Big news out of North Carolina—the military base formerly known as Fort Bragg is back to its original name after a brief stint as Fort Liberty.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the call, and just like that, the “Liberty” signs are coming down.
JUST IN: The Fort Liberty sign is gone. Fort Bragg is coming back.
Via @SebGorka pic.twitter.com/Q68E6myWqn
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 19, 2025
The change is effective immediately, and people on both sides of the political spectrum have a lot to say about it.
Back in 2023, as part of an effort to remove Confederate-related names from military bases, Fort Bragg—named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg—was renamed Fort Liberty.
The goal, according to officials at the time, was to make the name more inclusive and reflect American values.
But many conservatives saw it differently. They viewed the name change as another example of unnecessary government overreach, erasing history instead of learning from it.
For them, “Fort Liberty” sounded vague and generic, stripping the base of its legacy and significance.
Now, with a new administration, the decision has been reversed—kind of.
It’s still Fort Bragg, but it’s not named after Braxton Bragg anymore. Instead, the name now honors Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and earned both the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Hegseth explained that this wasn’t just about reversing the old decision but about finding a way to preserve history while honoring true American heroes.
“Pfc. Roland L. Bragg represents the best of what our military stands for,” Hegseth said. “It’s only right that we name this base after a man who actually fought for this country, not a Confederate general.”
As you’d expect, reactions are all over the place.
For those who hated the “Fort Liberty” name, this feels like a win for common sense. They argue that renaming bases after World War II heroes is a much better way to honor military service than just picking vague, feel-good names.
“It was never about keeping a Confederate general’s name,” one veteran posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It was about keeping the history and meaning behind Fort Bragg. This is a solid compromise.”
But critics aren’t happy, saying this is just another example of politics playing games with history. Some argue that the name change wastes taxpayer money, especially after all the funds spent switching everything over to “Fort Liberty” just two years ago.
Others think this is just a way to sneak the Bragg name back in, even if it’s attached to a different person. One historian on CNN called it “a half-measure designed to appease those who never wanted the change in the first place.”
Beyond just Fort Bragg, this decision is part of a larger debate over how we handle history.
Should names be changed if they’re tied to controversial figures? Or should we learn from the past rather than erase it?
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
