Plot: B.J. writes home, describing Klinger's escape attempts, a plan to teach English to Koreans so that they can help in the hospital, a patient of Frank's who is not doing well, Hawkeye's record-breaking jeep stuffing, and the visit of Col. Maurice Hollister, the "Attila the Hun" of chaplains.

Favorite line, when Hawkeye whipped around and pointed at the Korean trainees: "You tell 'em, Ferret Face!"

I was wondering what denomination Col. Hollister was. He didn't really seem to be Catholic, especially after he brushed off Mulcahy's crossing himself with "Nice touch." He seemed to be more the fundamentalist, Bible-thumping, Holy Roller, revivalist Protestant type. Is any mention made of it in the uncut version?

Hollister did have a point about Father Mulcahy never having his congregation in the palm of his hand during his sermons. Except for the mini sermon he preached during Cardinal Reardon's visit, his sermons are always tepid.

I loved how Hollister questioned the "morality" of the jeep stuffing, right before Father Mulcahy slid out.

Father Mulcahy crossed himself in the manner of both faiths (his and the patient's). One of which is open-palmed and the other is tapping with a single finger. Please correct me if I am mistaken though.

This is a "Forrest Gump" kind of nit...

The whole idea of stuffing the jeep was meant get them in Life. According to Hawkeye, they made it, yet I would have to say that no Mash unit ever made "Life" with that kind of thing.

Did someone else give actually stuff 16 in a jeep before their picture got to the pubishers, or did life just find it too small a story to cover or what?

One more:

How are the Koreans supposed to learn English if they only teach them phrases without the Korean translation. What does "I will get the nurse" or "Do you have a fever" mean to them. Teaching them to say the words means nothing without them knowing what it means.

B.J. said Hawkeye read about the jeep stuffing in Life. It was only when Pierce was attempting to convince Lt. Gage to get into the jeep that Hawkeye says anything about making it on the cover of Life. So it’s possible that they really wouldn’t make it to the cover of the magazine.

It looks to me like the service Mulcahy conducts is a Catholic one. I was somewhat under the impression that the Father performed different services on Sundays – Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc.

NANJAO – I can’t help but notice how pointedly Frank and Margaret ignore Father Mulcahy after the services. Instead of shaking hands with the Padre, they reach for Colonel Hollister’s hands.

Some proof the 4077th does indeed move around: When Father Mulcahy and Colonel Hollister leave Post-Op you can see a shed that looks like the Officers Club behind Post-Op.

I love – When Father Mulcahy slips and says, “Private Moses”. When Radar sings, “Amen.” When Klinger opens the life raft on Potter’s desk.

One of the syndication cuts involve Klinger relating a dream he had to B.J. In the dream he gets a paper signed by Colonel Potter saying he's crazy. Klinger leaves, kissing Margaret goodbye and giving her a lock of his chest hair for her watch. Max gets back to the States, where in L.A. they hold signs saying "Klinger is Nuts!" Max then goes home to Toledo where he opens a delicatessen. The waitress is Margaret, who still has the chest hair in her watch.

Hawkeye refers to Vice President Richard Nixon. Nixon was Eisenhower's V.P. This places the time of this ep as 1953.

In his letter to Peg, B.J. quotes Hawkeye as saying, "Finest kind", as if this was a common phrase for his friend to use. Yet, in reality, Pierce rarely said those words.

Is there any particular reason the South Koreans learning English wear U.S. Army uniforms?

Where exactly is Frank teaching the Koreans English? I would guess the supply hut. Still, wouldn't the Mess Tent be a better location?

Why does Radar go looking for Hawkeye when Private Davis needs to go back into surgery? Davis was at first Frank's patient. Then it was B.J. who performed the heart massage that bought Davis some more time. So why doesn't Radar go looking for Dr. Burns or Dr. Hunnicutt when Davis is in trouble? And why is Pierce the primary surgeon? Frank is the gas passer and B.J. is the assisting surgeon. Shouldn't Pierce play more of a supporting role for Burns/Hunnicutt's patient?

The tag to the episode has been cut for syndication. In it, B.J. and Hawkeye are playing chess in front of the Swamp. Father Mulcahy can be heard in the background playing the same Scott Joplin tune that opened the ep. And Klinger has made one more escape attempt. This time dressed as a bush. (A dog gave him away.) If Mulcahy's playing the piano in the Officer's Club, how is it that he can be heard in the compound where Beej and Hawk play chess?

Horse hockey!

>In his letter to Peg, B.J. quotes Hawkeye as >saying, "Finest kind", as if this was a common >phrase for his friend to use. Yet, in reality, >Pierce rarely said those words.

"Finest Kind" is the catchphrase used by the Hawkeye of the books and the movie. But the TV version of Hawkeye never uses it, apart from a couple of times very very early in the series. B.J. certainly never hears him say it, at least on screen.

Right. You know, I meant to mention that, too. I know I've brought it up elsewhere. Lord knows I've read enough of the novels to know that. (Heck, I'm currently reading M*A*S*H Goes to Morocco.)

Horse hockey!