What’s the proper way to correct someone when not saluting an officer?

I always showed respect to Officers and expected a small measure of respect in return. We had a Prima Donna C.O in Iraq. Signs were posted "Snipers, no salute area". He would scream at enlisted for not saluting him ! I am all for military traditions and customs, we need to use common sense as well.

I might ask you: "would you have corrected an E-7 or E-8 in the same manner?" I commend you for the correction.... Just good for thought.

What you did (correct a junior enlisted soldier) was correct. Perhaps the proper challenge to the PFC would have been, "you just passed two officers, plus you need to be more aware of your surroundings. If you had been, you would have seen them and rendered the proper greeting of the day and a hand salute." With that said, the PFC should have complied with your correction and then carried on. Regardless of what the Major felt, you should have mentioned to him/her, in a private setting, proper military protocol, and then left it at that. Obviously, said Major is probably not familiar with Army tradition and used to a more laid back or sedimentary atmosphere. A little more education from you might help fix the problem.

It's kinda of a two-way street. I was a 1LT and walking with another LT on our hospital compound in Korea. A Captain (doctor) stopped us and asked we didn't salute him. I told him when he started acting like an officer, he would be treated like one and he was standing in the street out of uniform.
No response from him, so we left with no salute rendered.
Smartass on my part and could have caused trouble, but he started shaping up.
This was before the movie "MASH" came out and some of our doctors and nurses could have been tactical advisors for Hawkeye and Hot Lips.

blinded from eye wound.

I've seen two schools of thought playout in situations such as this:
1. Pull the enlisted SM aside and remind them of customs & courtesies.
2. Jump on them and smoke the customs & courtesies back into them.

What's best? Depends I suppose. Know your audience and take your pick.

You did the right thing.

I got lit up for this once, I was coming out of medical. I just woke up, and was sent back to the barrack’s. I couldn’t see, think,walk. But I sure got chewed, then they got me some help

A failure to Salute MUST be addressed on the spot! The Officer MUST be provided Military Respect for their rank. I would have locked the PFC's heels and no matter what another officer's response was! You, as an Officer Must require the show of respect by those serving in the Military regardless of which branch of service that are a part of. ;-) I SALUTE All My Fellow Veterans!!!

Like a first class petty officer corrected me when I was an E2..... "Hey! Are you stupid? Even I have to salute that guy!"