Thanks a Lot Sarge

多谢了，班长

The sergeant¹ had just completed the morning inspection² of the troops.

一位班长刚完成部队晨间检查。

"Before I dismiss you, there's just one announcement. Private Kowalski, your mother is dead. Dismissed. "

“解散之前，有件事要宣布一下，二等兵卡瓦斯基，你母亲已经过世了。解散！”

The soldier was devastated³, of course, and the lieutenant⁴ was appalled⁵ at the sergeant's heartlessness.

当然，那位士兵遭受很大的打击，而排长也讶异于班长的冷酷无情。

"For Heaven' s sake, sergeant, next time you have to inform a trooper of a loved one' s demise,please be a little more subtle," he said.

“看在老天的分上，班长，下次你要告诉弟兄们有亲人死亡时，请多用点技巧，委婉一些，”排长说道。

A few weeks later, sorry to say, the sergeant had another opportunity.

几个礼拜之后，很不幸那位班长又有一次机会。

Lining⁶ up his troops, he ordered, "All of you whose mother is still alive, step forward. Not you, Johnson. "

集合了部队，他下口令道：“所有妈妈尚健在的，前进一步。你，约翰逊，除外。”