A young Naval
Officer was in a terrible car accident, but due
to the heroics of the hospital staff the only
permanent injury was the loss of one ear. Since
he wasn't physically impaired he remained in the
military and eventually became an Admiral.
However, during his career he was always
sensitive about his appearance.
One day the Admiral was interviewing two Navy
Master Chiefs and a Marine Sergeant Major for
his personal staff. The first Master Chief was
a Surface Navy type and it was a great
interview. At the end of the interview the
Admiral asked him, "Do you notice anything
different about me?"
The Master Chief answered, "Why yes. I couldn't
help but notice you are missing your starboard
ear, so I don't know whether this impacts your
hearing on that side."
The Admiral got very angry at this lack of tact
and threw him out of his office. The next
candidate, an Aviation Master Chief, when asked
this same question, answered, "Well yes, you
seem to be short one ear."
The Admiral threw him out also. The third
interview was with the Marine Sergeant Major. He
was articulate, extremely sharp, and seemed to
know more than the two Master Chiefs put
together. The Admiral wanted this guy, but went
ahead with the same question. "Do you notice
anything different about me?"
To his surprise the Sergeant Major said, "Yes.
You wear contact lenses."
The Admiral was impressed and thought to
himself, what an incredibly tactful Marine. "And
how do you know that?" the Admiral asked.
The Sergeant Major replied, "Well sir, it's
pretty hard to wear glasses with only one
fuckin' ear."
