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

Yes, enlisted always salutes officers

Years ago when I was a young SPC (E4), one of my friends and I were walking in front of the building that housed the Troop Commanders and the HHT barracks. Our CSM stopped us to talk about an upcoming field exercise (he was known for this throughout the Squadron). A Soldier walked by, stopped after passing us, turned around and asked why we hadn't saluted. The CSM realizing it was an officer (a CPT) went to attention and saluted as my friend an I stood at attention. After saluting the CSM tried to explain that we were in conversation and he had't noticed the officers rank. He started to apologize but the CPT cut him off, put him at attention and proceeded to "correct" the error of the CSM's ways. The CSM raised an eyebrow and stood at attention the entire time. When the CPT was done he asked if he was dismissed. The CPT said yes so the CSM saluted again and walked off. As the CSM was leaving the CPT looked at us and said "let this be a lesson to you." We headed to Squadron HQs to finish some work we were doing. After about 15 minutes we were headed towards the front door of the HQs when in walked a particular CPT from earlier. He knocked on the Squadron Commander's door. We decided to stick around. Needless to say the conversation could be heard through the closed door and it was one sided. As the CPT was leaving he passed the CSM in the hallway and apologized. The CSM never said anything to the Squadron CO. Apparently the Command Group Admin Assistant, a civilian, had witnessed the incident and informed the Squadron CO.

Stand back because hilarity will ensue

If the shave tail had any sense he wouldn't show his stupidity by calling an E9 to attention in the first place, but, technically, yes the E9 would be remiss if he did not comply.

The fact that this is being discussed is telling of today. It is much like a conversation I saw in which a warrant officer questioned saluting a 2nd Lt. Maybe the Marine Corps is different, but superior officer is not debatable.

This one time after running about four miles for a friday motivational run o e of our platoon sergeants fell out.After getting back to the battery our first sergeant chewed out the platoon sergeant right in front of everyone in the battery stretching

This is such a retarded question it doesn't bear answering. Any 2LT who tried this is a moron....and probably an untabbed moron!

Had this happen once in Iraq. Mission brief being given by a 1LT from the bsb which happened to be a friend of mine, and still is. My squadron CSM kept jumping in and changing what the Lt was saying, Lt finally yelled at ease, at which point the CSM gave a death glare and walked off. Fast forward to post deployment, our CSM became the brigade CSM. The LT never understood why he was getting all the shit details.

I saw the opposite as a Navy Corpsman working alongside Marines. Field Medical Service School, Camp Pendleton, April 1986. Gunney Kleinchieck at one end of the parade ground, "Lieutenant, get your ass over here now!" 2LT (prior enlisted) flashed across the parade ground and stood at attention for his chewing out.

Yes the e9 would have to comply with that lawful order