets to a chorus: 5 unique things to Fort Bragg