The Military Man
I am sorry, i don't know the source. My Army buddie gave it to me about 10 years ago just before he passed away. About this time of year 61 years ago we were on Red Alert for the Cuban Missile Crisis. I will never forget the night that Mom cried so pitiful when i called her. Please excuse typo's, i will have to punch it in manually.
The Military Man
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 10 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 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 machinegun 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 canteen 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. And now we have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.
All you Veterans out there, Thank you for your Service. ---------------------Ray
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Thanks for that, Ray.
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Very nice
Thank you
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Thanks for posting that Ray. 👍
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Just a side note: The Vet that gave me the above article worked very hard to get us all together for a reunion in Las Vegas in 2005. He was from Glendale, Az outside Phoenix I believe. He was very involved in Special Olympics and worked in the aerospace industry. Most of us were RA's but he was a Draftee. I did not realize how much time has slipped by.
I sometimes think he hung on with his health problem so we could all be together one more time. Amazing what one Vet will do for another. Rest in Peace, Vern -------------Ray
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