Why does the narrator in the story "The pioneer hep-cat" tell the story

The narrator recalls playing baseball with General Henry T. Corrigan. He was saying that despite being a famous Army Officer, General Corrigan was a man who never forgot where he came or the people he grew up with. Despite his honors and rank, he was still same kid the narrator knew from many years ago. That fact that he greeted him with such enthusiasm tells a lot about the man behind the rank.