As a former child I can say that his question was: a) In line with the kinds of violent, lurid thoughts that get instilled in boys that age; b)In line with the need of some of those boys to push the envelope in front of their peers by trying to embarrass the guest or prove that he is bold enough to ask the hard questions; and c)Definitely out of line for the time and place in which it was asked.
The soldier was absolutely right in his answer, whether it happened or not. To answer, even in the negative, would have honored the question.
Good post. I agree.
What matter here, IMHO, is why the student is being punished. Were the students instructed, pre-assembly, to keep their line of questions within civil protocol? If this wasn't made clear to the students, then, IME, there's no grounds to punish the student.