and you were an officer,

即使服兵役的时间很短
you would insist forever after to the end of your days that

那你在下半辈子也会一直强调
you be called always by your title like Colonel So-and-So

要称呼你是某某上校
or Captain So-and-So.

或是某某上尉
That military title counted for a lot.

军衔很重要
That was really a sort of unquestioned symbol of rank and authority.

这是种不容置疑的地位和权力的象征
And in fact some people joined the military

一些人之所以加入军队
just because they knew by doing so they would get

就是因为知道这样一来
a title and then they would be able to hang on to that title

可以拥有一个头衔然后靠着那个头衔
to really claim a place for themselves in society.

在社会中挣得一席之地
And when I was researching my first book

在我为自己的第一本书做研究时
I came across a case

无意中发现一件事