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;  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 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 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 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 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 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 all those in Iraq. Of all the gifts you could give a  Soldier, 

Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.