The average age of the military man is 19 years
....
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 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 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 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.
This is a prayer wheel for our military... don't break it.
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 in our time of need. Amen."
