dhabuh
06-09-2006, 03:44 PM
"The Salute"
I had just arrived at my first duty station, Edwards AFB, CA. Not my first choice, but I was dead set on making the best of it.
Assigned to the Fighter Pilot Squadron, as an administrative clerk, I dropped my gear and proceeded to report in. As I walked up to Headquarters, I encountered a pilot (Colonel), just leaving the building.
I quickly popped him a salute, and gave him a wavering, "Good Morning, Sir".
He looked at me as if I'd just killed his dog and answered as he walked past, not returning my salute:
"I don't salute airmen, kid."
Red faced and a little upset, I turned to him as he was walking away and yelled, "Well then, Sir, could you at least give me a hand getting this damn salute down??"
He turned around, looked at me, walked straight up to me, smartly saluted me, and said, "You're my new aide. Report in and come to my office."
We've been life long friends even into retirement, and still joke about that salute.
I had just arrived at my first duty station, Edwards AFB, CA. Not my first choice, but I was dead set on making the best of it.
Assigned to the Fighter Pilot Squadron, as an administrative clerk, I dropped my gear and proceeded to report in. As I walked up to Headquarters, I encountered a pilot (Colonel), just leaving the building.
I quickly popped him a salute, and gave him a wavering, "Good Morning, Sir".
He looked at me as if I'd just killed his dog and answered as he walked past, not returning my salute:
"I don't salute airmen, kid."
Red faced and a little upset, I turned to him as he was walking away and yelled, "Well then, Sir, could you at least give me a hand getting this damn salute down??"
He turned around, looked at me, walked straight up to me, smartly saluted me, and said, "You're my new aide. Report in and come to my office."
We've been life long friends even into retirement, and still joke about that salute.