In his first visit to Fayetteville in his bid to seek another term in the White House, former President Donald Trump told a crowd of more than 5,000 at the Crown Arena on Friday night that he would restore the name of the world’s most populated U.S. military installation.

Formerly known as Fort Bragg and named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, the home of the Army airborne and Special Forces was renamed Fort Liberty last June.

“We did win two world wars from Fort Bragg. … So, this is no time to be changing names. … We’re going to do everything we can to get it back. We’re going to bring our country back,” Trump told the crowd that roared with applause and chanted, “Fight, fight, fight!”

Ahead of Trump’s remarks, Sanford resident Chelsea Ruston said she is a military spouse and does not think renaming the installation was worth the money.

Ruston said she came out to support Trump.

“He cares for America, everything to make America great again, closing our borders. … I liked gas prices better (when he was in office). I liked that inflation was down and interest rates,” she said.

Trump’s visit to Fayetteville was a town hall, which lasted a little more than an hour, and included questions from several North Carolina residents.

Topics included what Trump and others have said was a lack of response to those affected by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, and illegal immigration, but the majority of the questions centered on military topics.

Dwight Francisco, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, who had presented Trump with a Purple Heart that Francisco had been awarded, said he was moved to see Trump stand up after being grazed in the ear by a bullet during an assassination attempt at a June rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Francisco also claimed that the homelessness rate of veterans under Trump’s administration was about 7% and has increased to 14%, asking Trump what he would do to help homeless veterans.

Trump said it upset him to see homeless veterans in front of hotels, while “illegal immigrants, many who are killers, drug dealers and terrorists” can walk into the same hotel and sleep there.

He said he would support border policies written during his last term and he would empower local law enforcement to arrest people illegally in the country who have committed crimes and claimed that 350,000 migrant children are missing under the current administration.

He also said the U.S. is sitting on “liquid gold” and said the money from drilling oil and gas would be used “to take care of our veterans properly.”

Trump was asked by John, who said he was a former Green Beret kicked out of the military over a COVID-19-vaccine mandate, what he would do to hold military leaders accountable over the former Department of Defense mandate for service members that Congress overturned.

Trump said there should have never been a vaccine mandate and that he would take care of the accountability.

“We lost a lot of great people — a lot of people were forced into doing things they didn’t want to do,” he said.

Austin, an active-duty service member at Fort Liberty, told the crowd he was at Friday night’s forum in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the Army or Department of Defense.

Austin asked Trump about Iran launching missiles toward Israel last week and what Trump’s thoughts were on the Iron Dome Missile System used to protect Israel and if America should have a similar system.

“We have to be totally prepared, and we have to be absolutely prepared … hit the nuclear and worry about the rest later,” Trump responded.

Trump said that World War III could start before the election and referenced the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

He said the attacks between Israel and Iran and between Russia and Ukraine wouldn’t have happened if he were president.

He said there were no attacks during his four years in the White House.

“We defeated ISIS. I rebuilt the military, and we have great generals,” he said.

Asked by a Marine veteran who said he is also a “Latino for Trump” about what he would do for accountability over the 2021 withdrawal in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of 13 service members, Trump called the withdrawal an “embarrassing moment in the history of our country.”

Trump said that during his last few months in office troops were getting out of the Middle East and about 5,000 service members were in Afghanistan.

He said the U.S. should have never given up Bagram Air Base and said that no service members were killed during his last 18 months in office.

“Then we had the election, these guys took over, and it all started up again,” Trump said. “We lost 13 and left $85 billion worth of equipment behind. We left Americans behind. Everything was wrong.”

Trump said he would fire the generals involved. Former U.S. Central Command commander, Marine Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, has since retired.

The last question of the night was asked by former Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, who sat on stage during the town hall along with Francisco and John, the former Green Beret.

Lohmeier said he was relieved of his command and lost his pension after he criticized DOD training on diversity, equity and inclusion.

“These trainings are still dividing our troops,” Lohmeier claimed.

He asked Trump if he would fire the “few woke generals” who are a problem.

Trump said he’d appoint Lohmeier to a task force to look into the matter if elected president.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com.

Adult mentors for the Gold Star children of post-9/11 fallen service members are being sought in Fayetteville by a national nonprofit.

The mentorship program is offered through Tuesday’s Children, an organization that provides support and services for families impacted by terrorism, military conflict and mass violence since 2001, according to a news release.

