" Can't Take Away My Birthday "

Due to a minor infraction, a sailor aboard a ship bound for Japan was demoted one rank, fined, and assigned extra duty for three weeks. Looking forward to celebrating his 21st birthday on July 22, he consoled himself every night during his extra duty by reciting, "They can bust me, they can fine me -- but they can't take away my birthday."

As July 22 approached, his excitement increased. When he went to bed on July 21, he happily repeated, "They can bust me, they can fine me -- but they can't take away my birthday."

The next morning, he found out that the ship had crossed the International Date-Line …

And it was July 23.