U.S. Army Base Renamed to Honor WWII Veteran Roland L. Bragg
The U.S. Army base near Fayetteville, North Carolina, previously known as Fort Liberty, has been renamed Fort Roland L. Bragg, honoring Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a World War II veteran. The decision, announced by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, reverses the 2023 renaming of the base from Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty, which was part of a broader effort to remove Confederate names from military installations.
Originally named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg, the base was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 following nationwide protests and a congressional mandate to eliminate Confederate references. The new name, Fort Roland L. Bragg, honors a soldier who served in the 17th Airborne Division during World War II and was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions in the Battle of the Bulge. Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot stated that the change reflects the installation’s commitment to recognizing extraordinary service and sacrifice.
The renaming process has been costly. The 2022 commission estimated the initial renaming to Fort Liberty would cost $6.37 million, with actual costs reaching approximately $8 million. The financial impact of reverting to the Bragg name remains unclear. Despite the official name change to Fort Liberty in 2023, the base continued to be widely referred to as Fort Bragg by locals and military personnel.
The decision to rename the base after Roland Bragg circumvents a law prohibiting the military from naming installations after Confederate leaders. The base, home to the Army’s Special Operations and Airborne forces, including the 82nd Airborne Division, remains a critical hub for U.S. military operations. The change underscores ongoing debates about historical legacy and military tradition in the United States.
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