Some millitary humor (LONG)
Upon encountering a snake in the Area of Operation (AO):
Paratrooper: Jumps out of plane, sights snake, steers chute to avoid
snake, releases chute approx. 5' above ground, then lands on snake
killing it anyway.
Armor: Runs over snake, giggles, and looks for more snakes.
Army Aviation: Has GPS grid to snake. Couldn't find snake. Back to base
for crew rest, night-clubbing, and some sort of drink called "The sidewinder"
Ranger: Plays with the snake, then eats it.
Ranger (alt): Assaults the snake's home and secures it for use by friendly snakes.
SEAL: Expends all ammunition, several grenades and calls for naval gunfire
in a failed attempt to kill the snake. The snake bites the SEAL then
retreats to safety.
Corps Artillery: Kills snake, but in the process inflicts severe collateral
damage to an area 5 miles in radius. Mission is considered a success and
all participants are awarded Silver Stars. (Cooks, Mechanics, Legal Clerks etc.)
Marine Recon: Follows the snake and gets lost.
Combat Controller: Guides the snake elsewhere.
Pararescue: Wounds the snake in first encounter, pops smoke,
airlifts snake, then feverishly works to save the snake's life.
Special Forces: Makes contact with the snake, builds rapport, wins its
heart and mind, then trains it to kill other snakes.
Infantry: pointman sights snake. Pointman hand-signals to squad leader of
contact with snake. Squad leader hand-signals to pointman and squad
to fall back. Squad leader calls platoon sgt for recommendations. Platoon
sgt recommends engaging snake, but is counter-manded by platoon
leader. Platoon leader calls company commander, who then calls batallion
co, who then contacts division commander, who now must wrestle
with ramifications of snake encounter. Division co refers this monumental
task to his second in command (executive officer). Division XO calls down
to batallion to get size, strength, and intentions of snake. Batallion attempts
to contact company to get information, but looses report when
communications satellite required for transmission is retasked. Company
CO radios communications center requesting re-retask of satelite.
Communications center tells Company CO that authorization of retask
can only come from Division CO. Company CO in frustration leapforgs
over both Batallion CO and Division XO, attempting to contact Divsion
CO directly. The Division CO's secretary informs Company CO that the
Division CO is out of the office, and recommends leaving a message.
Snake gets bored, and slithers away. Several years later, 60 Minutes
does an expose on what will eventually be known as, "The Snake Incident",
in which all involved will deny any knowledge of the event ever
happenning...all except for the snake and the retired platoon
sgt, who collectively write a bestselling book about the debacle.