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Sometimes I think there is truth to that increasingly popular belief that teenage brains are still not completely formed, and wont be until about 19. Then I think that I would never have done this, at least not in such great numbers. Hundreds of baby birds??? No. I’ve never been that young or that drunk. It takes time and work to do all that.

Sometimes I think there is truth to that increasingly popular belief that teenage brains are still not completely formed, and wont be until about 19.

Actually, the human brain continues to develop until about age 25. After that, it starts to deteriorate.

The fact that these kids' brains are still maturing does not excuse their behavior.

Soldiers pretty much know this. It is the 18-20 year old who will run right at a machine gun or jump on a grenade. Many really don't think they will die even after being in combat for a while. Never heard of a senior NCO grenade jumper but I did know a Master Sergeant who as a SFC had a grenade be tossed by Charlie right in front of him on a paddy dyke. His response after about a second was to kick the grenade as hard as he could while grabbing the soldier in from and the one behind and pulling them backward with his momentum. The grenade detonated showering the three GI’s with frags. End of story the SFC got the Bronze Star with V and the Purple Heart and the other two soldiers the Purple Heart and the Arcom for Valor (I talked it up a bit for those kids, was the SFC’s comment).