Fort Liberty Renamed to Honor WWII Hero Pfc. Roland Bragg
Defense Secretary Renames Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg with New Namesake
Source: Logan Mock-Bunting / Getty
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum renaming Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, one of the U.S. Army’s largest bases. However, the change comes with a significant difference—the new namesake honors Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for exceptional bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. This decision underscores the Army’s commitment to celebrating individuals who exemplify extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation.
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The base, located in North Carolina, was originally named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The general’s reputation, widely criticized for his poor leadership during the Civil War and unpopularity among peers, added to the contentious history of his namesake. By 2023, during President Joe Biden’s administration, a congressional naming commission recommended renaming nine military bases to remove Confederate associations. Fort Bragg was renamed Fort Liberty as part of these efforts.
The renaming of Confederate-linked bases stirred political debate, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump, who objected to removing these monikers. Yet Congress overrode his veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that launched the renaming initiatives.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and National Guard veteran, opposed removing Confederate names and criticized the renaming process as politically driven. However, his decision to rename Fort Liberty with a more honorable Bragg—Pfc. Roland L. Bragg—aims to reconcile the base’s historical significance while aligning with modern values.
SOURCE: CNN
