I was watching this the other day on Netflix and I noticed something for the first time. Upham was a Corporal, which put him at a higher rank than all but two of the other men in the platoon. Yet he was treated like garbage by the other men. While I can see them holding him in contempt, I can't imagine an enlisted man calling a senior officer a "bug" and being outright disrespectful to him. Is there any historical basis to this sort of behavior?
shareI am sure it happens all the time. FNG to a new unit are usually hated. I am not sure if Upham could pull rank as they're talking *beep* in conversation, he wasn't giving orders and the NCO and officer there clearly didn't care to stop it.
shareNotice the "T" on Upham's stripes? That means he was a "Technical corporal". That gives him better pay since he was trained as an interpreter/cartographer. But it doesn't give him command authority over anyone.
TNSTAAFL
Wow, thank you for a clear and rational response. A much welcomed thing on today's internet. Yes, I did not notice that and I wasn't even aware such a thing existed.
shareHe was a bit of a simpleton and did nothing to assert himself. Some of the others may have been of lower rank but were veterans of earlier battles in Italy and not the type to respect anyone who had not been through what they had.
shareI should have clarified the question. I understand why they didn't like him. He was a book worm with no combat skills. I was just surprised that they would say it straight to his face.
shareA corporal is not an officer.
shareA corporal is still an enlisted man, not remotely an officer of any kind, and can in no way pull rank on anyone. The rank of corporal simply denotes that you have more responsibilities than you did as a private, and a tiny bit more pay, but you have no more authority than a private. Really not the best rank to be, since you are considered as a private, but disciplined as an NCO.
share