Gung-Holier Than Thou

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"It's your gung-holier-than-thou attitude." —Trapper John to Col. Flagg, M* A* S* H

Any military setting is bound to have at least one person who is Gung Holier Than Thou: a Neidermeyer with little, if any, authority. Typically a non-commissioned officer who likely sleeps with a copy of their force's code of conduct under their pillow. Given their relative lack of authority, anyone who is Gung Holier Than Thou is merely an annoyance. A temporary annoyance if only visiting, like Col. Flagg. A Gung Holier Than Thou can become too much of an annoyance and end up Reassigned to Antarctica.

A subtrope of the Rules Lawyer.

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Examples of Gung-Holier Than Thou include:

Film

• Sgt. Maj. Dickerson in Good Morning Vietnam.

"That is humor. I recognize that. I also recognize your brand of soldier."

• Sgt. Webster to Recon in Heartbreak Ridge.
• Lt Kendrick in A Few Good Men.

"I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant. The Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer Colonel Nathan R. Jessup and the Lord our God."

Live Action TV

• Col. Sam Flagg in M*A*S*H, as mentioned.
  • Majors Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan were this as well (although Houlihan relaxed later in the series).
• Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf.