
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 finds it no easy matter to establish that he's alive after he finds out his father was notified of his demise.

Charles' French horn practicing causes Hawkeye and B.J. to go on a bath strike.

The junkman makes a much-needed surgical clamp for the 4077th; Klinger throws out Hot Lips' wedding ring.

Maj. Reddish tries to bribe an injured North Korean pilot to defect; Charles falls in love with a Red Cross worker.