[Tommy]

Early in my Air Force career, I was an instructor in a pilot training squadron. The squadron had about 120 mostly lieutenant instructors overseeing about 240 mostly lieutenant student pilots. A single lieutenant colonel commanded the unit. Needless to say, there were lots of us lieutenants that he didn't know well. Consequently, if anyone encountered him walking down the hall, they'd see his eyes go the nametag sewn prominently on their flight suit. He'd then say something like, "How you doing there (pause to read nametag) Smith." .... One day he encountered a friend of Polish descent whose last name was Szczur. It's pronounced like Ceasar. My friend chuckled as he retold the story. As they walked toward each other, the colonel smiled and said, "How's it going there ..... (brow furrows as he struggles to figure out how to say the name) ..... lieutenant." I don't know if he ever learned how to say that name.