At 101, WWII veteran Irving Locker has become a songwriter

In a remarkable late-life achievement, World War II veteran Irving Locker has added “songwriter” to his lengthy list of accomplishments at the age of 100. Just one day before celebrating his 101st birthday, Locker’s song “If Freedom Was Free” was released by Big Machine Label Group in partnership with CreatiVets, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans process trauma through artistic expression.

The poignant song, which Locker created alongside Texas singer-songwriter Bart Crow and the musical duo Johnny and Heidi Bulford, carries a profound message about the true cost of liberty. Its chorus delivers a powerful reminder: “If freedom was free, there wouldn’t be a mountain of metal and men under Normandy.”

This sentiment echoes the message Locker has shared consistently throughout his years of public speaking, from classroom visits to an appearance at the White House. “Freedom is not free,” Locker emphasizes. “People should be thankful for it and for those who make it possible.”

“I have to talk about things like that,” Locker explains with conviction. “I got nothing to gain. But people have to know and appreciate the fact that they’re living because of men who died. It comes from the heart, not the lips.”

Locker, who participated in the D-Day landings at Utah Beach in 1944, now resides in The Villages, Florida. For him, the opportunity to write a song was an “unbelievable” experience—one he never imagined would be part of his life story. The musical connection holds special significance for Locker, as music has been a constant thread throughout his long life.

Despite his advanced age, Locker maintains an active lifestyle alongside Bernice, his wife of 77 years. The couple still regularly goes dancing, performing the jitterbug and cha-cha they’ve enjoyed together for decades. “You should see me on the floor even now,” Locker says with evident pride.

CreatiVets, the organization that facilitated this unique collaboration, specializes in connecting veterans with professional musicians and songwriters. Through these partnerships, veterans are able to transform their experiences into songs, visual art, and other creative expressions—a process that many participants find profoundly healing.

The release of “If Freedom Was Free” comes at a time when the ranks of World War II veterans are rapidly dwindling. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 170,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive today, with hundreds passing away each day. This makes Locker’s contribution particularly significant—preserving firsthand accounts of the war through an accessible medium that can reach new generations.

Locker’s reflections on mortality and faith add another dimension to his story. “To be very honest with you, I was never conscious of God until the war,” he revealed. “But I came so close to dying that I learned how to thank God and use the simple phrase ‘But for the grace of God go I.'”

For Big Machine Label Group, which has previously partnered with CreatiVets on similar projects, this release represents another step in their commitment to amplifying veterans’ voices through music. The label, known for representing major country music stars, brings substantial industry reach to these deeply personal stories.

As one of the dwindling number of D-Day veterans still able to share their experiences, Locker’s musical debut serves as both personal expression and historical preservation. Through the universal language of music, his message about the true cost of freedom may now reach audiences who might never have heard his speaking engagements or read historical accounts of World War II.

With this unexpected late-life creative achievement, Irving Locker has ensured that his perspective on service, sacrifice, and freedom will endure even after the last World War II veterans are no longer with us to share their stories firsthand.