
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.

Col. Potter asks a wounded psychiatrist to counsel some of the team because morale is low.

Charles Winchester records a letter to his wealthy father begging him to use his influence to get him out of the unit.

Col. Potter orders Klinger to tutor him for driving school on a night Klinger has set aside for a big poker game.

Charles receives a week's supply of newspapers from home at a time when no other mail is getting through.