| USA SOLDIERS TRIBUTE |
I
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 s 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, going to War when our nation calls us to
do so.
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 receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer
for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen
in the air, and for those in Iraq.
There is nothing attached...
This can be very powerful.......
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor,
Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
"A Grateful Veteran"
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 s 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, going to War when our nation calls us to
do so.
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 receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer
for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen
in the air, and for those in Iraq.
There is nothing attached...
This can be very powerful.......
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor,
Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
"A Grateful Veteran"
