I have read Yon's book. He did indeed kill a man in a bar with his bare hands. Facts of the case, and guilt or innocence aside, Yon proved that fists can kill.Trayvon Martin was 17 when he was shot. Many people say he was just a “child.”
Let's look at the evidence. 17 year-olds can, and do, join the US military.
At 17, I joined the military and reported for duty when 18. Before graduating from high school, I could bench press 300 pounds and hoist 225 pounds from the floor to over my head with arms locked, weighing less than 148 pounds.
At 17, my high school friend Scott Helvenston became a Navy SEAL. The youngest ever. Some people say this is not possible. To save embarrassment, naysayers might take a minute to Google “Youngest Navy SEAL.”
At 17, Wilfred Benitez was the world champion boxer.
Retired 4-star General Barry McCaffrey mentioned to me the other day that he joined the Army at 17.
At 18, George Bush senior became a Naval aviator and headed off to war. There were many others.
Milton Olive III, 18 years-old. Medal of Honor recipient. Died while saving his buddies by smothering a grenade with his body.
At 19, I was a "Green Beret" and went to jail after accidentally killing someone in what amounted to hand to hand combat.
Hands are lethal weapons......
The full post is worth reading, and it puts the idea of "17 year old children" into stark perspective.
