On his death bed a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff calls three
of his former, loyal soldiers to his bedside, a Colonel, a Sergeant Major, and
a Chief Warrant Officer Five.
"I'm dying boys, and as you know, I've accumulated quite a bit of wealth
in my life time. They say you can't take it with you, but you know that I've
always bucked the odds and I want to try to take it with me. Here's the plan,
in each of these three envelopes is $1,000,000 cash, after I die, just before
they close the casket, throw in the envelopes. Then follow and be sure I'm buried
with the money."
With that, he handed his three former soldiers one envelope apeice.
About three days later, he died and as per his directions, each of his loyal
soldiers, just as they are about to close the casket, places their envelope
in the casket. The casket is closed sealed and buried. Later that day, the three
of them meet for a few quick drinks and to toast to their fallen comrade. As
they are sitting there, the Sergeant Major speaks up.
"I've got to be honest, fellas, my retirement check is not what you guys
are getting and well, I took about $25,000 out the the envelope before I put
it in the casket, I know it was wrong, but I think the Old Man would have really
wanted me to have that money, if he had known the money problems I was having..."
After the Sergeant Majors confession, the Colonel spoke up.
"Well, I guess he would have wanted me to have the $50,000 I took to cover
those bad investments I made. I mean, he was always there for us when we needed
him, I'm sure he wouldn't mind. And, after all, he'll never miss it."
With that, the CW5 got very upset.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing. In the old days, when the old man gave
us a mission, we never failed him. Now, now that he's gone, you guys don't feel
compelled to follow his last orders to us. I can't believe that your greed got
in the way of your obligation to fulfill this last mission. I can sleep well
tonight. I fulfilled his last request. My envelope held a personal check for
the full $1,000,000!"