Colonel Korn

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Lieutenant Colonel Korn is a character in Joseph Heller's classic novel Catch-22.

He is a lieutenant colonel, and the assistant to group commander Colonel Cathcart. Korn is older than Cathcart and went to a state university. Most ideas that come out of Cathcart's office are, in fact, conceived by Colonel Korn. Korn is sadistic, cynical, and humorless. He manipulates Colonel Cathcart, and even puts words in his mouth. He exercises a great deal more control of himself than Cathcart, and although he is of lower rank, runs the squadron to some extent more than Colonel Cathcart.

Just like Cathcart, Korn's ambition is to rise in rank. While Cathcart wants to become a general, Korn wants to become a colonel.

His name is a take on "corn kernel."

Colonel Korn is still used as nickname for individuals whose surname is Korn. When used as a nickname, it is most likely a play on the term "corn kernel," and not a reference to Heller's fictional colonel.

[edit] Film

Korn was portrayed by Buck Henry in the 1970 film adaptation of the novel directed by Mike Nichols.