18 April 2012
As our crowded airliner approached take off, the peace was shattered by a five-year-old boy who picked that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum.
No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother did to calm him down, the boy continued to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.
Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, a man in a Marine uniform slowly walked up the aisle. With an upraised hand, he stopped the flustered mother. The courtly, soft-spoken Marine leaned down and motioned toward his chest, whispered something into the boy's ear. Instantly, the boy calmed down, took his mother's hand, and quietly fastened his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause.
As the Marine slowly made his way back to his seat, a flight attendant touched his sleeve and whispered, "Excuse me, sir, but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?" The Marine smiled serenely and gently confides, "I showed him my pilot's wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that these entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door, on any flight I choose."
- Spookie
The Marine • Opuss № I