[April 16, 2018] My High School friend’s dad was a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Texas. On several occasions when my friend and I were annoyed by all the jet noise, his dad would say; Boys, that is the sound of freedom.
Americans have always been seen as an odd mixture of confusing customs, contradictory ideas, and complex attitudes. What has never been unclear is that the United States has an overwhelmingly powerful and modern military that would be the envy of any other nation.
As a nation of free peoples, we do put up with a lot. Our freedoms come at a cost; costs that we continue to accept but argue about continuously. Like the noise from the engines of the B-52 bomber; its longest serving workhorse that continues to outnumber its more modern replacements.
Enemies of the U.S. fear the B-52 (see this 19:43 minute YouTube video on it, link here). As long as they fear it and as long as it remains in the force, folks who would do us arm must take its firepower into account. Syrian President Assad was just educated two days ago on how destructive this bomber can be when outfitted with advanced weapons.1
I was standing outside my house in southern New Jersey yesterday when a flight of six Blackhawk U.S. Army helicopters flew overhead and then appeared throughout the day. They make a lot of noise. My wife was with me and she said; Douglas, that is the sound of freedom. Yes, she was an Army wife but is also sensitive to what our neighbors think of all the racket those helicopters make.
Like many, we live in a quiet community. Many of my neighbors are elderly and prefer their peace and quiet to the noisy living I once made. Sometimes I use this as an excuse for not hearing my wife. On a serious note, my neighbors do not complain about the helicopter nose because they understand that it is only because those weapon systems are manned, that we have what we have today.
The sound of freedom is everywhere. As a nation built on a frontier spirit and religious foundations, America remains a beacon of freedom. That beacon can sometimes get a little noisy. Our leaders should do a better job of reminding us of it occasionally.
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Really good article. Thanks GEN Satterfield.
Sometimes I think freedom means more to free people than those under the boot of a dictator. Take Iran and North Korea as two keen examples.
The “sound of freedom” is one thing that only peoples from free nations can truly understand. But it takes something more; it takes them having been a part of the defense of their nation for them to truly to KNOW what it means.
You make a good point Edward. To understand means to be more than a bystander.
I never heard of this before but makes perfect sense. Thank you.
Another patriotic American who knows the sound of freedom. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for this post today.
How appropriate. the SOUND OF FREEDOM rings for those who are willing to stand up and fight for it. Despotism is what awaits everyone else.
Free countries know the sound of freedom.
Thucydides once said that “The secret to happiness is freedom and the secret to freedom is courage.” Good post today.
Here are a few other not-free countries where they will never hear the sound of freedom (in any form): Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, and Sudan. I name them becuase I have experience in Africa and knowing that so many of their people have fought for freedom but so few have achieved it.
It matters not what country you are from, if you do not support your military’s protection of your freedom (assuming you are from a free country), then something is mentally wrong with you. Of course, if you are from North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba, then you would not know anything about this. Good!
I agree wholeheartedly. There are people who have never seen freedom and don’t want it.
This is only something good American citizens enjoy.
Thanks for a good Monday morning post. I’ll be headed to the Post Office this morning to mail in my tax returns. What I reminded my wife of last night that this is what keeps our military men and women the best in the world. My tax dollars at work and I’m happy to pay them today.
Nothing more precious than freedom and the actions of our military to keep it so.
I also grew up on military bases around the world. The best ones were in the good ole USA. My dad was in the Air Force and he is a proud American like our entire family. Too many young people today have no idea what freedom even means and no one should be surprised that they are happy to give away something they know nothing about.
Here are the USAF Thunderbirds over Arizona a few years ago. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=sound+of+freedom+military&&view=detail&mid=A8A78F57907B8FDFEFB9A8A78F57907B8FDFEFB9&&FORM=VDRVRV
A good and relevant post today. Thank you from a patriotic American.
I second that.
Me too and I am not even an American! Cheers!
Joey: You stole my thunder on this one. Good to know you’re on our leadership website.
Yes!
You can even buy a license plate frame that says “Jet Nose, the Sound of Freedom.” That is just too much humor. https://www.amazon.com/Noise-Freedom-Military-License-Holder/dp/B004UTCKCI
Brig Gen Satterfield, thanks for an informative post today. You are a gentleman and a scholar.
I was always curious what this meant when my retired Air Force neighbor talked about the “sound of freedom.” I went to look it up on the web shortly after reading Gen Satterfield’s blog post and found a lot on it worthwhile reading.
I’m with America on this one. Go Go Go!
I too love the sounds that you hear when around our military. Equipment is only part of the sound of freedom however since we hear it in their marching cadence and when they sound off.
Hooha! Great to write about the “sound of freedom”. I too grew up on a military installation and heard the many sounds of tanks, artillery, etc. Most people are annoyed. I’m encouraged.
Same here, Army Captain. Good to see you on board this morning.