>>
>>
>>If you read this, you WILL forward it on. You won't be able to stop
>>yourself.
>>
>>
>>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
>>
>>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 has 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 atop mountains of dead bodies,
>>and helped to create 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 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
>>
>>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."
>>
>>Prayer :
>>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.
>>I can't break this one, sorry.
>>This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq . Pass it on to everyone
>>and pray.
