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 howizzitor. 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 woman 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.
This is a ribbon for
soldiers fighting in Iraq. Pass it on to everyone and pray.