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This is my "little brother," Kyle Wheeler. He is now 20 and spends his time sitting in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This morning March 24, 2003, he is just outside of Baghdad.
A friend sent this to me earlier today.
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 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 than 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.
A short prayer for our Troops
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they
protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for
us in our time of need.
Amen."
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TRYING TO HELP" By Dennis Miller
All the rhetoric on whether or not we should go to war against Iraq has got my little brain spinning like a top. I enjoy reading opinions from both sides, but I've detected a hint of confusion from some of you. Maybe this can help.
As I was reading the paper recently, I was reminded of the best advice anyone ever gave me. He told me about the "KISS" method ("Keep It Simple, Stupid!"). So with this as a theme, I'd like to apply this theory for those who don't quite get it. My hope is that we can simplify things and recognize a few important facts.
Here are ten things to consider when voicing an opinion on this important issue:
(1) Between President Bush and Saddam Hussein ... Hussein is the bad guy.
(2) If you have faith in the Useless Nations to do the right things,
keep this in mind: the UN has Libya heading the Committee on Human Rights and Iraq heading the Global Disarmament Committee. Do your own math here.
(3) If you use a Google or Yahoo search and type in "French Military
Victories," don't be surprised if your computer panic's at its inability
to respond to your inquiry.
(4) If you only anti-war slogan is "No War For Oil," hire a pit bull
lawyer and sue your school district for having allowed you to slip through the cracks and robbing you of the minimum education that any non-troglodyte deserves.
(5) You can take this one to the bank: Saddam and bin Laden will NOT seek UN approval before they try to kill us.
(6) Despite common belief among some, Martin Sheen is NOT the President. He only plays one on TV.
(7) If you are anti-war and even an outright "America Basher," to bin
Laden you are still an "infidel" whom he wants dead.
(8) Be careful: if you believe in a "vast right-wing conspiracy," but not in the danger that Hussein poses, the only job you may be able to get is as an Ivy League college professor.
(9) Even multi-culturalists who try to browbeat us into believing that
all cultures are equally deserving of respect have trouble explaining the past 500 years of Islam.
(10) Whether you are for or against military action, our young men and women overseas are fighting to defend our right to speak out on these issues. They deserve our unreserved support!
We will all be praying for all of our brave men, both young and old. Fighting for our Freedom. Keep checking back, we will post updates as we receive them.
If you would like to send a letter to Kyle address it to:
Pvt. Anthony K. Wheeler
C/1-3 ADA
31D, Camp New Jersey
APO-AE 09303
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