“Children are waiting across the country, including two children in Fayetteville, NC, to be paired with an engaged supporter,” the news release stated.

The Military Initiative Mentoring Program was created based on the long-term healing model, said Sara Wingerath-Schlanger, senior program director.

“We make matches based on common interests, personality traits and within a reasonable geographic distance,” she said.

According to the news release, the “custom-designed program fills the gaps in services offered to families of the fallen with children 6 to 18 years old.

Mentors “offer advice, share life experiences, help a young person navigate challenges and have fun,” the news release stated.

Adults ages 21 and older are eligible to volunteer with Tuesday’s Children’s Mentoring Program.

Screening includes a background check and other vital child safety precautions, the news release stated.

Those expressing interest must commit to being actively engaged with the child a few hours a month for a year or longer.

To register to volunteer, visit tuesdayschildren.org/our-programs/youth-mentoring/.

FORT BRAGG — The U.S. Army Special Operations Command has its first female command sergeant major, while the outgoing top enlisted soldier will be the next sergeant major of the Army.

With more than 30,000 soldiers and civilians, USASOC is the higher command for the 1st Special Forces Command, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Army Special Operations Aviation Command and 75th Ranger Regiment

During a ceremony Monday at Fort Bragg, Command Sgt. Maj. JoAnn Naumann assumed responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer.

Naumann most recently served as the senior enlisted leader for Special Operations Command-Korea.

She enlisted in the Army in February 1996 as a voice language analyst. She completed the Arabic Basic Course at the Defense Language Institute and Advanced Individual Training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas.

Naumann’s assignments include serving as the Joint Special Operations Command’s senior enlisted advisor, command sergeant major for the 15th Military Intelligence Battalion and command sergeant major for the Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade. She has completed 14 deployments throughout CENTCOM and AFRICOM.

In an Army interview last year, Naumann said she’s been with special operations since 2002.

“When I came into the SOF (special operations forces) community in 2002, there were very few women,” Naumann said.

Ahead of Monday’s ceremony, Naumann told The Fayetteville Observer that being in special operation forces is more about capability.

“We have all different military occupation specialties in our formation,” she said. “We have genders and races and everything. Everyone is represented in our formation, and it’s about putting everybody on the same playing field and then selecting the best athlete.”

Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOS’s commander who oversaw Monday’s ceremony, said he’s known Naumann for decades and described her as a trailblazer.

During Naumann’s most recent assignment, Braga said, she worked with Korean forces that don’t “really have females,” in its special operation forces.

Naumann, Braga said, showed the Korean forces that she would jump with them, go to the range with them and was a value.

“Talk about changing cultures and adding to strategy and international partnerships through sheer perseverance and commitment and leading by example,” he said.

Prior to the ceremony, Naumann said the best advice she received was when she was a staff sergeant and a sergeant major told her she’s done her job when her soldiers don’t need her anymore

“It is about developing our people … It’s not about me here today, but it’s about who’s going to be here behind me and who’s going to be here in 10 years and growing those future leaders,” she said.

Naumann said she’s honored to lead the Army’s special operation forces “at an inflection point,” when the Army is “challenged by new adversaries and rapidly advancing technology.”

She thanked Weimer for his guidance.

New Sergeant Major of the Army

Weimer is leaving his position as command sergeant major of USASOC to become the 17th sergeant major of the Army in August, a position currently held by Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston.

Ahead of the ceremony, Weimer told The Fayetteville Observer that he didn’t start his Army career thinking he’d become the senior enlisted leader of USASOC or the Army.

He said mentors have taught him to focus on being he where is in that moment in time.

“We have a tendency to always be thinking about the next step or the next thing, and it absolutely can be distracting, especially in our line of work,” Weimer said.

Braga said Weimer will be the first Special Forces noncommissioned officer to hold the Army’s top enlisted spot.

Braga recognized Weimer’s wife and daughters for their support and described Weimer as having “courage, candor and commitment,” along with “vulnerability and humility.”

Weimer, Braga said, is similar to the explorer Ulysess in the poems “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” and also written about by the poet Alfred Tennyson.

Ulysess, Braga said, “lived life to the fullest,” and did not look “for wealth, position in life or fame after death.”

Weimer came to work to make it better, from advocating for child development centers and new barracks on post to “talent management.”

“He left his mark,” Braga said.

Weimer challenged the soldiers to never settle or compromise and to refuse to be comfortable.

