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 howizter.
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.
Some people just don't understand why we did it and why those still in the military do it. For me it was a sense of duty. My Father, my 3 older brothers & myself are all vets. It's something that I was taught by my father to do. He always told me that if I was physically able to serve my country that I owed at least 4 years of my life to defend it. I come from a military family and I hope that my two boys will have the honor of wearing one of the uniforms of our great military branches. I have told my boys that they need to complete college then serve as an officer or go enlisted and then go to college. My sister-in-law can not believe that I am already encourging my boys to serve our country. Then again she just doesn't understand. It's a family heritage that I am passing down to my boys. It's also a sense of honor that you won't ever get working on WallStreet or the local Burger King. It's also the lesson of trust in your fellow countrymen regardless of skin color or believes. She and others don't get it. But I believe all of us on the forum gets it, becuase we've all been there. Many go in under different circumstances, but even still when you look back at your service I am sure that most of you feel the same as I do about it. Okay, I'm not going to leave this out. I also joined because I like guns and the thought of having something to do with the death of bad guys was very motivating too. Needless to say working with the most powerful weapon on earth was enjoyable as well. :-D