The reporter met the troop ship bring back demobilized soldiers after World War II. He wanted to write a human interest story, and asked one soldier, "What's the first thing you'll do when you get home?"
The soldier immediately replied, "F**k my wife."
The reporter realized he'd never get that printed, and asked, "Oh. Well, what's the second thing?"
"Then I'll take off these Goddam filthy combat boots!"
From The
Glory and the Dream: A Narrative History of America 1932-1972