Submitted by Larry A:
Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their “Older Person Friendly” policies.
One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. “Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job when you finally get here, but your being late so often is quite bothersome.”
“Yes sir, I know, and I am working on it.”
“Well good, you are a team player. That’s what I like to hear.”
“Yes sir, I understand your concern and I’ll try harder.”
Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, “It’s odd though you’re coming in late. I know you’re retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning so late and so often?”
The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled. He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin,
“They usually saluted and said,
“Good morning General, can I get your coffee sir?”
Joke of the Day: I thought it was going to be a Joe Biden reference…
I suppose it’s funny if viewed as a dig at the Army. I’m more accustomed to high ranked officers retiring and getting lucrative industry jobs. For example, today I read an article about a Navy Vice Admiral in charge of ship repair and acquisition who retired recently, and was immediately picked up as a VP of something or other at a Shipbuilding company.
No American general would ever take a job like this. Twenty plus years in DOD has given me a little insight, most are decent enough, but are way too important, in their own minds, for anything like this
I served on Okinawa, 400th MMS. Worked for a LtC that never missed an Airmans Birthday. Showed up at the work station just to wish us many returns of the day…. I know he made Bird shortly after I Deros’d, but don’t know if he ever made a Star. He sure earned one with us! He would be the kind of guy to take that kind of job, just to wish others well.