1/2 boy 1/2
man
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.'
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 ,
Afghanistan
and all
foreign
countries.
Of all the
gifts you
could give a
US Soldier,
Sailor,
Coastguardsman,
Marine, or
Airman,
prayer is
the very
best one.
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