According to his official biography, Weimer joined the Army in 1993 and completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1994. He completed the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course and earned his Green Beret in 1996.

Weimer previously served as the senior enlisted leader at the U.S. Special Operations Command Central at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from August 2020, until assuming his current role with USASOC in August 2021.

He’s also had previous assignments as command sergeant major for the Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan, the 7th Special Forces Group and numerous tours in the U.S. Central and U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility.

Rafi worked with the American military from 2010 until he was wounded in 2014.

Sgt. 1st Class Manny Munguia met Rafi during a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2012.

Rafi was 22 years old at the time and worked for the Special Forces operational detachment that Munguia served with, helping Special Forces soldiers communicate with key Afghan leaders.

Rafi was often alongside American troops when they were under Taliban fire, Munguia said.

“For me, after nine months, I’d come back and get some rest,” Munguia said. “For Rafi, my team would leave and he’d work with another team. So, it was nonstop patrols and missions for him for about five years.”

Rafi’s commitment to American forces is why Munguia and several service members signed letters in support of Rafi getting a special immigrant visa to come to the U.S., Munguia said recently at a Fayetteville coffee shop.

Leaving Afghanistan

Threatened by the Taliban, Rafi fled to Greece in 2016.

Munguia said Rafi told him in 2017 that he needed help getting his visa and the Greek authorities were giving him a hard time because he was an immigrant.

He was able to register as an immigrant in Greece in 2020, but in the process, he had to surrender his Afghan passport.

Obtaining the passport and the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays for Rafi getting to the U.S. until his visa was approved in December.

He landed in the states in January this year and made it to Fayetteville by March 6.

Munguia said Rafi now faces a new set of challenges.

He has three sisters still in Kabul.

His mother, two sisters and sister-in-law are in Turkey.

To bring Rafi’s family to the U.S., Munguia said, Rafi would need to become an American citizen — a process that could take up to five years.

New life in the U.S.

Munguia said the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Internationals in Raleigh tried to help Rafi through cash assistance and in finding an attorney. But finding permanent housing and a job has been delayed.

“I would like to get a house,” Rafi said as he sat at the coffee shop. “I would like some help because of my injuries. I still have the same problems.”

Munguia said Iraqi and Afghan nationals who were wounded in action while serving alongside American service members do not receive the same medical and compensation benefits as veterans.

“All these people put their lives on the line to help out American troops,” Munguia said. “Their families are still in danger under threat due to their affiliation with the U.S. government working for them, and what kind of compensation can they get? What kind of benefits?”

Munguia said Rafi’s injuries leave him unable to work physically demanding jobs.

With Munguia’s help, Rafi just now obtained a driver’s permit and is working at Afghan Kabob.

Munguia said policy changes that would make things easier for Rafi and other Afghan immigrants would include the government having more case managers to help the refugees adjust to life in the U.S, and granting waivers for American citizenship, medical care and bringing family members to the U.S.

Rafi’s long-term goal, Munguia said, is to be able to work with refugee youth.

During Rafi’s time in Greece, he mentored youth susceptible to gangs, violence and drug use, cooking for them and teaching them life skills, Mungia said.

Rafi said while he misses Afghanistan, his life is now in the U.S.

“I cannot go back to Afghanistan because of the Taliban being in power,” he said. “There’s no future for me there.”

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — From a young age, Chris Cruz had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit.

He sold chocolate bars in elementary school. In middle school, he’d bring Capri Suns to sell to classmates for $1.

“I guess I kind of always wanted to be my own boss,” said Cruz, who medically separated from the Army at Fort Bragg last month.

The path to becoming his own boss continued with joining the Army — something he knew he wanted to be in since he was 5.

“I was born in Guam, before moving to Kentucky, and most people from Guam pretty much join the military to get off the island,” he said. “But I joined for the service, too. Most of my family has been military.”

Cruz’s time in the Army led him to create his business, Anubis Design Group, in 2018.

The name Anubis comes from watching the movie “The Mummy” and is an Egyptian god that kept evil out of Egypt.

“It’s kind of mysterious, kind of similar to how some people in the military will come out of the shadows or darkness to stop bad people,” he said.

The primarily online business specializes in creating tactical nylon equipment and soft goods, along with customized clothing for military service members, law enforcement and civilians.

Cruz said his focus on tactical nylon equipment is because he often modified his own military gear “to make it more personalized or better.”

