【正是士兵】

　　

　　作为一名新上任的步兵中尉，我通过擦拭自己的M-16式自动步枪给全排作个榜样。我们一块擦枪，一名战士抱怨由于M-16的枪栓枪膛的特别凹形结构，擦起来十分困难。

　　

　　“中尉，应该制造一种擦这枪的工具。”士兵说。

　　

　　“已经制造出来了。”一军士尖叫。

　　

　　“真的？”我十分诧异，纳闷为什么我们没有定购这种工具。

　　

　　“真的，长官，”军士答道，“它就是士兵。”

　　

　　None Other Than a Soldier

　　

　　As a newly commissinaed infantry lieutenant, I was eager to set an example for my platoon by cleaning my own M-16 rifle. While we were working on the weapons, one soldier complained about the unusual notched shape of the M-16's bolt and chamber, which makes it difficult to clean.

　　

　　"Lieutenant, they need to make something to clean this with," the soldier said.

　　

　　"They do," piped up a sergeant.

　　

　　"Really," I said with surprise, wondering why we had not ordered such a tool.

　　

　　"Yes, sir," replied the sergeant. "It's called a soldier."