"Yes, sir-.
"And He listens??- (Heller 204).
The chaplain by nature thinks of the good of the enlisted men, while Colonel Cathcart is shocked and perplexed at the possibility of doing something to benefit the soldiers underneath his control. In fact, the chaplain's concern for others is so pronounced versus the selfishness of other characters that some of them become annoyed with him. Heller writes, "What displeased Corporal Whitcomb most about the chaplain, apart from the fact that the chaplain believed in God, was his lack of initiative and aggressiveness- (Heller 212). Essentially, because the chaplain refuses to assert himself and neglect his morals in favor of his own self-advancement, he is misunderstood, disliked, and used. For instance, after the discussion about pre-mission prayer sessions, with Cathcart, Cathcart offers the chaplain a tomato, which he takes. Later he is accused of stealing the tomato, and while being interrogated over the matter, the chaplain insists that he is telling his accusers the truth saying, "But, sir, it's the truth, sir! I swear it's the truth,"" to which his interrogator replies, "I don't see how that matters one way or the other- (Heller 396). The chaplain tries to appeal to a sense of morality and respect for the truth that those accusing him don't possess. Eventually, the chaplain's blind trust in others and willingness to find fault within himself lead him to lose all of his self-confidence. Heller writes, "The chaplain was despondent with his own ineptitude- (214). Because the chaplain clings so arduously to his moral virtues, even if he is only doing it out of naiveté of any other way to think, other people in the squadron treat him without respect, and this causes him to lose much of his dignity.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from the chaplain are Colonel Cathcart and Milo Minderbinder, two characters whose immoral and selfish imperatives lead them to attain material success.
