THE MILITARY
|
MAN OR WOMAN |
The
average age of the
military man or woman is
19 years. He/She is a
short haired,
tight-muscled kid who,
under normal circumstances
is considered by society
as half man/woman, half
boy/girl. Not yet dry
behind the ears, not old
enough to buy a beer, but
old enough to die for
his/her country.
He/She never really cared
much for work and he/she
would rather wax his/her
own car than wash
father's; but he/she has
never collected
unemployment either.
He/She a recent High
School graduate; was
probably an average
student, pursued some form
of sport activities,
drives a ten year old
jalopy, and has a steady
boy/girl friend that
either broke up with them
when they left, or swears
to be waiting when they
return from half a world
away.
He/she listens to rock and
roll or hip-hop or rap or
jazz or swing and 155mm
Howitzers.
He/She is 10 or 15 pounds
lighter now than when they
were at home because they
are working or fighting
from before dawn to well
after dusk.
He has trouble spelling,
thus letter writing is a
pain for him,
but she has little trouble
with that.
They can field strip a
rifle in 30 seconds and
reassemble it in less time
in the dark.
They can recite to you the
nomenclature of a machine
gun or grenade launcher
and use either one
effectively if they must.
They dig foxholes and
latrines and can apply
first aid like a
professional.
They can march until told
to stop or stop until told
to march.
They obey orders instantly
and without hesitation,
but they are not without
spirit or individual
dignity.
They are self-sufficient.
They have two sets of
fatigues: they wash one
and wear the other.
They keep their canteens
full and their feet dry.
They might sometimes
forget to brush their
teeth, but never to clean
his/her rifle.
They can cook their own
meals with a candle, mend
their own clothes, and fix
his/her own hurts.
If you're thirsty, they'll
share their water with
you; if you are
hungry, his/her food.
They'll even split their
ammunition with you in the
midst of battle when you
run low.
He/She has learned to use
their hands like weapons
and weapons like they were
his/her hands. They can
save your life - or take
it, because that is
his/her job.
They will often do twice
the work of a civilian,
draw less than half the
pay and still find ironic
humor in it all.
They have seen more
suffering and death then
they should have in
his/her short lifetime.
He/She has stood atop
mountains of dead bodies,
and helped to create them.
They have wept in public
and in private, for
friends who have fallen in
combat and are unashamed.
He/She feels every note of
the National Anthem
vibrate through their body
while at rigid attention,
while tempering the
burning desire to
'square-away' those around
them 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, they defend your
right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his/her
Father, Grandfather, and
Great-grandfather, they
are paying the price for
our freedom.
They are not a boy/girl.
They are the American
Fighting Man/Woman of our
Military, that have kept
this country free for over
200 years.
They ask nothing in
return, except our
friendship and
understanding.
Remember them, always, for
they have earned our
respect and admiration
with his/her very own
blood.
Author unknown to me |
From the Internet,
Thanks Joel |
Please say a prayer for
our ground troops in
Afghanistan, sailors on
ships, and airmen in the
air, and for those waging
war with Iraq, and all the
coalition forces with
them.
"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."
There is nothing
attached....
You won't receive a
miracle in two days or
have a wish come true.
This can be very
powerful....for the
spirits of our men and
their
families, and you will
also feel blessed for
having done so.
Just forward this to all
the people in your address
book. Of all the gifts
you could give a US
Soldier, Sailor, Marine or
Airman,
prayer is the very best
one. |