I don’t know who wrote this so I
will just say anonymous and I did modify it to indicate that men and women are
serving side by side today in these conflicts simply because of proximity they
both have suffered losses. So instead of referring to him I changed those areas
to indicate them. Bottom line the writer captured the main points of today’s wars
and I think you will find it worth reading. 

                                                                                                                                 Jack C Pickard

                                                                                

                       

½  Boy ½  Man or ½ Girl ½ Woman

American Military Personnel

                                                                               

    

     The average age of the military
person is 19 years.  They are a short
haired, tight-muscled kids who, under normal circumstances is considered by
society as half man/woman, half boy/girl. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old
enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for their country. They never
really cared much for work, and he would rather wax his own car than wash his
father's, but they have never collected unemployment either. They are a recent
High School graduate; they were probably average students, pursued some form of
sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend/boyfriend
that either broke up with him/her when they left, or swears to be waiting when they
return from half a world away. They listen to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or
jazz or swing, and a 155 mm howitzer. 

     They are 10 or 15 pounds lighter now
than when they were at home because they are working or fighting from before
dawn to well after dusk. They have trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a
pain for them, but can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in
less time in the dark. They can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun
or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if  they must.



     They dig foxholes and latrines and
can apply first aid like a professional. 

     They can march until told to stop,
or stop until they are told to march.



     They obey orders instantly and
without hesitation, but they are not without spirit or individual dignity. They
are self-sufficient.



     They have two sets of fatigues and
washes one and wears the other. They keep their canteens full and feet dry.

                                                                                    

     They sometimes don’t get to brush
their teeth, but make time to clean their rifles. They can cook their own
meals, mend their own clothes, and fix their own hurts.



     If you're thirsty, they'll share water with
you; if you are hungry, their food. They'll even split their  ammunition with you in the midst of battle
when you run low.                                                                                                                                                                              

     They have learned to use hands like
weapons and weapons like they were hands. 

     They can save your life - or take
it, because that is their job. They will often do twice the work of a civilian,
draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.



     They have seen more suffering and
death than they should have in their short lifetime. 

   

     They have wept in public and in
private for friends who have fallen in combat, and are unashamed.

     They feel every note of the
National Anthem vibrate through their body while at rigid attention, while
tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around them 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, they defend their rights to be disrespectful. 

     Just as did their Father,
Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, they are paying the price for our freedom. Beardless
or not, he is not a boy and she is not a girl. They are the American Fighting
People that have kept this country free for over 200 years. They have asked
nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.



     Remember them, always, for they have
earned our respect and admiration with their blood.



     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:

     '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, US Coast Guard person, Marine,
or Airman, prayer is the very best one.



     I can't break this one, sorry. Pass
it on to everyone and pray.

“What
you are will show in what you do.” Thomas A. Edison