Best Care Anywhere: The Legacy of "M*A*S*H"

The 4077th MASH is home to many unique, often eccentric characters that tell the story of the war from different perspectives. From the jaded surgeons, to the straight-laced majors, to the no-nonsense commanding officers, to the essential enlisted men, the captivating and comedic stars are the building blocks of the world of M*A*S*H.

Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce (played by Alan Alda)

From Crabapple Cove, Maine, Hawkeye is the chief surgeon at the 4077th MASH. He is fiercely anti-military and often stirs up trouble, but takes his Hippocratic oath very seriously, and would give everything for his patients. His favorite pastimes are drinking homemade liquor from the still in his tent, chasing after nurses around camp, and making wisecracks to dull the pain of war.

Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre (played by Wayne Rogers)

From Boston, Massachusetts, Trapper is Hawkeye’s partner in crime. He is also a skilled surgeon, sharing Hawkeye’s fierce loyalty to his patients, and will back up Hawkeye in most circumstances. The two are often engaged in shenanigans around camp or trying to find ways to improve their homegrown still. 

Captain BJ Hunnicutt (played by Mike Farrell)

From Mill Valley, California, BJ joined the 4077th after Trapper’s departure at the beginning of season four. BJ is as loyal to Hawkeye as Trapper was, and as skilled a surgeon, and fits right into the wacky community of the 4077th. His love for his work is rivaled only by his love for his wife, Peg, and daughter, Erin, both waiting for him to return home.

Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff)

From Ottumwa, Iowa, Radar was only 18 when he was drafted into the army from a rural farming town. His almost supernatural ability to predict requests and anticipate incoming helicopters makes his job as company clerk much easier. His youth and naivete are major facets of his personality, often making him the butt of the joke among the more raunchy environment of the 4077th MASH. 

Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan (played by Loretta Swit)

Raised on army bases as her military father moved around, Margaret is head nurse at the 4077th MASH. She begins as a no-nonsense officer, easily fed up with Hawkeye’s shenanigans, but is quickly understood as a strong, capable woman and major. She is very protective of the nurses under her command, despite often being hard on them.

Major Frank Burns (played by Larry Linville)

From Fort Wayne, Indiana, Frank is second-in-command at the 4077th MASH. He is ignorant and inconsiderate, and the least capable surgeon at the camp, making him an easy target for Hawkeye and his co-conspirators. He is dedicated to his wife, Louise, but also has a lengthy affair with Margaret, and the two are vehement rule-followers during the early seasons of the show. 

Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger (played by Jamie Farr)

From Toledo, Ohio, Klinger is an enlisted soldier who is dedicated to his work within the 4077th MASH, but spends his waking hours wearing civilian women’s clothing in an attempt to be declared mentally unfit to serve in the army. Klinger’s eccentric behavior brings fresh shenanigans into the camp until even that becomes dull, but his passion for fine fabrics and jewelry almost never ceases.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson)

From Bloomington, Illinois, Henry’s attitude as commanding officer of the 4077th MASH was laid-back and tired as he tried to survive his days at war. Henry is fiercely devoted to his camp and his work as a surgeon, but also ready to lay down at the threat of any trouble from higher-ups. He often delegates his paperwork to Radar, who is more attuned to the inner workings of the army. 

Colonel Sherman Potter (played by Harry Morgan)

From Hannibal, Missouri, Colonel Potter succeeded Henry as commanding officer at the beginning of season four. Potter has much more army experience, having enlisted during World War I, and is less tolerant of shenanigans in his camp. He is an exceptional surgeon despite his age, and takes each member of the 4077th MASH under his wing, showing his gentle side as much as his tough side. Potter has a fierce love for horses, even adopting a loose one to live at the camp and naming her Sophie. 

First Lieutenant Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy (played by William Christopher)

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Father Mulcahy is the 4077th’s resident chaplain. He is dedicated to every member of the 4077th, serving as a mentor and advisor even in a nonreligious capacity, and manages to find a place among the debauchery of the camp. Father Mulcahy’s role as a religious figure is multi-denominational despite being a Catholic priest, being able to deliver Jewish, Methodist, and Buddhist prayers and rituals, among others, to soldiers who pass through the operating room. 

Major Charles Emerson Winchester III (played by David Ogden Stiers)

From Boston, Massachusetts, Charles replaced Frank on the surgical team in season six. His civilian lifestyle does not mesh well with an army camp, as his love for luxury goods and precise surgical methods is interrupted by a life of cheap army goods and meatball surgery. Charles shares Hawkeye and BJ’s hatred of the army, but never quite grows to love the people as dearly as others do.