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 USAF
Chief Master Sergeant 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 USAF Chief Master Sergeant. 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 Chief Master Sergeant 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 Chief Master Sergeant replied, "Well sir, it's pretty hard to wear glasses
with only one fuckin' ear."
