Blog:The Average Military Man
From Bolton Interweb
Ella Vasummer, Youth Correspondent, 4 August 2009
I don't believe in forwarding chain emails and am always happy to delete them and break the chain, whatever the apparent good cause being promoted. One I received today is no exception. However, it is worth publishing before ending up in my Outlook Delete bin. This is a rehash of an email that seems to have originated in the US around the time of the Iraq invasion, modified for British use.
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, just 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 comprehensive 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 a 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 humour in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.
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 BRITISH 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 women 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.
I'm guessing that the average age of 19 originates from the Vietnam War, and the actual average age of British squaddies in Afghanistan is probably mid-20's. However, The Telegraph reporting on the death of six soldiers on 10th July pointed out that their average age was just 20, and three of the six were aged just 18. What are they doing there? They are just kids on a daring game. A deadly game. I know that the Army is sending recruiting units into schools in working class neighbourhoods and that they organise adventure camps for young lads - you can see the results. Don't let your kids talk to these recruiters, don't let them go on the camps, and don't ever let them sign up. The war in Afghanistan is not keeping this country free and the nation has not called on young soldiers to lay down their lives; Tony Blair did that on the orders of George Bush, and Gordon Brown is too gutless and lacking in principles to bring the lads and lasses home. Nevertheless, these young men and women are there, they deserve our respect and admiration, our friendship and understanding. Those who abuse them in town centres do not deserve to be called British.
See also: Blog:Dulce et Decorum Est
© Evrose, 2010
