A US Air Force C-130 was scheduled to leave Thule Air Base, Greenland,
at midnight. During the pilot's preflight check, he discovers that the
latrine holding tank is still full from the last flight. So a message is
sent to the
base and an airman who was off duty is called out to take care of it.
The young man finally gets to the air base and makes his way to the
aircraft only to find that the latrine pump-truck has been left outdoors
and is frozen solid, so he must find another one in the hangar, which
takes even more time.
He returns to the aircraft and is less than enthusiastic about what he
has to do. Nevertheless, he goes about the pumping job deliberately
and carefully (and slowly) so as not to risk criticism later.
As he's leaving the plane, the pilot stops him and says, 'Son, your
attitude and performance has caused this flight to be late and I'm going
to personally see to it that you are not just reprimanded but punished.'
Shivering in the cold, his task finished, he takes a deep breath, stands
tall
and says, 'Sir, with all due respect, I'm not your son; I'm an Airman
in the United States Air Force. I've been in Thule, Greenland, for 11
months without any leave, and reindeers' asses are beginning to look pretty
good to me.
I have one stripe; it's 2:30 in the morning, the temperature is 40 degrees
below zero,
and my job here is to pump shit out of an aircraft.
Now, just exactly what form of punishment did you have in mind?'
at midnight. During the pilot's preflight check, he discovers that the
latrine holding tank is still full from the last flight. So a message is
sent to the
base and an airman who was off duty is called out to take care of it.
The young man finally gets to the air base and makes his way to the
aircraft only to find that the latrine pump-truck has been left outdoors
and is frozen solid, so he must find another one in the hangar, which
takes even more time.
He returns to the aircraft and is less than enthusiastic about what he
has to do. Nevertheless, he goes about the pumping job deliberately
and carefully (and slowly) so as not to risk criticism later.
As he's leaving the plane, the pilot stops him and says, 'Son, your
attitude and performance has caused this flight to be late and I'm going
to personally see to it that you are not just reprimanded but punished.'
Shivering in the cold, his task finished, he takes a deep breath, stands
tall
and says, 'Sir, with all due respect, I'm not your son; I'm an Airman
in the United States Air Force. I've been in Thule, Greenland, for 11
months without any leave, and reindeers' asses are beginning to look pretty
good to me.
I have one stripe; it's 2:30 in the morning, the temperature is 40 degrees
below zero,
and my job here is to pump shit out of an aircraft.
Now, just exactly what form of punishment did you have in mind?'
