Would an E9 comply if ordered to attention by an O1?

I was walking behind a master chief on base. We passed a ensign and the master chief did not render a salute.
The ensign then stopped the master chief and asked him if he saw his rank, the master chief replied with a yes.
The ensign then said, you have to salute me and how come you didn't? The master chief's reply, "Because I make more fing money than you." The master chief then walked off while the ensign was standing with speechless.

I have seen one instance related to this topic.

I was in civilian clothes leaving the barracks and I was walking behind a master chief (in inform). This ensign (butter bar) was walking towards us. The master chief never rendered a salute and kept walking.
The ensign then stopped the master chief and asked, "did you see my rank?" The master chief replied, "I did." The ensign then told master chief you are suppose to salute me and asked how come he didn't. Master chief's reply, "Because I make more money than you!"
Master Chief then turned and walked away. The ensign was standing with a deer in the headlights look on his face.

i'd take a video camera and record the action of the butter bar getting put into his place...lol

Having served at Fort Richardson, my last duty station in the 80's, I was desk bound and working for two Captains. One of which was a true officer and the other was a special kind of a**hole. Capt. P would consistently berate enlisted and considered that his five jumps for his wings made him a hardcore paratrooper. But I digress. I had a buddy who was an E-6 that worked in secure records room down stairs who we called the old man. He was in his mid-forties and Captain P. would always comment that he must have done something wrong or that he was a slacker for not having obtained at least E-7 by now. However, on the day that he retired, it was a beautiful thing. At the retirement ceremony, most of the entire building and a multitude of others attended, Captain P. was standing there when the E-6 walked up...except he wasn't wearing his normal BDUs...he was in full dress, with officer strips, Major oak leafs, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, CIB, Jump Wings, Ranger Tab and a multitude of others ribbons from Vietnam that I did not recognize. When Captain P., who was standing there with just his wings and three non-combat ribbons and had to render that salute....it made me smile. I don't know the whole story, but Captain L. told me that the SSGT. had a battlefield commission in Vietnam, made it to 0-4 and held it long enough to retire at it, but with the cuts in the 1970's he did not have the education for retention in a the peace time army and was offered either a revert to enlisted or separation into reserves as an officer...I still don't fully comprehend that, but for just a minute, it was a beautiful day in the 6th ID....

I recall a similar situation when my Div-O, a Lt., was bumped up the chain and replaced by a shavetail ensign. I had more time in service than him and I was a lowly E-3. Our CPO was a no-nonsense kind of guy with 17 years in. EN Snotnose was attempting to dress down the chief because he showed up to evening muster with paint on his shoes. Chief stood there at attention for the entire speech, about five minutes. After the ensign was done chief did a smart about face, saluted the CMDR behind him and said, "All yours, Sir." We heard the reeducation two decks down.

You bet your sweet ass he would...rank is rank and failure to do so is a violation of military regs and protocols.

If a Lieutenant locked up a SGM/CSM, he better be prepared to take on his Bn and/or Bde Cdr as well.

I saw this happen years ago ... The E-9 complied with the order .. and the next day the O-1 was being transferred to another command .. and I am sure not with a good OER ...

Never had the opportunity to see this wonder. However, I did once see an E6 open a door, have a GENERAL come walk in, and have the E6 nod and walk away. Luckilly I did not drop in shock and hollered "ROOM TEN HUT!" Our Colonel had a few choice words for the E6....

Hell No...that butter bar may outrank the E9 but at the end of the day there's is time and place for everything...there's no way I'm going to have a 2LT, not even a CPT..no way, if that E9 allows that kind of stuff he/she needs to be demoted..