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Real American Men & Women
Without these people this country is nothing but
a paper tiger !
We can beat our chests and make demands
throughout the
world, but unless you can put troops on the ground
to enforce
what you say it means nothing .
They are where the rubber
meets the road.
God bless them all!!
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.
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 ships, and air
men in the air, and for those in Iraq .
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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