I'm 44, with a wife and kids.  The closest I ever came to serving was as a civilian engineer for a couple of military contracting companies.

When I was young I didn't enlist because I didn't have character.  It wasn't that I lacked the courage; I simply lacked the will to do the right thing.  It hurts to say it now, but at the time it just wasn't important to me.  I didn't have my moral shit together.  I had no honor.

Now I find myself with a sense of duty, and a strong sense of honor.  I really want to do the right thing for my country, but now that I finally got my moral shit together my body is falling apart and I wouldn't be much good to anybody.  It's too late for me.

And this is why I admire you guys, almost worship you.  I don't know how you did it, but you acquired integrity at an early age, early enough to have both moral and physical strength at the same time.  You are all the Greek ideal to me: strength and honor together in one man.

And you've dedicated a significant part of your lives to defending the country, and I thank you deeply for that.  You are the country's best.  You know that because you know that all the slackers and pussies stayed behind.

Which brings me back to me.  If any of you need anything out there in the field, write to me and I'll make sure you get it if there is any way I can.  I mean it.  I live not too far from Camp Pendleton, if that's worth anything.  Don't think this is just dog squeeze running off some civvy's keyboard.  Really, contact me.  I want to do something for this country's best men.