In this 1-hour season opener, it is a war regarding scuttlebutt: does one trust Gen. Irving R. “Binky“ Hamilton, “I“ Corp., or should one rely on Sparky, the operator and general factotum at Army HQ? Action opens and closes with Hawkeye and BJ watching the enlisted guys dig a latrine (deeper on one side where Frank sits) and swilling gin. In between, Hawkeye starts spinal surgery where his patient cannot be moved for 24 hours. When the official bug-out order is given, everything is packed; Hawkeye is joined by Margaret and Radar in watching over the soldier. But, the next morning, the trio gets ready to leave and they are met by a beautiful sight. Once again, latrine building and gin swilling is a spectator sport.

影片故事发生在朝鲜战场上，美军的一间野战医院，军医们整日不物正业，不是跟护士们大情骂悄，就是相互挖苦陷害。在种种笑料和喋喋不休的斗嘴中，影片懒散地展示着朝鲜战争中的美国军人，最终这场闹剧在一声“操他妈的军队”的恶骂中结束……

韩战工作间，两名美国军医（唐纳德·萨瑟兰与埃利奥特·古尔德 饰），在前线的野战医院服役时视战争如无物，终日不是泡女护士“热唇”，就是在营区中打高尔夫球。编导用黑色喜剧的夸张笑料借古讽今，对当时正打得如火如萘的越南战争大加挖苦，从而达到其反战目的，在艺术性与娱乐性两方面均有可观之处。后来因电影卖座轰动，还发展成同名电视影集播出多年。

第4077机动部队外科医院陷于朝鲜战争中期。在他们所处环境的帮助下，他们不得不自娱自乐。医生、护士、管理人员和士兵喜欢恶作剧和复仇，他们经常想方设法让战时生活变得可以忍受。

A touring USO show brings an unexpected touch of vaudeville to the 4077th when the star showgirl requires an emergency operation.

En route to R&R, Hawkeye is flagged down by a North Korean soldier who holds him at gun point, forcing him to treat his wounded comrade. Back in camp, the officers change partners in a bridge tournament.

Radar wakes Colonel Potter for a phone call from I Corp: there has been a shake up and General Imbrie is replacing Gen. Hammond. Imbrie wants to see all of his COs immediately in Seoul. Major Chuckles has a runny nose so Colonel Potter hands the reigns to his senior surgeon, Captain Pierce. At 0600 the next morning, the new CO muses on why executions are at dawn: who wants to live at 0600 hours? Radar starts pushing paper at the new 4077 CO, Klinger is angling for that elusive Section 8 and the CO just wants to have a drink and nap. The problems mount: Father reports blankets leave 4077 with the wounded but never return, Radar follows Commander Pierce with a clipboard and bunches of forms. Major Chuckles whines, the nurses squabble, Margaret bristles and a surgeon goes off to an aid station to rescue the buddy of Cpl. Hough, a new casualty driven to the 4077. Hawkeye is worried; Commander Pierce is furious. A sudden onslaught of wounded leaves the new CO with 1.5 surgeons.

In a contrived plot where Hawkeye takes a separate R&R in Tokyo from fellow Swamp Rat, Trapper, Hawkeye returns back to the 4077 in a rickshaw. Frank and Hotlips are letting power go to their beady little heads, not realizing the Army never entrusts the command of 100+ Army souls to an officer with less than the rank of Lt. Colonel. Our Trapper is already gone (with the same ill wind that took Henry Blake) and America never gets to say a real farewell to Trapper John Francis Xavier McIntyre. The young replacement, whose file inspires hope in the small heart of Hotlips, is Captain B.J. Hunnicutt. Two months ago, he was doing his residency in Sausalito with his wife, Peggy, eight months pregnant in their Mill Valley home; a five week crash course at Fort Sam Houston was his prelude to the wilds of Hawkeye, Radar and Korea. Frank and Margaret wish they got their paws on BJ first but he was obviously always 100% Swamp Rat.

Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele (the incomparable Harry Morgan) is one of three Steele brothers from West Point, all generals. As Trapper aptly observes: 'Hey, the word's out that general's a little bit “el wacko.“' Gen. Barton certainly has a bee in his bonnet regarding military uniforms, protocol, waste and (dubiously) quoting great warriors of history, like Hannibal. (He was a darky, you know.

While on leave in Seoul, Frank finally cracks up over Margaret's marriage and starts hunting her and Donald down, accosting every female who bears even a passing resemblance to her. Unfortunately, it couldn't come at a worse time as the 4077th is inundated with casualties. Potter then makes a call to Tokyo and requests a surgeon to come in to fill in while the MPs hunt for Frank. They eventually find one in the person of Major Charles Emerson Winchester III, whose surgical skills match his arrogance, causing Hawkeye and BJ to take an immediate dislike to him. Eventually, Frank is transferred out and Winchester becomes a permanent member of the 4077 surgical staff. Now, Winchester must adjust not only to what he sees as inferior surgical conditions, but to the lunacy of Hawkeye and BJ.