The Fly

As an Air Traffic Controller at Hill Air Force base. I worked up in the 135 tall tower. On occasion when the F-16's would be out flying, the tower would have an extra visitor. On this particular day it was Captain Maxwell whose call sign is "Slap". Captain Maxwell was what we lovingly called the SOF (Supervisor of flying) what a great name. I was working the local control position (The guy who talks to the airplanes in the air and clears them for takeoff and landing) and a fly kept hitting me on the side of my head. It was very annoying, so when the air traffic died down a bit, I turned my attention to catching the fly. Mind you, I was at the time a Senior Airman, meaning I was enlisted and only two steps above the lowest pay grade in the military. I saw the fly land on the SOF's desk, so I approached the desk and caught the fly in my right hand. As I turned to walk back over to my position, captain Maxwell said.
"You didn't get him."
I responded.
"Yes I did sir."
He responded.
"Prove it."
I said.
"Open your mouth." not the smartest thing I have ever said.
Captain Maxwell opened his mouth and I quickly threw the fly into his mouth. It went part way down his throat and he coughed and sputter and choked to get it out.
Master Sargent Gerald Battle turned and saw the Captain choking unaware of the fly incident. The Captain pointed his finger at me and said.
"He threw a fly into my mouth!"
Sargent Battle looked at me with horror in his eyes.
"He did what!?"
Captain Maxwell pointed at me again.
"He threw a fly into my mouth!"
Sargent Battle asked me to explain myself and to do so quickly.
I told him what had happened, he chuckled and turned to the Captain.
"Well Captain, if Airman Maughan says he has the fly, he has the fly."

When I arrived home I told my wife about the experience, she was fearful I would be busted or court marshalled. So when she went to work that night at the hospital in the lab, she spoke to the wife of the 388th commander who worked with her and told her what had happened. Well the commanders wife told her husband and he went in early and changed all the call signs on Captain Maxwell's uniform, locker and helmet.
When Captain Maxwell walked into the locker room to dress for his flight, all of the pilots and support people were watching to see his reaction. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. there on his uniform, helmet and locker it read.
"Venus"
About 15 minutes later I got a call at the tower, Sargent Battle said it was for me. It was Captain Maxwell.

"Is this Airman Basic Maughan?"
My heart dropped, and my mind flashed to my family and how we were going to survive on Airman Basic pay. Then he said.
"I'm just kidding, do you know what they did?"
"No sir."
"Well, they changed my callsign to Venus!"
"I am sorry I threw that fly into your mouth sir. I promise I won't do anything that stupid again."
"Nonsense, I'm the one who didn't believe you had caught the fly and I opened my mouth. no harm done."
I vowed never to do anything so stupid again.