Facebook Letter Demands Fort Sill Stops Training

Every now and then, social media coughs up a gem that reminds you how detached some folks are from reality. Case in point: a recent anonymous open letter aimed at Oklahoma’s governor and the commanding general of Fort Sill.

The Open Letter That Sparked the Debate

The gripe? The “constant loud booms” from artillery training.

The demand? That the U.S. Army only practice war between the respectable hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, like it’s a bank or a tire shop.

If you’ve lived in Lawton longer than a weekend, you already know the routine. Fort Sill’s cannons go off, windows rattle, and dogs bark. It’s not new. It’s not shocking. Around here, we call it the “Sound of Freedom.” And most of us don’t even notice anymore unless someone from out of town jumps out of their skin the first time a boom rolls through.

The letter even argued that “wars take a break at night so soldiers can rest.”

I’ll just let you sit with that one for a moment...

Apparently, we’ve all been misinformed about how conflicts work. Who knew that bombs and bullets were courteous enough to punch out at 5 p.m. sharp so everyone can get a good night’s sleep?

Why Complaining About Fort Sill Won’t Work

Look, if the sound of Fort Sill artillery genuinely keeps you up at night, there’s a very simple solution: move. Nobody’s forcing you to live in a military town. Complaining that Fort Sill is too loud is like moving to Stillwater and being outraged that orange is everywhere, or settling down in Norman and acting shocked that traffic is unbearable on game day.

It comes with the territory.

Fort Sill isn’t going anywhere. Neither is the artillery. And while some can sympathize with your poodle’s beauty rest, I’d bet the Army’s training schedule doesn’t hinge on Fido’s REM cycle.

So, with all due respect to the anonymous “Concerned Citizens of Lawton,” the next time the ground shakes and the windows buzz, maybe remember that it’s not the end of the world... it’s just America's bravest doing their jobs.

You should be thankful, because let’s be honest: if the “Sound of Freedom” really bothers you that much, you may not be cut out to call Lawton home.

The roads on the other hand...