I apologize for the >'s but someone sent this to me and it was a PITA to try and remove them all, but everyone here should still be able to appreciate the message about supporting our troops.


> > 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
> > > 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.
> > >
> > > Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and
> > admiration with
> > his
> > > blood.