Bootstrap 3 nav Can the dropdown link text identifier/caret be made into a link?

I've added a dropdown link under the "HOME" link, and have failed to enable the text "HOME" to function as a link in addition to the dropdown.

===========Partial Code===============

<nav class="navbar navbar-inverse navbar-fixed-top">

  <div class="container">

    <!-- Brand and toggle get grouped for better mobile display -->

    <div class="navbar-header">

      <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#myDefaultNavbar1" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> <span class="icon-bar"></span> </button>

      <a class="navbar-brand" href="#">Brand Logo</a></div>

    <!-- Collect the nav links, forms, and other content for toggling -->

    <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="myDefaultNavbar1">

      <ul class="nav navbar-nav">

        <li class="dropdown"> <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">HOME</a><span class="caret"></span></a>

          <ul class="dropdown-menu">

            <li><a href="../pages/about.html">About</a></li>

          </ul>

========================================

Thanks for your time...