I've got a fairly funny one…. did not happen to me per-se but a buddy in one of the Tank companies of the Bn I was in.
Field-Op in Germany and he was part of a team securing entry into an assembly area.
We all know the rules on challenge/password… and what was to happen when someone errored. Well… when a two star screws it up, what are ya to do?
This 2 star rolls up in his Humvee and gets challenged. A few seconds of silence then bluster. Challenge is issued again- and the rest of the guard team fans out weapons trained on the vehicle.
Failure again on the pw…. and that is when the general is forced from his vehicle and made to get down on the ground.
In the mud and snow.
On his face.
his driver also was made to do this and you can see the mix of fear/excitement over this. Its a general… they are so ed if he doesn't have a sense of humor. But they are doing their jobs…
The General is not a happy camper… and did voice it. My buddy "politely" explained to him that he didn't care who he was but until he was vouched for by higher authority…
Before long, the OIC showed up along with the colonel of the Bn…. And after supressing a mad giggle, ordered the men to stand down and let the General up as he knew him.
Suffice to say, as the general got up, the Colonel made comment that he never had to worry about his gate and having someone bluff their way in because a password was not known…
The General grudgingly agreed, standing there in his now-filthy uniform and parka. After the O's departed, the guard busted out laughing… knowing they were ed but seeing a general get dirty like that was worth it.
The group as a whole didn't catch hell for it… but my buddy wound up with some extra duty though- pseudo punishment if you call a trip to USAEUR HQ for a detail bad duty.