The Captain called the Sergeant in. "Sarge, I just got a
telegram that Private Jones' mother died yesterday. Better go tell
him and send him in to see me."
So the Sergeant calls for his morning formation and lines up all
the troops. "Listen up, men," says the Sergeant. "Johnson, report
to the mess hall for KP. Smith, report to Personnel to sign some
papers. The rest of you men report to the Motor Pool for
maintenance. Oh by the way, Jones, your mother died, report to the
commander."
Later that day the Captain called the Sergeant into his office.
"Hey, Sarge, that was a pretty cold way to inform Jones his mother
died. Couldn't you be a bit more tactful, next time?"
"Yes, sir," answered the Sarge.
A few months later, the Captain called the Sergeant in again with,
"Sarge, I just got a telegram that Private McGrath's mother died.
You'd better go tell him and send him in to see me. This time be
more tactful."
So the Sergeant calls for his morning formation. "Ok, men, fall in
and listen up." "Everybody with a mother, take two steps forward."
"Not so fast, McGrath!"
