
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 tangles with a tough Army colonel; B.J. helps a GI who has received a Dear John letter.

When Frank gets a fever, he makes out a will leaving all his money to his wife and all his clothes to Hot Lips.

Hawkeye and B.J. suspect Frank of stealing a wounded colonel's antique gun.

Mail call brings a "Dear John" letter from Frank's wife and news that Col. Potter is going to become a grandfather.