Thread: The Infantryman....

>>>>The average age of the Infantryman 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.
>>>>

Reading that brought tears to my eyes and it gave me goosebumps.

thanks for sharing.

Oh....My...God...... I see my oldest in this so much! He has expressed interest in joining up as soon as he graduates, but I am hoping he doesnt.

Thank you so much for sharing this.