My wife received this in an email.
The Military
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
who 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, rap, jazz,
country, 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 some 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 among dead bodies,
and helped to bury 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 have placed women over there,
in danger,
doing their part in this tradition
of fighting for Peace or going to War
when our
nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight,
remember the following
snapshot..
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."
When you read this,
please stop for a moment and
say a prayer
for our
ground troops in
our sailors on ships, and
airman in the air,
and for those
on Peacekeeping
missions in other volitile
areas of our world.
There is nothing attached....
This can be very
powerful.......
Of all the gifts you could
give a Soldier, Sailor, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.