STUTTGART, Germany — On Monday, while aboard a C-17 aircraft traveling to Germany, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum that officially reverted the name of “Fort Liberty” back to its original title, “Fort Bragg,” which is located in North Carolina.
In a brief video shared on X showing him signing the memo, Hegseth stated, “There it is. Pursuant to 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!”
However, the renamed base now honors Army Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star, rather than the Confederate General Braxton Bragg, after whom the base was originally named.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot issued a statement, explaining the decision: “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 decision reflects the installation’s proud history of honoring selfless service and sacrifice in defense of the nation.”
The memo, addressed to the acting secretary of the Army, reads: “Pursuant to the authority of the Secretary of Defense, Title 10, United States Code, Section 113, I direct the Army to change the name of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in honor of Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, who served with great distinction during World War II with the United States Army, and in recognition of the installation’s storied history of service to the United States of America.”
Born in 1923 in Sabattus, Maine, Pfc. Bragg entered the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps. He was stationed at Fort Bragg during World War II and fought valiantly in the European theater. Bragg was awarded the Silver Star for extraordinary courage and the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the Battle of the Bulge. In the midst of brutal combat, he saved the life of a fellow soldier by commandeering an enemy ambulance and driving it 20 miles to deliver the wounded soldier to an allied hospital in Belgium.
For nearly a century, Fort Bragg has been a vital military installation, first known as Camp Bragg and later as Fort Bragg, where tens of thousands of soldiers trained and deployed in support of the nation’s defense. It has a proud history of preparing troops for combat in diverse and challenging environments. This name change honors the courage and dedication of all who have served there, including Pfc. Bragg, and maintains the installation’s legacy of valor and service.
The Secretary of the Army is tasked with taking all necessary actions to implement this change in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Army is also required to inform the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment about the steps, timelines, and resources needed to carry out the renaming.
The effort to rename Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty was initiated during the George Floyd protests in 2020, when Congress formed a commission to review bases named after Confederate figures. While President Donald Trump vetoed the proposed legislation, Congress successfully overrode the veto. In June 2023, the Biden administration finalized the renaming to Fort Liberty.
Hegseth has made eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs implemented during the prior administration a key focus of his leadership, aiming to refocus on military readiness and merit-based principles.

{Matzav.com}