What is your funniest salute story?

For my first assignment after I enlisted in the U.S.Air Force, I attended the Reciprocating Engine Mechanic School at Chanute AFB, Illinois. The curriculum of this six-month school was to completely disassemble a giant 28-cylinder R-4360 aircraft engine, re-assemble it, and start it up.

I saw my first snow at Chanute -- a lot of it. I also saw my first Major there. I was walking down an icy sidewalk bundled up in my oversized overcoat, scarf, boots and gloves, and suddenly I saw a Major walking towards me. I’d seen quite a few Lieutenants in my time, but a Major! Yikes! Being properly trained in military custom I was not only going to salute this Major, but I was going to salute the heck out of him! So as he approached me I hauled off and gave him the snappiest salute I could muster. I then learned what my high school science teacher tried to tell us about Newton’s Law of Motion - I slipped on the ice, my right glove (spring loaded by my oversized sleeve) flew into the air about 20 feet, and I did a double back flip into my own navel. The Major just shook his head and didn’t even return my salute

Charlie Wood
LtColonel USAF (Ret)

Don’t have a funniest, but the sharpest salute I ever got was from a young SP at the Travis AFB main gate. I snap and popped off my Grade-A Best Highball. I got an enthusiastic thumbs up and had a great day. (Lifted my spirits; was being separated-1Lt. Didn’t make Captain.)

I was a Captain stationed in Korea, and I went to China for a week over Christmas. I was out for my morning run, and was running around Tiananmen Square. Chinese soldiers stand watch at the corners of the square, and I ran by one. Obviously he recognized me as a GI, and when I got close, he came to attention and saluted me. Out of instinct I saluted back. In his best English he said I win, what's your rank? I kept salutes to myself for the rest of the trip.0

As an E-8, made it back to Lackland AFB, our Basic Training base, to conduct other business. Was in my service dress and came across three recruits marching in step towards me. They were so nervous when they saw me, they all saluted me with a half confused and half dazed look....I returned the salute of course

I was a rebel about saluting anyone after getting out of basic. I'd cross the street or duck into a doorway. I deliberately dropped my hat once on the sidewalk and when I stood up the Lt. was standing there waiting for me to salute.

I was stationed at Cam Ranh Bay South Vietnam in 1967. I was a medic at our 10th Tactical Hospital. President Lyndon Johnson was visiting our hospital giving out Purple Hearts and I was trying to get a closeup of him doing that. Armed with my Yashica 35 mm camera, I climbed up on a small nightstand next to the bed of a young wounded airman. As the President was pinning the medal on the young man, I was trying to focus the camera on the scene and I lost my balance, and a Secret Service guy steadied me. The President looked up and said “Be careful there son”. I saluted him back. I kept his advice close and came back home safely in January 1968. Even though I had a close call and was a passenger in a C-130 aircraft that was hit with small arms fire while landing at Phan Rang Airbase in Jul 67. I looked down at my arm and saw red fluid. No pain though and found out it was hydraulic fluid from the gunfire while we were on approach to landing. The plane filled with smoke and we were bailing out the back while still taxing. Thought it might catch on fire. They put us in a field for about five hours and fixed the lines and we continued the flight. We counted about fifty bullet holes in the fuselage. Thanks President Johnson for that great advice.

I was new to the Army and we deployed to a Naval base in Spain. I exited the NEX with th sun in my eyes all I could see was the reflection of medals. I whipped up snappy salute and a high and hearty Good Morning Sir. I didn't get a salute back suddenly a voice behind me said you just saluted the High School Band Leader.

I smoked a pipe. As a fellow airman and I rounded the corner of a building we were surprised by an officer just a few feet away. Forgetting the pipe in my mouth, I quickly saluted. My rising hand sent the tobacco pipe spinning upward and showering me with sparks as I struggled to salute while also trying to keep the pipe from landing on the officer. I caught the pipe but hit my cap which then went flying. The officer returned the salute and tried not to stare but he couldn't control the laughter as he walked away. I gave up smoking not long afterward.

As a senior lieutenant serving aboard USS BOXER in the early years of the 21st Century, [:::insert facetiousness here:::] I noticed that I was developing tendinitis in my right elbow due to all of the saluting as I walked from the pier gate to the ship. It ended up being more expedient (and physically therapeutic) to keep my salute as I passed member upon member of the enlisted community dutifully saluting me during the entire quarter-mile stroll. I loved that my fellow shipmates understood my situation.

A pregnant Specialist I knew had terrible morning sickness. Everyday she would go out to her appointed spot on the sidewalk and vomit. One day, the base commander, a Brigadier General, walked up on her as she was shaking and about to get sick. He said, "Soldier! What's the matter with you? Don't you know to salute an officer?"
The poor girl turned to face the man and her stomach gave way and the contents of her last meal exploded on to his boots. We saved her by explaining the situation. Everyone agreed it was hilarious.