Who Is The American Soldier? (A MUST READ)

BushCountry.org ^ | 09/18/03 | Unknown

[ranair34]

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 woman 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."

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.

[keats5]

Great post. Thanks.

[Malsua]

Support our troops ping!

My brother is sucking sand right now. My best wishes to all of them.

[68skylark]

This must have been posted 5-10 times over the past few months. It's a nice piece. I doubt some of the facts, though. (I very much doubt that the avearge age is 19 -- that doesn't make sense. It's really in the mid-20's or just a bit higher.)

[LibKill]

May I add that the average soldier has guts, yards of guts (guts=courage).

That separates him from others in his age group and Ted Kennedy.

[demlosers]

It's easier to use the spoon(charger guide) that came with the bandoleer to load those mags men:

[.cnI redruM]

Ted Kennedy has yards of guts (guts = Body by Budweiser)

[LibKill]

Y'know, these fine young men who are loading up their weapons will be the first to share their (innadequate) rations with the children that they meet in Iraq.

Bless them.

And let us be humble in our praise. We do not completely deserve these fine soldiers.

[LibKill]

Ted Kennedy has yards of guts (guts = Body by Budweiser)

YOU FORGOT THE < /SARCASM > thing.

Still, that's really funny. ROTFLOL! :)

[.cnI redruM]

My html skills are in decline. I've been doing dbs for too long...

[LibKill]

I did not mean to be harsh.

Sweet sufferin' succotash! :)

[.cnI redruM]

oh, I know.....

[LibKill]

"There are two certainties. Death and Texas"

Love that Tagline!

[.cnI redruM]

Ironic - A saw it on a restaurant menu; in Yuma, Az.

[Billthedrill]

I used to be one, and I worked with them for 15 years afterward, and still, when I saw what I saw last April I said to myself "you have no idea how good these people are."

Lest we forget...

[LibKill]

They have been out there so long that their own sweat has become an enemy. It wears away at their skin.

Hostiles fire at them daily. Every day they experience loss of comrades.

And still they play by the rules.

They don't kill indiscrimately, they help the weak and helpless.

They share their food (not quite enough food to go around) with the locals.

I wonder what I ever did to deserve the service of such men as these.

These are the best men of the current generation.

[Central_Floridian]

Very good, wonderfull and moving. Many thanks

[Ben Chad]

bttt

[Sniperxm21]

There is no discription I could give of our honerable service people that would be better said than the ones already given.That was a great post and I thank you. I have great admiration of todays soldier.It proves to me that our nation is going to make it. I get worried when I look around at todays young people. They wear Pants that belong to a guy much bigger than themselves and they forget the belt.When I saw the first kid with no hair and he looked a little peekied, I thought he was sick and maybe had Cancer or something.Then all the rest of what they do and wear these days makes ya wonder. But I guess they are for the most part OK.The WW2 guys thought the same of us with our duck ass hair combs and the flat tops.Then the long hair and hippy. When ever I see a soldier on the street or wherever,they get a solid salute from me no matter what the rank.They all have my highest regard. Some look at me kind of funny but then they get it. We never got anything like that when we were out in public.There were many times when you just didn't wear the uniform, when you went out with family or going home on leave.It saved you from haveing your friends and relitaves from being attacked by the antis.Though there were other days when you went looking for these sons of bitches and your uniform got messed up a little. Mom always fixed it for me befor I went back.I can remember one night a friend was home too, and we went out together. Befor sun-up we put about six in the emergency room not to mention all the others that were so banged up there own mothers would't reconize them. We put our training to some use that night.Your wern't supposed to do that,BUT. If ya did that today you'd be sued and in jail.Any way it makes me feel good to see these young pups looking good as they do.I only wish I could help them. God Bless them all.

[LibKill]

I have great admiration of todays soldier.It proves to me that our nation is going to make it.

You and I agree.

If we continue to produce Men who will defend our way of life we deserve to live.

The day that we fail, we deserve to die, and worse to be forgotten.

[McGavin999]

Excellent post. Thank you.

[hasegawasama]

OMG almost made me cry. Words can't describe what I feel for soldiers.

[TopQuark]

Good post! Thanks.

G-d bless and protect our boys and girls that are out there.

[Valin]

My god, were we ever that young?

[zeaal]

Thank you.

[cpforlife.org]

God bless and protect all our service men and women.

And may He welcome Home with open arms those who gave all for FREEDOM.