What is your funniest salute story?

In October 1964, Bobby Duncan and I were at the Air Field in Canto, S. Vietnam. Being members of the Air Force, we were talking to a couple of Army guys when their Major approached us. The Army guys and I snapped to and gave the Major a sharp salute while Bobby just gave him a highball Air Force salute. The Major commenced to give Bobby a dressing down for his lack of proper respect. When finished with Bobby, the Major noticed my Air Force chevrons and sarcastically said to me, “I thought you were a soldier!” I responded, “No sir, but some of us just know how to salute.” The personnel officer Major then began to dress me down. After he angrily left, Bobby and I had a good laugh while the two Army guys were in in a state of shock.

When I was an A1C, I was walking out of the "Class 6" in Korea getting ready to turn left. I had was pushing my bike, had my backpack on my arm, I had just put my cap on, almost dropped the bag under my other arm, looked up and there was a Lt. coming towards me. He was about 10 feet away. I quickly popped a salute. Not a very good one either. To my surprise, he saluted back and walked on by. At first, I wasn't sure why I was surprised. It was then that I fully realized I had not only saluted with my left hand (as my bike was in my right hand and my backpack was hanging off my right arm) but I had been partially bent over trying to wrangle the bike, backpack and brown paper bag. I froze for a second expecting backlash. I slowly turned my head toward the Lt. and he had just kept on walking. I don't know if he realized I saluted with the wrong hand or not. From then on out I made sure I was fully prepared prior to walking out of any building.

During basic training in March 1965, Fort Polk Louisiana, we were sitting in the barracks when my buddy, Ritchie, comes up and asked if he could borrow a pair of my fatigue pants.
His hadn't come back from the laundry and he wanted to go to the PX to get some smokes. I said sure, I'll join you.
He puts them on and they’re about six inches too short in length but otherwise fit ok.
We're rounding the corner to the PX when a jeep drives by and we saluted the brass when suddenly there's this screech of tires and out jumps a Major.
We're standing at attention holding the salute when he says to my buddy "What's the matter with you soldier". Ritchie - "Sir?"
Major - "You’re ota goddamn uniform by about a foot." Ritchie - "Sir, I.." Major - "I don't give a goddamn what your excuse is; you double, no make that triple time back to wherever the hell you came from and get that mess straightened out, now. Well, move it." We were smoke and still holding that salute.

This is not a salute story, but rather an Attention story. I was an OT Captain of my class at OTS in the winter of 1969 at Lackland AFB, in Texas. Our class advisory was Captain LaBella. He was a great instructor and a good man. As OT Captain I was responsible for various activities for my class of 15 officers in training. We were all very vigilent of miliary protocols and discipline , and I was especially concerned since I was their "pretent" captain. One time during a routine class, Captain LaBella was leaning back in his chair to point to his notes on the blackboard behind him. He leaned too far and fell backwords to the floor. I, like all the other OTs, was shocked and a little scared. I immediately call the room to ATTENTION! Captain Labella got up, composed himself and smiled and said " see even a Captain can do stupid stuff". At ease.

During a move I was needed to check in at Ft. Leonardwood while walking to the transportation office a trainee was sitting on a duffle bag on the side walk as I approached it was clear he had never seen a Warrant officer the closer I came the more he stood up, finally at ten places I told him Yes you do, at that I received the sharpest salute I guess it's all good training...

When I was a young 1Lt, I had a trip to the Pentagon. When I got there via the metro, I went out the exit to the outside. I did not know there was an access inside. So, there are not many Lt's working in the Pentagon, so I had to salute everyone going to work. Boy was my arm tired.

In 1971 I went from Boot Camp in Great Lakes, to A-School in Orlando. Being young and immature, and seeing that the size of the base made it virtually impossible for anyone to recognize an individual seaman, my friends and I took turns and took chances at punishment by playing the game of "don't salute the Jr officers." One very quick JG took acception to our apparent lack of respect and was able to catch up to one of my fellows and grab his hat! Well, as we all remember, our gear was stenciled so the officer was able to identify my peer and dole out the appropriate punishment through a Captain's Mast. Although he was fined and stood extra fire watch, he admitted it was worth the fun.

At "A" School at NTC Orlando - lunchtime when the NUCIPAC school let out and all the new Navy Ensigns would salute me (SA in the USCG) because the CG emblem on my hat resembled the Navy Officers emblem. LOL

BROCKMEYER
Just like most privates in basic training, I was a chewed up. An Officer walked past me, I made a salute in parade rest. Good times.

Several Airmen were standing under the awning at the base exchange when a Captain was seen coming out of a side shop who quickly put his flight cap on. When he passed an Airman standing outside the awning who didn't come to attention or salute. The Captain promptly turned around and asked the Airman if he knew the proper way to greet an officer. The Airman said yes Sir. Why didn't you salute when I passed by you? The Airman said, "Well Sir, when you came out of the side shop evidently you put your flight cap on backwards and I wasn't sure if you were coming or going!" I could barely contain myself and had to walk into the BX to keep from getting my butt chewed. True story, Kessler AFB, 1977.