The order was to account for the round consumed by a sentry on duty in a camp in the desert-by turning in the empty cases and showing what he had shot.
One night it was our Santa`s turn. On the following morning the officer in charge found a shoe box tied with string on his desk. Upon opening it, he discovered five empty shells, a live rattlesnake and a note. Said the note: "I missed."
A new soldier, Banta, was on sentry duty at the main gate. His orders were clear: No car was to enter unless it had a special sticker on the windshield.
A big Army car came up with a general seated in the back.
Banta said, "Halt, who goes there?"
The sergeant, who was driving, motioned to the back seat and said, "Brigadier."
"I`m sorry, I can`t let you through. You have to have a sticker on the windshield."
The Brigadier yelled from the back, "Drive on!"
Banta replied, "Hold it! You really can`t come through. I have orders to shoot if you try driving in without a sticker."
The Brigadier repeated, "I`m telling you, son, drive on!"
Banta walked up to the rear window and said, "Sir, I`m new at this. Do I shoot you or your driver?"