The average age of the
military man is 19 years. He
is a short haired,
tight-muscled kid who, under
normal circumstances is
considered by society as
half man, half boy. Not yet
dry behind the ears, not old
enough to buy a beer, but
old enough to die for his
country. He never really
cared much for work and he
would rather wax his own car
than wash his father's; but
he has never collected
unemployment either.
He's a recent
High School graduate.
He was probably
an average student,
pursued some form of
sport activities, drives
a ten year old jalopy,
and has a steady
girlfriend that either
broke up with him when
he left, or swears to be
waiting when he returns
from half a world away.
He listens to
rock and roll or hip-hop
or rap or jazz or swing
and 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15
pounds lighter now than
when he was at home
because he is working or
fighting from before
dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble
spelling, thus letter
writing is a pain for
him, but he can field
strip a rifle in 30
seconds and reassemble
it in less time in the
dark.
He can recite to
you the nomenclature of
a machine gun or grenade
launcher and use either
one effectively if he
must.
He digs foxholes
and latrines and can
apply first aid like a
professional.
He can march
until he is told to stop
or stop until he is told
to march.
He obeys orders
instantly and without
hesitation, but he is
not without spirit or
individual dignity. He
is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of
fatigues: He washes one
and wears the other.
He keeps his
canteens full and his
feet dry.
He sometimes forgets
to brush his teeth, but
never to clean his
rifle.
He can cook his own
meals, mend his own
clothes, and fix his own
hurts.
If you're thirsty,
he'll share his water
with you; if you are
hungry, his food.
He'll even split his
ammunition with you in
the midst of battle when
you run low.
He has learned to
use his hands like
weapons and weapons like
they were his hands.
He can save your
life - or take it,
because that is his job.
He will often do
twice the work of a
civilian, draw half the
pay and still find
ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more
suffering and death then
he should have in his
short lifetime.
He has stood atop
mountains of dead
bodies, and helped to
create them.
He has wept in
public and in private,
for friends who have
fallen in combat and is
unashamed.
He feels every note
of the National Anthem
vibrate through his body
while at rigid
attention, while
tempering the burning
desire to 'square-away'
those around him who
haven't bothered to
stand, remove their hat,
or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day
in and day out, far from
home, he defends their
right to be
disrespectful.
Just as did his
Father, Grandfather, and
Great-grandfather, he is
paying the price for our
freedom. Beardless or
not, he is not a boy.
He is the American
Fighting Man that has
kept this country free
for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing
in return, except our
friendship and
understanding.
Remember him,
always, for he has
earned our respect and
admiration with his
blood.
And now we even have
women over there in
danger, doing their part
in this tradition of
going to War when our
nation calls us to do
so.
As you go to bed
tonight, remember this
shot.. A short lull, a
little shade and a
picture of loved ones in
their helmets.
Prayer
wheel for our military...
please don't break it.
Please send this on after a
short prayer.
Prayer
Wheel
"Lord, hold our troops in
your loving hands. Protect
them as they protect us.
Bless them and their
families for the selfless
acts they perform for us in
our time of need. Amen."
Prayer :
When you receive this,
please stop for a moment and
say a prayer
for our ground troops in
Afghanistan, sailors on
ships, and airmen in the
air,
and for those in Iraq.
There is nothing
attached....
This can be very
powerful.......
Of all the gifts you could
give a US Soldier, Sailor,
Coastguardsman, Marine or
Airman, prayer is the very
best one.
