Sympathy in the Army

Several years ago a Brit friend of mine told a story in which an army officer was notified that the parents of one of his enlisted men (whose surname was Hawkins) had been killed in an accident.

The officer summoned the man’s sergeant, advised him of the situation, and asked him to break the news “gently”.

The sergeant went out and grouped his men and then barked “All those whose mothers and fathers are still living take one step forward–Hawkins, where the hell do you think you’re going?”