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He Has Asked Nothing In Return....
Marine Corps League - DuPage County Detachment - Monthly News Letter | unkown | unkown

Posted on 09/03/2003 9:43:24 PM PDT by stylin19a

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 ok 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 fathers; 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-ho; or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer. 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. 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.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: alwaysremember; donteverforget; tribute; usmilitary
I received this today, in my Monthly Newsletter...If it's been posted before, I didn't find it....
1 posted on 09/03/2003 9:43:25 PM PDT by stylin19a
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To: stylin19a
nice piece
2 posted on 09/03/2003 9:58:00 PM PDT by Think free or die
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To: stylin19a
Heavy...
3 posted on 09/03/2003 9:59:16 PM PDT by natewill (Start the revolution NOW!)
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To: stylin19a
Get your Kleenex box before you go here.
4 posted on 09/03/2003 10:03:45 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: stylin19a
DuPage County Marine Bump.

Semper Fi.

L

5 posted on 09/03/2003 10:04:39 PM PDT by Lurker ("First get the facts right. Later on you can distort them any way you please." Mark Twain)
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To: stylin19a
Beutiful! Thanks, stylin
6 posted on 09/03/2003 10:10:00 PM PDT by kitkat
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To: SandRat
Thanks...I saw that...beautiful ! Most folks got it right.
7 posted on 09/03/2003 10:13:38 PM PDT by stylin19a (is it vietnam yet ?)
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To: SandRat; stylin19a
Good stuff!!
8 posted on 09/03/2003 10:27:59 PM PDT by KayEyeDoubleDee (const tag& constTagPassedByReference)
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To: stylin19a
Well, that brought a tear to the eye, and a strange swelling feeling around the heart.
9 posted on 09/03/2003 10:33:09 PM PDT by McGavin999
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To: stylin19a; Dubya; LadyX; TexasCowboy
As a squid, if I may, Semper Fi, Marine!

...pinging a few Marines...

10 posted on 09/03/2003 10:38:46 PM PDT by Diver Dave
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To: stylin19a; Diver Dave
Very good. Thanks for the ping Dave.
11 posted on 09/04/2003 5:35:53 AM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Diver Dave
Thanks, Dave!
That just about sums it up.
Our fighting men are kids in a lot of ways and old men in a lot more.
It's always been that way.
As always:


12 posted on 09/04/2003 7:46:14 AM PDT by TexasCowboy (COB1)
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