“People in my units would see that I was modifying my own stuff and asked me to do whatever modifications they needed, and it took off from there,” he said.

In 2018, Cruz said, one of his buddies in the 5th Special Forces Group asked him to modify a chest rig — a tactical vest used for holding equipment — and to add a couple of patches to it.

The friend was pleased with the work and encouraged Cruz to start his own business.

Cruz said he’s grown from hand stitching to using heavier industrial machines.

He customizes and makes armor plate carriers that hold ballistic armor, chest rigs that hold ammunition and other gear, and general-purpose pouches.

“The vests are what we’re more well-known for, but it’s not just gear,” said. “We have T-shirts and hats and are trying to branch into other things like photography and landscaping.”

Cruz was able to showcase his gear during a dive competition hosted by the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg in June. He plans to be present at a gun show in Fayetteville before he relocates to Texas.

Though moving to Texas, Cruz said he has four other soldiers working with him, and the business is primarily an e-commerce model, meaning customers can place orders online.

“We have our more readily available products in stock, but we can do custom orders,” he said.

Cruz said he welcomes military-connected customers but also wants to have a reach beyond the military, which is why he has items that civilians can purchase, too.

Custom orders have a $35 non-refundable fee and take about seven to 10 business days, but could take longer depending on the request.

“Other than myself, the other guys are active duty, so it could vary,” he said.

FORT BRAGG — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden landed at Fort Bragg on Monday evening, thanking service members and their families ahead of Thanksgiving.

Shortly after disembarking Air Force One at a hangar on Fort Bragg just before 6 p.m., the president said in brief remarks that the couple knows “how hard it is” to be in a military family. Their son Beau Biden served in the Delaware National Guard as a major, Jill Biden said.

She said the couple appreciates what it’s like to see an empty seat at the holiday table, which is why they wanted to have dinner with the service members and Fort Bragg families.

“We’re so grateful,” the first lady said to the service members seated at dozens of linen-draped dining tables inside an airplane hangar. “Joe and I feel like you’re family to us.”

The president thanked the service members and their families.

“This is the finest military the world has ever seen,” he said.

With aprons adorned with the presidential seal, the Bidens dished out servings of mashed potatoes and stuffing to accompany the turkey, ham and other Thanksgiving fare prepared by the Robert Irvine Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2014 to support veterans and veteran causes by celebrity chef Robert Irvine. Air Force One sat just outside the open hangar in plain view of the diners.

Once the buffet line was cleared, the Bidens, still wearing face masks, removed their plastic serving gloves to mingle with the crowd. The president and first lady posed for dozens of photographs with attendees and chatted with scores of enlisted soldiers and officers.

Maj. Kimberly Bannister, one of five soldiers from the 44th Medical Brigade selected to attend the dinner, said the presidential visit was welcomed.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to feel supported, and for the younger soldiers and junior enlisted and their families to be able to feel the support from the commander in chief,” she said. Bannister’s been in the military for 16 years and plans to spend the holiday around Fort Bragg with her sister. This was her second time being in the presence of Jill Biden. In 2013, Bannister was assigned to an intensive care unit in Landstuhl, Germany, when Mrs. Biden visited with her husband who was then vice president.

Lt. Endureth Culanag said she was excited for the visit.

“This is my first time to meet a current president,” she said.

Culanag, who has served in the Army since 2010, said her father made one request when he heard the president was coming.

“My dad said I have to take a picture,” she said.

A Fort Bragg spokesman said 250 families were invited to attend Monday’s dinner with the meal being dished out not only by the president and first lady, but also Gov. Roy Cooper, Fort Bragg commanders and state and local politicians.

Soldiers invited to attend the event were chosen from each of Fort Bragg’s commands, including the U.S. Forces Command, Army Reserve Command, Army Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command.

Two days ago the Dixon family learned they’d have an important task for the visit — introducing the president and first lady as they enter the hangar to serve the troops.

1st Sgt. Justin Dixon, his wife Tawni Dixon and the couple’s 16-month-old son Cameron are Fort Bragg’s 2020 Family of the Year.

“That’s [my husband’s] commander in chief, and not a lot of people get to meet the president as a normal civilian or spouse,” Tawni Dixon said. She said they’ll show their son pictures when he is older to understand the significance.

Like Culanag, this was Justin Dixon’s first time seeing a president in person, too.

He said Biden’s visit sends a message.

“It shows a sense of caring, and I would use the word ‘genuine,’” he said.