Recently I ran into a former Marine who had been in my platoon during boot camp, and I was reminded of an incident that occurred one night while we were on guard duty. Having been transferred to our platoon from another outfit, Private Mendoza was peremptorily assigned a post without benefit of introduction to his new commanding officers, Savage and Marvel.
To ensure that we were alert and properly guarding our posts, the officers would appear unannounced at undetermined times during the night. On this particular evening, a drowsy Private Mendoza snapped alert when two unfamiliar figures approached his post. In true military fashion, and in accordance with the guard manual, he dutifully shouted his challenge: “Who goes there!”
The nearer of the two shapes stepped a pace forward and answered: “I am Major Savage and this,” gesturing to his companion, “is Captain Marvel.”
Undaunted and self-assured, Mendoza quickly shot back, “Right, and I’m the Cisco Kid!”