美國大兵

翻譯了一個朋友給的email，原文如下，有些刪節

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.......


美國大兵平均的年齡是１９歲，
短髮，緊繃的肌肉。
一般情況下，也就算是
半大男孩。
未退去臉上的稚氣，
未到合法飲酒的年齡，
但已可以為國家犧牲。
他並不愛工作，
有時候也懶得幫父親洗車，
但他也從未領過政府的福利。

他剛剛高中畢業，成績一般，
多半參加過某個校體育隊，
開一輛十年的破車，
有一個穩定的女朋友。
他離開的那天，女朋友或者離開了他，
或者發誓隔著半個地球等他回來。
他聽搖滾，或說唱，或嬉哈，或爵士，或搖擺
和１１５毫米榴彈炮聲。
他比離開時瘦了十到十五磅，
因為從日出前到日落後，他不是工作就是打仗。

他時常拼錯單詞，寫信是很頭疼的事。
但他可以在三十秒中之內卸開一隻步槍，
而用更短的時間在黑暗中將其組裝。
他可以給你背誦各種衝鋒槍和火箭筒的型號，
並能熟練的使用任何一種。
他會挖站壕和防空洞，會做急救，
會前進直到被告之立正，
或立正直到被告之前進。

他毫不猶豫的聽從命令，但不是沒有自信與尊嚴。
他是自給自足的，他有兩套精力，
穿一套，洗一套。
他也許會忘記刷牙，但他不會忘記清理步槍。
他會做自己的飯，補自己的衣服，呵護自己的傷口。
你渴了，他會和你分他的水。
你餓了，他會和你分他的食物。
激烈的戰鬥中，他也會和你分他的彈藥。

他學會了用手做武器，和用武器如用手一般。
他可以拯救或奪取你的生命，如果他工作需要。
他做普通老百姓兩倍的工作，拿一半的薪水，
仍然能在這中間找到諷刺般的樂趣。
對於這麼年輕的人來說，
他見識了太多的痛苦與死亡。

他在公眾面前和背後都流過眼淚，
並不害臊，
因為是為了死去的戰友。
國歌奏起時，每一個音符會和他的身體一同顫抖。
他很想「教訓」一下周圍肆無忌憚的人，
不起立，不脫帽，甚至不停止談話。
有趣的是，日出到日落，
他保衛著他們的肆無忌憚。

就像他的父親，祖父，曾祖父一樣，
為我們的自由而犧牲著。
也許他沒有幾根鬍子，但他已不是男孩。
他是一個為美國自由鬥爭了兩百年的美國士兵之一。

他沒有要任何回報，只要我們的友誼和理解。
永遠記住他，他得到的是我們的尊重和敬佩。
現在我們還有女兵在那裡，
延續的為國參戰的傳統。
今晚你入睡時，記住這一張照片：
吉普車的影子，短暫的午睡，
我們的愛人，和他們的鋼盔。。。