Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has officially reversed the renaming of "Fort Liberty" to "Fort Bragg" to honor WWII hero Private First Class Roland L. Bragg.
Breitbart reported that on Monday while traveling on a C-17 aircraft flying to Stuttgart, Germany, Secretary Hegseth signed a memorandum that would bring back the name "Fort Bragg" but with a new honorific.
This directive was a nod not only to tradition but also to valor, as the new designation commemorates Private First Class Roland L. Bragg's heroic actions during World War II, rather than the Confederate General Braxton Bragg, for whom the base was originally named.
Fort Bragg is located in North Carolina and has played a pivotal role in military training for nearly a century. It was renamed Fort Liberty amid the societal upheavals following the George Floyd protests in 2020.
The renaming was part of a broader initiative to eliminate associations with Confederate figures -- a movement that saw President Biden implementing these changes in June 2023, following Congress's override of former President Donald Trump’s veto against such measures.
Roland L. Bragg, born in 1923 in Sabattus, Maine, served admirably in the U.S. Army's 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division, which was part of the XVIII Airborne Corps stationed at Fort Bragg. His bravery during the Battle of the Bulge earned him both the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
Distinctively, Bragg’s notable act of heroism involved commandeering an enemy ambulance to save a fellow soldier's life, ensuring safe passage to an allied hospital amidst intense combat. This act of bravery squarely aligns with the values Fort Bragg has esteemed throughout its history.
The recent decision by Defense Secretary Hegseth to revert to the name "Fort Bragg" underscores a shift in his department's priorities, which now emphasize warfighting and military merit over previous Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
"There it is. Under the authority of the Secretary of Defense, Title 10, United States Code § 113, I direct the Army to change the name of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. That’s right — Bragg is back!" Hegseth proclaimed during the flight.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot also remarked on the significance of the renaming, stating, "Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum aboard a C-17 en route from Joint Base Andrews to Stuttgart on February 10, 2025, directing the renaming of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to Fort Roland L. Bragg. The new name honors the heroic service of Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II veteran awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his extraordinary bravery during the Battle of the Bulge."
This renaming reflects a rededication to honoring those who have shown exceptional sacrifice and valor in defense of the country, connecting the base's legacy with personal acts of heroism instead of historical figures whose legacies have become contentious.
The decision to rename military bases, such as Fort Bragg, originates from the broader governmental reassessment that seeks to confront and correct historical injustices symbolized by the Confederacy.
This effort, endorsed by Congress and implemented by the Biden administration, underscores a pivotal shift towards celebrating figures who exemplify American values of bravery and selflessness.
Private Roland L. Bragg's story, a tale of raw courage and quick thinking under fire, provides an apt symbol for the storied installation that has been shaping America's fighters for nearly a century. The choice to rename Fort Bragg in his honor, therefore, reaffirms the U.S. military’s commitment to acknowledging not only the history but the values it wants to project for the future.
In reviving the name "Fort Bragg," albeit under a new eponym, Secretary Hegseth has echoed the administration's intent to maintain tradition while aligning it with contemporary American ideals. This resolution does not merely represent a name change but a redefinition of what historical namesakes are meant to represent going forward.