Found this in someones blog on myspace.com.  I'm sure it's been posted here before, but it's worht seeing again.

The INFANTRYMAN

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 howizzitor. 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.

Everything revolves around the infantry.  Aircraft, tanks and trucks cannot take and hold ground.  They can make life miserable for the occupants for a little while, but they can't hold it forever.  

Ground is not taken and kept until there is an infantryman with an M16 standing on the ground saying "This is mine."  Only then is it your land.

Quoted: Everything revolves around the infantry.  Aircraft, tanks and trucks cannot take and hold ground.  They can make life miserable for the occupants for a little while, but they can't hold it forever.   Ground is not taken and kept until there is an infantryman with an M16 standing on the ground saying "This is mine."  Only then is it your land.

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