The Major spoke to the Sergeant before the morning formation, “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 went before his morning formation and said, “Listen up, men, 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 and by the way, Jones, your mother died, report to the commander.”
Later that day the Major 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 Sergeant
A few months later, the Major was speaking to the Sergeant before the formation again, “Sarge, I just got a telegram that Private Mullin’s mother died. You’d better go tell him and send him in to see me. This time be more tactful.”
So the Sergeant went before his troops and said, “Ok, men, fall in and listen up. Everybody with a mother, take two steps forward. NOT SO FAST, MULLINS!”
