That sounds like an interaction I'd heard of back in my naval Academy days.
Plebe(freshman) was with his grandpa on the weekend and a dick power trip senior gave the kid some shit. Now there were some midshipman who were real Dicks on power trips. This guy was one.
Anywhoo, the kid got berated for something, the grandpa steps in and is like "give him a break, son." So the senior says something like Don't call me son, please address me as midshipman or sir. Now that I type the story that don't sound right. Must've been a newly graduated guy. So he says "Don't call me son, please address me as ensign or sir."
The old dude replies. " Then please address me as General or sir." Turns out he was a retired Marine Corps general