It’s Fort Bragg Again, But Not Quite the Same
Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth announced the renaming of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg to honor WWII hero Pfc. Roland L. Bragg. The Pentagon’s renaming initiative sought to remove Confederate names from military bases. The change recognizes those who displayed extraordinary service, reflecting the installation’s legacy even with its $8 million cost.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday renamed Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg after it was changed in 2023 as a part of a wider Pentagon effort to cancel special honors given to officials and military personnel linked to the Confederacy.
“That’s right. Bragg is back,” Hegseth said in a post on X.
However, the new name does not honor Confederate general but pays tribute to Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge.
“The new name pays tribute to Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge,” department of defense press secretary John Ullyot said in a statement.
“This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation,” he added.
The military base was named after Gen. Braxton Bragg in 1918. Bragg was a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, who was known for…