- Joined
- Mar 20, 2004
- Messages
- 43
- Points
- 18
A BRAND-NEW SECOND LIEUTENANT at Fort Lee, Va., I was anxious when I accompanied the inspector general through my platoon's ranks for the first time. Things progressed smoothly until we reached a private who, when asked what his job was, answered, "I rake leaves, sir." "No, soldier," the inspector general said. "I mean what would you do in wartime?" The soldier replied, "Sir, I'd rake faster."
*****
THE ENLISTED MEN in our airplane company had to pull double duty as guards. One night as my sergeant and I stood watch at the bachelor officers' quarters, a new pilot tried to take some contraband into his room. Sarge, standing his ground, refused the officer entry, and an argument ensued. "Do you know who I am, sergeant?" the pilot yelled.
"Yes, sir, I do," replied my sergeant. "But do you know who I am? I'm the mechanic who's going to keep your plane up for the next 12 months."
The pilot made a hasty retreat.
*****
DURING MY TOUR OF DUTY at a U.S. Air Force radar site in Morocco, the commander published a regulation banning gambling. Later the officer of the day caught some enlisted men in a poker game, but one airman protested that they weren't gambling. "Then what's that money doing on the bunk?" the officer demanded. "Sir," the airman explained, "we're only keeping score with it!"
*****
MY NEPHEW in the Air Force works the swing shift to have more time at home during the day. When he first arrived at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas, he took his wife, their five-year-old daughter, Katie, and me for a tour. Pointing to a B-52 bomber, he told Katie, "That's the plane Daddy works on." "You work on planes?" she said in surprise. "I told my friends you work on swings!"
*****
THE FIRST SALUTE RECEIVED BY A FRESHLY COMMISSIONED SECOND LIEUTENANT IS ALWAYS SIGNIFICANT, SYMBOLIZING AUTHORITY AND PRESTIGE. WHEN I PINNED ON MY NEW AIR FORCE GOLD BARS AND STEPPED OUT TO FACE THE WORLD, I ENCOUNTERED A STAFF SERGEANT. GIVING ME A SNAPPY SALUTE, HE SAID, "GOOD MORNING, LIEUTENANT. YOUR HAT IS ON BACKWARD." AS THE YEARS HAVE PASSED, ANYTIME I BEGIN TO FEEL SELF-IMPORTANT, I REMEMBER THOSE WORDS.
*****
THE ENLISTED MEN in our airplane company had to pull double duty as guards. One night as my sergeant and I stood watch at the bachelor officers' quarters, a new pilot tried to take some contraband into his room. Sarge, standing his ground, refused the officer entry, and an argument ensued. "Do you know who I am, sergeant?" the pilot yelled.
"Yes, sir, I do," replied my sergeant. "But do you know who I am? I'm the mechanic who's going to keep your plane up for the next 12 months."
The pilot made a hasty retreat.
*****
DURING MY TOUR OF DUTY at a U.S. Air Force radar site in Morocco, the commander published a regulation banning gambling. Later the officer of the day caught some enlisted men in a poker game, but one airman protested that they weren't gambling. "Then what's that money doing on the bunk?" the officer demanded. "Sir," the airman explained, "we're only keeping score with it!"
*****
MY NEPHEW in the Air Force works the swing shift to have more time at home during the day. When he first arrived at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas, he took his wife, their five-year-old daughter, Katie, and me for a tour. Pointing to a B-52 bomber, he told Katie, "That's the plane Daddy works on." "You work on planes?" she said in surprise. "I told my friends you work on swings!"
*****
THE FIRST SALUTE RECEIVED BY A FRESHLY COMMISSIONED SECOND LIEUTENANT IS ALWAYS SIGNIFICANT, SYMBOLIZING AUTHORITY AND PRESTIGE. WHEN I PINNED ON MY NEW AIR FORCE GOLD BARS AND STEPPED OUT TO FACE THE WORLD, I ENCOUNTERED A STAFF SERGEANT. GIVING ME A SNAPPY SALUTE, HE SAID, "GOOD MORNING, LIEUTENANT. YOUR HAT IS ON BACKWARD." AS THE YEARS HAVE PASSED, ANYTIME I BEGIN TO FEEL SELF-IMPORTANT, I REMEMBER THOSE WORDS.
