For some time, now, Chaplain Tappman has been struggling with faith—faith in himself, certainly, and even faith in God. As an Anabaptist, he is supposed to be a pacifist, opposed to military service. Being a minister in the American Army is difficult enough for him; without his faith, it is “almost intolerable.” He wonders about questions large and small. Complex questions of ontology perplex him, but “they never [seem] nearly as crucial to him as the question of kindness and good manners.” Despite his love for others, he feels he has no friends. He is concerned about hallucinating after observing what appears to be a naked man up a tree near Snowden’s graveside funeral service, which he is conducting. Perhaps God is punishing him for his lack of faith or insincerity. The chaplain especially misses his wife and children and is concerned for their safety. Corporal Whitcomb is his enemy, and he suspects that the rest of the men also hate him.
Aarfy has no such self-doubt. In addition to being incompetent, he is arrogant and cruel. Yossarian is wounded and winds up in the hospital when Aarfy’s flawed navigation leads the planes into an unexpected flak attack.
