While stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in the early 1970's, a new Security Policeman was working at one of the base gates. Like all rookies, he was constantly asking questions. The gate was equipped with a direct line to the Desk Sergeant, and the rookie was making good use of this, bugging my partner Ron with all the "What If" questions he could think of. Ron was getting tired of the calls after the first hour. By the end of the third hour, he was literally fuming every time the direct line rang. Finally the phone rang and Ron grabbed it, shouting into the reciever "What the F*** do you want now!?" The line was silent for a while, then a new voice said "Do you know who this is?" Ron quickly looked at the phone set, which had multiple lines. This was the direct line from the Center Commanders office (A 2 star General), not the gate. Ron replied "No." The voice on the line said "This is the General." Ron thought quickly and said "Do you know who this is?" The General replied "No", and Ron said "Good." He then hung up the phone and told me I was answering any other calls that shift. (The general did call back right away and we blamed it on a prisoner that had broke loose in the office.)
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