[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Average age of the military man is 19 years



**




**
*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 howitzor.
*
*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 or Canadian 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 woman over there in danger,**
doing their part in this tradition** *
*of going to War **when our nation calls **us to do so. *
*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.

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 : *
*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. *
***There is nothing** attached.... *
*This can be very powerful.......*
*Of all** the gifts you could give a US and/or*
*Canadian Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine
or Airman, prayer is the very best one. *
***
I can't break this one, sorry**
This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in everywhere. *
*Pass it on to everyone and pray. *