Amid the loud cheers and applause for the recently promoted Colonel, the American tanker they called Jonsey jumped up on a table and held out his hands for a moment of silence.
As the crowd slowly quieted he said, "Now I know what all of you are wondering. Your curious minds all want to know why it wasn't me that was promoted to the command of the XII Corps."
A voice was heard from the back of the room, "No we weren't."
"Ah, most certainly you were", quipped the American tank commander.
"Because you are not of sufficient rank", said one officer.
"True", admitted Jonsey.
"Because you don't belong to the XII Corps", cried another officer to which everyone began to chuckle.
"Yes, that is yet another factor in the equation", admitted Jonsey again.
"Because you are too damn ugly to command anything!", yelled another officer to which everyone in the tavern voiced their whole hearted agreement.
Jonsey pursed his lips and nodded his head in agreement with the last claim. "All too true as well".
Raising a glass of whiskey in his right hand, Jonsey proclaimed to the assembled officers, "To Colonel Daniel Cote, the finest man to have sufficient rank for command and for being in the right place at the right time. And he's damned handsome too!"
The tavern erupted into boisterous cheers for the newly appointed commander of XII Corps.
Congratulations, Daniel!
Well done, sir! {Salute}