Chapter 9: Major Major Major Major

In Chapter 9 of Catch-22, the narrator provides background information on Major Major's life leading up to his time in Pianosa with Yossarian's squadron. Major Major has always struggled with his confusing name, which was given to him by his father as a joke, and has a resemblance to Henry Fonda. He excelled in school and was even suspected of being a communist by the FBI, but his luck changed when he joined the army and was given the rank of Major Major Major Major due to an IBM computer error. He was trained by Lieutenant Scheisskopf and sent to Pianosa, where he becomes the squadron commander due to Colonel Cathcart's vindictiveness. Major Major is unhappy in this position and begins forging the name of Washington Irving on official documents to alleviate his boredom. He is confronted by Yossarian, who wants to be grounded, but Major Major is unable to help him.