Cell phone is in your pocket.
He  clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to  his dog tags.

You  talk trash about your ‘buddies’ that aren’t with  you.
He  knows he may not see some of his buddies  again.

You  walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty  girls.
He  patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and  terrorists.

You  complain about how hot it is
He  wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his  helmet to wipe his brow.

You  go out to lunch, and complain because the  restaurant got your order wrong.
He  doesn’t get to eat today.

Your  maid makes your bed and washes your  clothes.
He  wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure  his weapons are clean. 

You  go to the mall and get your hair redone. 
He  doesn’t have time to brush his teeth today. 

You’re  angry because your class ran 5 minutes  over.
He’s  told he will be held over an extra 2  months.

You  call your girlfriend and set a date for  tonight.
He  waits for the mail to see if there is a letter  from home. 

You  hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do  everyday.
He  holds his letter close and smells his love’s  perfume.

You  roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He  gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and  wonders if they’ll ever meet.

You  criticize your government, and say that war never  solves anything.
He  sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own  people and remembers why he is fighting. 

You  hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men  like him.
He  hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the  wounded.

You  see only what the media wants you to see. 
He  sees the broken bodies lying around him. 

You  are asked to go to the store by your parents. You  don’t. 
He  does exactly what he is told even if it puts his  life in danger.

You  stay at home and watch TV.
He  takes whatever time he is given to call, write  home, sleep, and eat.

You  crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and  get comfortable.
He  tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and  helicopters all night long.

If  you support your troops, send this to 7  people.

REMEMBER  our Troops, and do not forget them LATER 
Lest  we forget -
KEEP  THE CHAIN GOING