Three Master Chiefs...
A young Navy Officer was in a bad car accident, but due to the heroics
of the hospital staff the only permanent injury was the loss of one ear.
Since he wasn't physically impaired he remained in the military and
eventually became an Admiral. During his career he was always sensitive
about his appearance.
One day the Admiral was interviewing three Master Chiefs for the Command
Master Chief position. The first Master Chief was a Surface Navy type
and it was a great interview. At the end of the interview the Admiral
asked him, "Do you notice anything different about me?" The Master Chief
answered, "Why yes. I couldn't help but notice you are missing your
starboard ear, so I need to know whether this impacts your hearing on
that side." The Admiral got very angry at this lack of tact and threw
him out of his office.
The next candidate, a Seabee Master Chief, when asked this same
question, answered, "Well yes, you seem to be short one ear." The
Admiral threw him out also.
The third interview was with an Submarine
Master Chief. He was articulate, extremely sharp, and seemed to know
more than the other two Master Chiefs put together. The Admiral wanted
this guy, but went ahead with the same question, "Do you notice anything
different about me?" To his surprise the Submarine Master Chief said,
"Yes. You wear contact lenses." The Admiral was impressed and thought to
himself, what an incredibly tactful Master Chief. "And how do you know
that?" the Admiral asked.
The Submarine Master Chief replied, "Well it's pretty hard to wear
glasses with only one ear!"