As a former Marine infantry man I thank you for posting this. I was 18 at the time. If anyone has trouble with asking the maker of the universe to watch over the people who willingly defend your freedoms then I suggest that he/she has not given any deep or meaningful thought to the matter. Now watch them criticize my grammar.
Bill Joshlin On Sun, 2003-04-06 at 23:58, Jeremy Bertrand wrote: > (cut headers from my email) > Subject: 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 probab! ly 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 c! ountry 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. > > For our Military > > > 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." > > Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say > a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, sailors on ships, and > airmen > in the air, This can be very powerful.... Just send this to all the people in > your address book. Do not stop the wheel, > please.... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Marine or > Airman, prayer is the very best one. > > > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net -- Bill Joshlin http://www.jesystems.net
