Aboard large ships of the US Navy it is customary to assign many miscellaneous duties to the newest commissioned officer on the ship(an ensign).

It happened that the mother of a sailor aboard the ship passed away. The ensign gets on the PA system and announces: " Now hear this. Now hear this. Seaman Jones- your mother just died. That is all".

The Captain hears this and is furious. He summons the ensign and tears into him. " This is an American ship of the US Navy and these are your fellow Americans aboard. We have military discipline and order but we are also Americans who care about our fellow Americans. It is outrageous what you did. I want you to make such announcements quietly and give the man some warning about what is coming. Do you understand?" The ensign promises that he will do better.

Some time passes. It happens that the ensign has to make another public announcement throughout the ship. He says over the PA:" All sailors are to assemble on the foredeck".

After the sailors have assembled, the ensign says: " All those whose mothers are still alive, take one step forward".

"NOT SO FAST,APPLEBY, NOT SO FAST!"