1/2 boy 1/2 man

[johncedarhill]

    1/2 boy 1/2 man
     
     If you read this, you WILL     forward it on.
     You just won't be able to stop yourself.
     
     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 whe n he returns from
     half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop     or rap or jazz o r swin g 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 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 t old 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. < /SPAN> 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     h ands.
     
     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 have n't bo thered 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     bloo d.
     
     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.
     
     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 , Afghanistan and all foreign countries.
     There is nothing attached...
     This can be very powerful...
     
     Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coast Guardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best     one.
     
     I can't break this one, sorry.
     Pass it on to everyone and pray.