Proud Parents

My daughter, G.I. Jan sent this picture to me along with the posting below. I found it a little poignant and wanted to share. A little back ground first, Jan decided to enlist in the reserves last summer at the age of 37. Jan said she wanted to show my wife and I that she could make something of herself. A modern day running off to join the Foreign Legion? When she reported to her unit after Basic Training, she received deployment orders. She will be going to Iraq in mid-April. Here is what she recently sent to me along with this photo. PFC Donovan, Janet M. 652nd Engineer Co. Attached to the 401st "Engineers lead the way!" Making of an American Soldier 1/2 boy, 1/2 man - 1/2 girl/woman !!If you read this, you WILL forward it on. You just won't be able to stop yourself. 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 ashalf 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 andhe 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 bewaiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll orhip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a M2 50mm machine gun. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he isworking or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has troublespelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a riflein 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to youthe nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either oneeffectively 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 spiritor individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps hiscanteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He cancook 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 battlewhen you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were hishands. 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 stillfind ironic humor 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 andis unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while atrigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away 'those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stoptalking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right tobe disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying theprice for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the AmericanFighting 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 hisblood. And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in thistradition 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. Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it Please send this onafter a short prayer. Prayer Wheel'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protectus. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in ourtime of need. Amen.' When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for all of our military personnel. There is nothing attached... This can be very powerful... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine,or Airman, prayer is the very best one. Thanks for reading, Lou Z for my daughter Jan