A “young sergeant” was in charge of the patrol, Work said. He told his fellow Marines to unhook the donkey from its cart, and decided they would follow it wherever it went.

“So they follow the donkey and it goes to a village, and there, lo and behold, are the four guys that they saw,” Work said.

The lieutenant who oversaw the sergeant was shocked, Work said.

“How in the heck, this is really good,” the lieutenant said, according to Work. “What were you thinking?”

The sergeant’s response, according to Work: “Sir, I was born on a farm. I was raised on a farm… I’ve been following jackasses my whole life.”