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We open the story learning about Captain John Yossarian, a bombardier on Pianosa, a fictional island in the mediterrarian. -
Doctor Daneeka tells Yossarian about Catch-22, the rule that essentially means that he and his peers cannot be grounded unless they are deemed insane, although saying that you are insane is taken as proof of sanity, thus the paradox. -
Milo (the mess officer) creates "M&M Enterprises", a trading syndicate/enterprise that is supposed to represent the various levels of corruption within the military. -
"Major Major Major," a captain, is promoted to Squadron commander due solely to a system/computer error, now being called "Major Major Major Major." -
Colonel Cathcart (the commander) continually raises the minimum number of missions the squadron members must fly before they can return home, resulting in an endless loop of flying. -
Captian Black, the squadron intelligence officer, enforces a "loyalty oath requirement", meaning everyone on the Squadron, including Yossarian, has to take an oath of loyalty; although Milo prevents the men having to take the oath through doing it on everyone's behalf. -
Nately, a fellow pilot, meets an Italian prostitute while stationed on Pianosa; he falls madly in love with this prostitute and seeks to protect her from the war. -
Snowden, a gunner fighting with Yossarian, is revealed (through a flashback) to have died in Yossarian's arms as his plane is hit with anti-aircraft guns; heavily impacting Yossarian's outlook on the war and desire to leave. -
Kid Sampson is a fellow pilot stationed with Yossarian. After McWatt (another pilot) performs an incorrectly performed flight stunt, he accidentally kills Kid Sampson with his propellers. -
Following the multitude of soul-killing events (death of his friends, bureaucratic higher-ups, etc.) he decides to escape Pianosa after learning of Orr (his friend) escaping to Sweden. Yossarian sets out to join Orr in Sweden as he rejects the military and the life it imposes on those who participate in it.
