What is your funniest salute story?

I was stationed at Yokota Air Base Japan and was returning to the aircraft hangar I worked in. I had left the Base Operations Center cafeteria. It was approximately 300 yards to the hangar and I seen someone walking toward me from a parked aircraft on the ramp. As he got closer I seen stripes on both his sleeves. Then to my demise I seen a pair of Major insignia's on his lapel. Being at an Air Force Base and not to many Army personnel around I had no idea what his rank was. The stripes and Major insignia really had me confused. As we got closer I saluted him with a puzzled look on my face and he started laughing and told me a salute was not required. He then told me he was an Army Sargent Major. I told him "I don't know whether to salute you are just greet him with a hello". We both had a good laugh after. I then steered him to the cafeteria for some lunch.

I was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds for AIT in 1980. At the base movie theater we would all stand and salute when the national anthem played before the movie. We all—the whole theater—would “tsh!” loudly with each cymbal crash. It was best to have no one in the seat behind you.

At Ft. Polk in the early 1980s, all traffic stopped when retreat sounded. Those outside would stand, face the “music” and salute. Since my buddy and I were riding in the back of a pickup, we stood up in the truck’s bed and saluted.

While stationed in Schweinfurt Germany with the 3rd Bn 7th Air Defense - we were co-located on the Kaserne with 3rd Bn 7th Cav of Gary Owen fame. Their troops saluted all officers with the remark of "Gary Owen, Sir!". We new Air Defense Lieutenants searched long and wide for a suitable response and came up with our own reply of "Herman Nelson!" (the manufacturer of a maintenance tent heater). This drove the Cav troops wild guessing at who was old Herman Nelson.

I was stationed TDY at Ft. Bragg, NC as a Medic from Walter Reed we move around post uncovered and pay little attention to Full Bird officers because there is so many and you work with them daily. I was going into the Class. VI STORE as I passed this Full Bird Colonel. He stopped me and locked my heels and began Soldier you don't salute officer were you from and no cover what's your unit. I left the store no Liquor or Beer just glad to get away from this guy

My funniest story is driving onto Fort Leavenworth and having the Specialist snap to attention and giving me a Salute. I drove a Crown Victoria and since I am a Civil War Re-enactor I had the Bonnie Blue Flag Sticker on my car. The Specialist seen the Sticker that is Blue Background with White Star and thought it was a Generals Sticker which is just the opposite. Generals Sticker is White Background with Blue Star

I was riding with a friend to my friend to our first duty station at Ft Gordon GA as brand new 2nd lieutenants. The soldier at the entrance gate reviewed our orders, stepped back and smartly saluted. My friend promptly returned the salute --- with his left hand.

Salute
At basic (-70, Ft. Leonard Wood) weekend liberty, three or four of us trainees were walking back to the barracks. We say three young officers coming our direction so I suggested to the others with me that we all in unison salute with our left hand. After passing, the young officers we noticed they were quite confused over what had just happened.

Just out of boot camp and Memphis electronics we were at MCAS Beaufort, walking up to Chow Hall and a 1st Lt walked out the door right at us. We wanted to turn there other way but whipped up good solid salutes, goods afternoon sir. His reply, "how's it going guys" while giving us the peace sign. This want how they said it would be. We still laugh about it 49 years later.

In 1974, I was in Air Force ROTC in my senior year in high school. One morning we were getting ready to leave class and were expected to salute before doing so. When I saluted I put my right hand up to my brow and at the same time I put my left hand on my hip. The class erupted in laughter and I was so embarrassed. I finally lived it down when I graduated. I was afraid I might do that again in the real Air Force, but I never did it again.