| The Soldier
The average age of the Soldier 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,
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 jazz or swing and 155 mm 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. 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 his
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
cremate
them.
He has wept in public and in private for friends who have fallen
in
combat,
and is unashamed. 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.
He is a SOLDIER!
Thanks to Jennifer Weiner for this Poem |
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