
Members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital care for the injured during the Korean War and use humor to escape from the horror and depression of the situation. Among the 4077's people are Capts. Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce and "Trapper John" McIntire, Majs. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan and Frank Burns, and Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly.
A nurse who was close to Hawkeye is killed; Klinger tries to talk Charles into backing a business venture.
Hawkeye and Charles set out to test the crew's gullibility when they announce that Marilyn Monroe is due to arrive.
A careless colonel increases the number of seriously wounded soldiers arriving at the compound.
Hawkeye, B.J. and their medical cohorts find a new way to escape the depressive atmosphere of the war.