What is your funniest salute story?

At my first duty station, Korea, walking with my MAJ across the field. A very brand new Private was so scared she saluted my MAJ with the wrong hand. I looked dumbfounded because I was a PFC at the time and thought "What in the _____ is wrong with this Soldier?" My MAJ pulled the Private to the side and told her there was nothing to be scared of, she just needed to get her senses together and work on her saluting.

At my current duty station, DC, walking with my Chief from the shoppette. My hands and Chief's are full. Specialist is walking towards us, says, "Whassup Chief?" and keeps it moving. I stopped dead in my tracks and said, "Chief, don't worry I got this." I had that Specialist so scared he was standing at attention and his response to why he didn't salute was, "Well Chief's hands were full...." I ended up getting with his supervisor and needless to say he knows the regulation on saluting very well.

As a CID Special Agent, when in uniform and conducting investigative activity, we wore "US" insignia in place of rank. One day as I was heading to the DFAC a young 2LT saluted one of my Agents as they were passing. His Platoon Sergeant, a short distance behind, stopped the Agents and asked why they wore the "US." I quickly said, "they are war correspondents."

And here I thought no one would want to talk to press...........

In 1971 while at Wurzburg American High School, I was selected to make the Top Ten Eagle Scouts in Europe report to the Supreme Allied Commander at SHAPE. We wore Boy Scout uniforms with medals and must have looked impressive. Got saluted by lots of different NATO soldiers at the train station in Brussels...20 years later I worked at SHAPE for the SACEUR and handled the Eagle Scout visit...always advised them when in doubt, salute!

One time coming out of the PX at Fort Leonard Wood, MO when the Army still wore berets with BDUs I saw what looked like a gold circle on the beret coming towards me. So it has to be a major (O-4) right? I was only a 2LT at the time and I popped up a good crisp salute....to a SPC who quickly returned the salute. It was then that he was close enough for me to see his rank on his collar was SPC and that the gold was not an oak leaf but actually the unit crest. Playing it off I quickly dropped my salute before he could and I continued to my car.

When assigned to the 2nd FSSG head shed, we where preparing for a visit from the Commandant. I was told to make some fresh coffee and finish prepping the office.
With the door to the office closed I proceed to remove the grinds from the coffee urn (one of those huge silver ones that civilians use for parties and us Marines consider a morning cup). There I am holding this huge pile of grounds and the door swings open next to me. As I look down at who is coming in, all I can see are the stars lined up on the uniform. Now I have a choice, do I come to attention and risk dropping the coffee all over the Commandant of the Marine Corps or do I continue to empty the grinds and risk what could be the worst ass chewing of my career?
Before I even finish processing these options, General Krulak looks me up and down and says "Corporal, didn't anyone tell you the Marine Corps was down sizing? I want you to loose some of that height" And then he left slamming the door shut. (I'm over six foot he is not)

First weekend out of basic training and jump school, got to Ft Bragg. Another Soldier and I (both PFCs) were walking down the sidewalk as an officer approached, we both salute and I notice out of the corner of my eye the has a cigarette in his right hand between his fingers. I would have laughed but the officer was a LTC, so we got yelled at for like 5 minutes.

I remember that back in Basic Training in 1973, Fort Pol, LA the post commander was being driven by his driver and had the Plates on a a MG and some buddy's and I were walking around to the PX, we did not see the General's Car, and he stopped and got out and addressed us (Chewed our asses) for not saluting him, and it was just an honest mistake. But one that I will not forget, As we were continuing on to the PX we all were thinking what an asshole.

I was walking into the HQ Office and I saw this 2nd LT who seemed to have some unknown issue towards me. I saw he was well beyond the pace count and did not salute him. He became butthurt and started trying to chew me out for not saluting an officer. I responded, "Sir, you were beyond the pace count." To which he just stormed off and muttered something under his breath since he knew I was correct. I enjoyed that little exchange haha.

I was in Alaska and it was middle of winter I was going to lunch and all I saw was a spot of black thinking it was a LTC I saluted a CSM.

In BAF Afghanistan there is a lot of brass walking by it's just exhausting!!! once I came across LTC, which I didn't notice at first, he is so used to salute back; he actually saluted me! and this is how I noticed his rank and saluted him in return!