Edward Nately

Lt. Edward J. Nately III was lieutenant in the 256th squadron of the Army Air Forces where he served as a tailgunner aboard Yossarian's bomber; stationed on the small island of Pianosa off the Italian mainland during World War II. He is killed on a mission when Dobbs flies his plane into Nately's.

Biography
Nately's family originally enlisted him to serve in the Air Corps, believing the war would be over by the time he finished his training and that he would mingle with "gentlemen." Therefore, Nately could gain the pride of enlisting without actually having to fight. Instead, he mingled with Yossarian and Dunbar, and was sent overseas. He lives in a tent with McWatt next to Havermeyer's tent. His most notable contribution in the book is his involvement with a whore, "Nately's Whore," who is for the most part uninterested in him until he saves her from a sleepless night with generals, thus giving her an opportunity to get some sleep. He is often filled with American optimism, shown by his desire to marry his whore and send her kid sister to a respected college in the United States. He is killed on a mission when Dobbs flies his plane into Nately's. Nately's Whore blames Yossarian and spends the rest of the book trying to murder Yossarian.

Trivia

 * Art Garfunkel portrayed Nately in the 1970 film adaptation of the novel directed by Mike Nichols. In the Hulu miniseries, Nately is portrayed by Austin Stowell.