momeluv's Profile
1/2 BOY 1/2/MAN...
Jul 21, 2008 12:49AM
- 5 comments
Tags:
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 then wash his father's, but he has
never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate;
"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 of a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop
or rap or jazz or swing and a 155 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 riffle 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 effective
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 set of fatigues: he washes one and wears
the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forget 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
shot life time.
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.
Just like 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 ...
A short lull, a little shade and a picture of
loved ones in their helmets.
"PRAYER WHEEL FOR OUR MILITARY"
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hand,
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'
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier,
Sailor, Coastguard man, Marine, or
Airman, prayer is the very best one.
Tags:
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 then wash his father's, but he has
never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate;
"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 of a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop
or rap or jazz or swing and a 155 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 riffle 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 effective
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 set of fatigues: he washes one and wears
the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forget 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
shot life time.
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.
Just like 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 ...
A short lull, a little shade and a picture of
loved ones in their helmets.
"PRAYER WHEEL FOR OUR MILITARY"
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hand,
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'
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier,
Sailor, Coastguard man, Marine, or
Airman, prayer is the very best one.
i cried while i was reading this. i have a brother in the navy and a cousin in the coast guard. my brother has been over there several times and even though he is not at this moment i pray for him, for what he has saw, what he has done for what might still be to come. i pray for all the men and women that have or are fighting for us. i have so much appreciation fo these people, the husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. may god take care of each of them who are fighting and then those that sacrafice there lives for this country, may he take special care of them in heaven with him and the families that are left behind.
they all are in my prayers each and every night.
they all are in my prayers each and every night.
For the troops, for the families at home - tears don't have words... Thank you for sharing this writing! ~~hugs~~
What a touching description of a soldier! It has been a long time since I field-stripped an M16, but I feel kinship and deep gratitude for these young men and women who provide such pricless service to us all. Tell your son thank you from an old 12B40.
I cried when I read this...my granddaughter is in Iraq as we speak and she is 19...sending my prayers to you and your family
Karen
Karen
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed it. I can't help think about the soldiers/characters I write about and the real ones out there giving up their lives in Iraq. I really hope for an end to this war that's dragged on long after it was declared "over".
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