The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short
haired,
tight-muscled kid who, under normal cir***stances 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 s****t 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
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 bod y
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 friend****p 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..
Prayer for our military..
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 ****ps, and airmenin the air,
and
for those inIraq.
Of all the gifts you could give a U.S.?Soldier, Sailor,
Coastguardsman,
Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one (and if you ask one of
them
what they need, the only thing they'll ask yo u for is a prayer!).
AMEN
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