
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.
Hawkeye desperately tries to contact his hospitalized father in Maine while the rest of the camp is preoccupied with a bowling match against a group of Marines.
Col. Potter decides to paint a picture of the 4077th crew for Mildred's birthday.
While Hawkeye is serving as paymaster, a goat eats $22,000 in cash.
Dreaded Col. Bucholtz comes to inspect the nursing staff.