Fort Liberty reverts to Fort Bragg—but with a new namesake
Sec. Hegseth on Ukraine, China & border crisis
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke to reporters in Germany about Ukraine, Chine and the crisis at the southern border. Hegseth said during the news conference, "we are not sending U.S. troops to Ukraine."
WASHINGTON - The Fort Liberty military base will revert to it's previous name, "Fort Bragg," after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed an order. However, the new namesake will have a different meaning this time.
The name change took place in 2023 as part of a national effort under the Biden administration to remove names that honored Confederate leaders.
What they're saying:
"Well, first, it means Bragg is back," Hegseth told reporters Tuesday. "It means the legacy of an institution that generations of Americans have mobilized through and served at is back."
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"It's Fort Bragg," he continued. "I was honored to be able to put my signature on that."
A sign after a ceremony renaming Fort Bragg as Fort Liberty, near Fayetteville, North Carolina, on June 2, 2023. (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Who is Pfc. Roland L. Bragg?
Dig deeper:
A Pentagon spokesman said Monday that Hegseth was renaming the base to honor Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, who he said was a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge.
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"This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation," spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement.
Who is Gen. Braxton Bragg?
The backstory:
The base’s original namesake, Gen. Braxton Bragg, was a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, who was known for owning slaves and losing key Civil War battles, contributing to the Confederacy’s downfall.
Defense Secretary Hegseth attends troop lunch
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended a troop lunch along with a coin presentation in Germany. Hegseth is in Brussels for two days of meetings with European allies.
Big picture view:
In reality, the base had still been widely known as Bragg, the new name having not really taken hold. On Hegseth's first official day as defense secretary he made a point of calling it Fort Bragg in his first exchange with reporters.
Why you should care:
The renaming also adds cost when President Donald Trump's administration is trying to find savings through it's Department of Government Efficiency. The 2022 base renaming commission estimated that renaming Bragg, including all the signage, paint jobs on police and emergency responder vehicles and other items, would cost at least $6.3 million. In 2023, the base said the total costs were going to be around $8 million.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story came from statements made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Pentagon spokesman named John Ullyot, and historical background on the original namesake, Gen. Braxton Bragg. This story was reported from Los Angeles.