HE IS HALF BOY HALF 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 country, rock and roll, hip-hop or jazz 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 can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite 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're
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 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 upon 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 uniforms.
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 see this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer
for our ground troops, 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.
MY WALL - MY HEROES
|
|
Please help me by sending me names of people that I have not yet listed.
