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 a 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 than he
should have in his
short lifetime.
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
'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.'
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer
for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen
in
the sky,
and for those in Iraq, Afghanistan and all
foreign countries.
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.
This page last updated 09/16/2010.