Plot A: Hawkeye's childhood friend joins the army in order to write a book about the war, and then gets killed.
Plot B: An underage boy (Ronny Howard) comes in with appendicitis. Hawkeye firsts turns a blind eye, then sends him home after his friend dies.
Plot C: Frank Burns throws his back out dancing with Hot Lips, then applies for the Purple Heart.

I believe that this is the first episode where they really got serious. Even the episode "Cowboy" where Cowboy was trying to kill Henry was done with a light touch. I don't remember seeing this when it first aired, but it must have hit hard.

For those who have only seen M*A*S*H in syndication, the episode does NOT end with Hawkeye looking at Ronny Howard and saying, "And I hope it's a long and healthy hate." The actual ending had him swiping Frank's Purple Heart and giving it to the boy, so that he would have something to show his girl back home. Ronny Howard became reconciled to being sent back home, as a result. I can't remember how Frank reacted.

This was on again this morning, and I suddenly wondered: Walter had stolen his brother Wendell's identity to get into the Army. What has the real Wendell been doing all this time?

I've always wondered what Tommy whispers to Trapper. That bugs me.

It seems the scene where we first see Gillis in Post-Op is cut. Henry had more to say, I think.

When the fight broke out in Post-Op, why does Radar get Hawkeye? Why not the MP's?

Is this the last time we see Ugly John?

Henry's talk with Haweye after Tommy Gillis' death is one the series' classics. I love it.

Come to think of it, who was in charge of Post-Op. We know it wasn't Hawkeye. He's in The Swamp trying to make time with a nurse. According to Hawkeye, Trapper is in the Mess Tent, watching a Debra Paget movie. So, that means either Frank or Henry (or one of the "other shift" doctors) is in charge of Post-Op. Why don't they take care of the fight that breaks out?

Have you noticed that this is the first of two episodes this season, in which someone has appendicitis? Henry, within two episodes ("The Longjohn Flap"), would also have to have his appendix removed. There was also an ep this season where Hawkeye tells Radar he's going put his appendix back in. Later in the series, Margaret would have her appendix removed.

"For those who have only seen M*A*S*H in syndication, the episode does NOT end with Hawkeye looking at Ronny Howard and saying, "And I hope it's a long and healthy hate." The actual ending had him swiping Frank's Purple Heart and giving it to the boy, so that he would have something to show his girl back home. Ronny Howard became reconciled to being sent back home, as a result. I can't remember how Frank reacted." - D.K. Henderson

Frank was awarded the Purple Earring. One nit in the award scene: Major Burns' full name was given as Franklin D. Burns. In another episode, we're told his middle name is Marion. It's surprising that only Henry, Margaret, Radar and Frank were present for the awarding of the citation. You'd think Frank would want more people around. Then again, the citation was for "tripping in the mud".

"It seems the scene where we first see Gillis in Post-Op is cut. Henry had more to say, I think." - me

Nope. Nothing cut there.

"Is this the last time we see Ugly John?" - me again

Nope. Ugly appears in "The Army-Navy Game" and "The Sticky Wicket".

"So, that means either Frank or Henry (or one of the "other shift" doctors) is in charge of Post-Op. Why don't they take care of the fight that breaks out?" - me yet again

I feel so stoopid. Frank couldn't be on duty in Post-Op. He was in Post-Op, yeah. But as a patient. *"Annoyed Grunt!"*

Margaret sets up her tent in a nice romantic manner, complete with candle light. She wearing a beautiful kimono. And Frank shows up for their romantic rendezvous in his bathrobe and underwear. Bra-vo, Major Burns!

In a scene cut for syndication, Hawkeye explains to Nancy where the olives come from. They come from China. Hawkeye gets them "from a Red on the Black Market."

After the explanation, Trapper shows up saying Frank's had an accident. We see Frank lying outside Margaret's tent (Major Houlihan has dragged him outside). Hot Lips is trying to cover up the tracks made by Frank's dragging feet. She's also trying to cover the fact that Burns was in her tent. She said he was on his way to the shower tent. The shower tent is in the opposite direction from which Major Burns was going, though. This scene, too, was cut for syndication.

This episode contains the first instance of Margaret speaking for Major Burns.

Major Houlihan says the 4077th is a front line unit. I thought Battalion Aide Stations were front line units. Besides, later episode would state that the 4077th was 3 miles from the front.

In the OR scene, Father Mulcahy came running in to see if he can be of any help. The Padre says he ran from "the chapel". What chapel? In all other episodes, the Mess Tent doubled as the chapel. Did the 4077th originally have a chapel, only to lose it later? Or did Mulcahy mean the Mess Tent?

Hawkeye is about to give Tommy an open heart massage. Henry orders Pierce to "go help McIntyre." This is the only time in the series Hawkeye will be prevented from performing an open heart massage.

Judging by the end of this ep, Wendell/Walter sure got over his anger at Hawkeye. When Pierce ratted him out to Margaret, Private Pederson hated Hawkeye. I guess that Purple Heart smoothed things over.