Fort Bragg name restored, but not as before

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the renaming of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, but this time, with a significant modification. The North Carolina military installation will now bear the name Fort Roland L. Bragg, marking a departure from its historical association with the Confederacy.

A return to Bragg— with a new legacy

The original Fort Bragg, named in 1918 after Confederate General Braxton Bragg, was rechristened Fort Liberty in 2023 as part of the Department of Defense’s initiative to remove Confederate-linked names from military bases. The move followed nationwide protests in 2020 against racial injustice.

On Monday, February 10, Hegseth announced his decision via a video on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “That’s right. Bragg is back.” However, rather than restoring the name in its original context, the base will now honor Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his bravery during the Battle of the Bulge.

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Commemorating American heroism

Speaking aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 en route to Stuttgart, Germany, Hegseth signed the memorandum formalizing the renaming. “The directive honors the personal courage and selfless service of all those who have trained to fight and win our nation’s wars, including Pfc. Bragg, and is in keeping with the installation’s esteemed and storied history,” the memo stated.

Fox News reported that the renaming decision preserves the iconic Fort Bragg title while shifting its tribute to a div recognized for his valor and sacrifice in battle. During the Battle of the Bulge, Pfc. Roland L. Bragg famously commandeered an enemy ambulance under heavy fire to rescue a fellow soldier.

A key military installation

Home to the renowned 82nd Airborne Division and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Fort Bragg is one of the largest military installations in the world. The base has long been a critical hub for U.S. military operations and elite training programs.

A broader renaming initiative

The restoration of the Bragg name comes as part of a broader reevaluation of military installations’ historical legacies. Fort Liberty was among several bases undergoing name changes. Other installations affected include Fort Benning, which was renamed Fort Moore in honor of Vietnam War commander Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, and Fort Hood, which was renamed Fort Cavazos to recognize Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos, the first Hispanic four-star general.

While the renaming initiative sought to address historical sensitivities, Hegseth’s decision represents a nuanced approach—acknowledging the past while reshaping it to honor a different chapter of American military history.