Who Are They?






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.
Or he may have a wife and new baby waiting and praying anxiously for his return...
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or country, jazz or swing and.... 155 mm Howitzer. He is 10, 15 or even 25 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 fieldstrip 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 combatand 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 theAmerican 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 as well...




He has a face and a name....like....Chuckie/Pipo/Dez, Sanchez, Caruthers, Cooley, Chris, Covell, Bickerstaff....

Prayer for our military ... "Lord, thank you for these wonderful troops... Please protect them as they protect us. Bless them and all their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.. Give them your favor as they return, weary, from war and doing their jobs for their country....Heal their many wounds, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual....Lord, help us to never take these wonderful hero's for granted....Bless them abundantly, it is for this I pray....Amen,"