It happened in the draft times in the USA. A man was examined by the eye doctor at the draft board. The doctor pointed at a letter in the bottom line of the table and asked: "What letter is this?"
"I do not know," said the examinee.
The doctor indicated a letter in a higher line.
"What is this letter?"
"I can't tell," replied the man. Then the doctor demanded what letters were in the top line. Still the man failed to identify them.
"You're definitely unfit for service, man," stated the doctor. "You
can't name any letter on the table."
"No, I can't," the man agreed. "I can't read."