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a fitting discription
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 Howitzers.
>
> 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.
>
>
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