It's in the eyes.....

Granted, this is not an earthshattering discovery.....

 When looking at individual pictures of soldiers, you don't notice as much, but after looking at picture after picture for the last 3 days...... yeah, it's definitely a thing.   I've been going thru the DPAA site, connecting information, and I came to a conclusion.... You can tell Marines almost immediately by their pictures, no need to check on their designation. They all seem to have this stare that says that they've seen too much.

In stark contrast are the "flyboys"... Most Airmen seem to have that open almost cocky look that says, "life is an adventure, let's see what we can can wring out of it".

Whether this is because the Marines get sent in and are destined to be "up close and personal" with no or little long distance fighting and the Air crews are literally far removed from the close combat, or that a certain type of personality picks a certain trajectory in life I don't  know, but it just struck me that after a while, I didn't have to see whether they were Marines or Airmen. I knew by their eyes ......

I realise this is in no way a reflection of the intensity of war and what it does to a persons soul. There is a difference, yes, but you can't go into any kind of battle and come out the same person that went in..... Nobody should have to go thru what the soldiers go thru in battle, and knowing humans are not a peacefull species  and there will always be conflict, my hope is that the people that are kept safe thru the sacrifice of these soldiers, REALLY appreciate what kind of gift is given to them by these men and women....  Everybody that served knows from experience that freedom is paid for by those that too many times give their life, and too often give their own peace of mind in exchange for ours.... and, just saying, the families also serve, more often than not, long after the soldier comes home.