
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.

The 4077th turns up a sick helicopter pilot who doesn't want to quit and a twice-wounded GI who does.

A married nurse who had a serious relationship with Hawkeye when she was single is assigned to the 4077th.

The personnel of the 4077th are besieged by a lone sniper who believes he is firing on U.S. headquarters.

Hawkeye is the only doctor left to operate when the flu hits the 4077th.