They Laid Down Their Lives Before They Lived Them

To serve in the military is to surrender the best years of your youth, not for personal gain or glory, but for something far greater. It is a quiet, courageous sacrifice: of time, of freedom, of innocence. Every Memorial Day, we honor those who gave their lives for this country. But too often, we overlook just how young many of them were.

In World War I, the average American combat soldier was just 24 years old. In World War II, 26. In Korea, it dropped to 23. In Vietnam, it was only 19, barely out of high school and already sent to war. The Gulf War returned the average to 26, and in Iraq and Afghanistan, it hovered around 27. The pattern is clear: it is the young who have consistently borne the burden of defending our freedoms.

They came from all walks of life, high school athletes, farm kids, factory workers, newlyweds, and dreamers. Some lied about their age just to enlist. Many had never voted or traveled far from home. Still, they crossed oceans, flew missions, and braved enemy fire for a freedom they had only just begun to live.

This Memorial Day, many of us will gather with family, enjoy a barbecue, or shop online sales. But in the comfort of our routines, it’s easy to forget that the liberty we enjoy came at a staggering cost. The names carved into memorials across our country are not just symbols of sacrifice, they are the stories of young lives given freely and bravely.

I will never forget my cousin, Army Staff Sergeant Nicholas R. Carnes, who was killed in Afghanistan at just 25 years old. He left behind his wife and the family they dreamed of building. I remember Army Staff Sergeant Benjamin G. Prange, age 30, and Army Private First Class Keith M. Williams, who was just 19. We served in the same place at the same time, occasionally our units conducted training together or competed in pickup basketball games. They were young men full of life, offering it in service to liberty.

I also honor Sergeant First Class Mihail Golin, age 34, a man not born an American, but who chose to become one. He gave his future to protect the country he adopted as his own.

Their sacrifice is our solemn inheritance. They gave up their futures so that we could have ours. They didn’t do it for recognition or applause. They did it because they believed in something bigger than themselves, because they believed in America.

That inheritance demands more than a moment of silence once a year. It demands that we never treat their gift lightly or allow their sacrifice to fade into distant memory. It calls on us to live with purpose, with gratitude, and with a commitment to defending the values they died for.

The average age of a fallen service member is more than a number. It’s a sobering reminder of life’s fragility, of the cost of freedom, and of the extraordinary courage it takes for someone barely out of childhood to raise a right hand and swear an oath they’re willing to die for.

This Memorial Day, let us remember not just that they died, but how young they were when they chose to serve. And let us strive to live lives worthy of the future they have given to us.

About the Author: Joshua Lyons is a U.S. Army veteran who served multiple deployments to the Middle East and Afghanistan, including with Abe Hamadeh in the same Battalion. He comes from a proud military family with three younger brothers who are also Army veterans. A former intelligence analyst with the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, Joshua holds a master’s degree from Abilene Christian University and a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University. Deeply committed to the pro-life movement, he actively works with the Dandy Project, supporting individuals and families dedicated to preserving life.