The young man maneuvered himself into the weight machine next to where I was 'pumping iron' at the YMCA yesterday.

"I gotta get into shape," he said casually as I acknowledged his presence with a nod. "I'm going to boot camp in a few weeks."

I was a bit taken aback by that revelation. This 'young' man looked to be about 14. In fact, my first thought on seeing him was "What's he doing out of school?"

Then I thought maybe he wasn't talking about any of the military boot camps.

"How old are you?"

"17."

Still not old enough, I thought.

Through further conversations, I learned that Leroy Jackson has joined the Navy and is indeed headed to boot camp near Chicago. He reports Dec. 4, I believe he said.

"Graduate from Gaffney High?"

"No sir. Wil Lou Gray Military School. I'm going in as an E2."

I haven't the foggiest what E2 means or what it is, but from the way he said it, I suppose it's a step up from the lowest rung on the Navy ladder.

Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School is the official name of the school located in West Columbia. According to its Web site, it specializes "in helping atrisk young people move past the obstacles in their lives to achieve success."

In my brief conversation with Leroy I was impressed with his manners and his attitude. I don't know what he was like before he went to Wil Lou, but he certainly appears to be on the right track now.

He said he's not nervous about going off to basic training and that he's heard the Navy's isn't quite as tough as some of the others.

Asked why he chose to enlist, he said joining the Navy seemed to be his best option, given the current economy.

He then asked me a question.

"Were you in the military?"

Every time that subject comes up I get a little squeamish. I've mentioned it before in a column or two. No, I didn't serve. I would have, had I been drafted, but I had a high draft number (luck of the lottery draw) and

was not called. Even so, I feel a bit guilty about it.

My cousin, Ed Sossamon, was killed in Vietnam as was a close friend of our family, John Reaves. Thousands of others have died fighting for our country and many, many more were wounded in action.

Still today, young people like Leroy, volunteer to serve their country. The draft is no more. They VOLUNTEER. The reasons they do so are as varied as the men and women in uniform. Whatever the reason, they all know that in today's tumultuous world, there's a good chance they might be sent into combat.

For the past several years, we here in Gaffney have been watching and reading news reports about casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. We've seen the flag-draped caskets of fallen servicemen and interviews with their griefstricken families. We've all been touched by these poignant scenes, but not until a few days ago did the stark reality of war strike home.

One of our own is now in one of those flag-draped caskets. A young man who touched many lives right here in Cherokee County.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Fowlkes, a 20-year-old Marine, died last week from injuries received from a bomb blast in Afghanistan. From all accounts, Fowlkes was a fine young man dedicated to family and country. The picture we published of him posing with some smiling Afghani children gives me some idea of his character and values.

Chris has been called a hero and that he is. Indeed, every man and woman who has ever served honorably in any branch of the U.S. military is a hero in my book, especially those like Chris who died in service to their country.

As Chris is returning home, Leroy and many more just like him are preparing to leave. Let us keep them and their families in our prayers and forever in our gratitude.