MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (1968) by Richard Hooker

From the Back Cover:

‘The doctors who worked in the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) during the Korean War were well trained but, like most soldiers sent to fight a war, too young for the job. In the words of the author, “a few flipped their lids, but most of them just raised hell, in a variety of ways and degrees.”‘

I remember watching the TV series with my parents when I was young. Later, I discovered the Robert Altman film adaptation. After getting used to Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers as the surgeons Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce and “Trapper” John McIntyre, it was strange seeing them played by Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould in the 1970 movie. I haven’t watched the TV show in years but I re-watched the M*A*S*H film earlier this year. I really enjoyed it and it inspired me to read the book.

MASH is a quick read at just over 200 pages. It’s easy to dip in and out of because it’s written as a series of humourous scenes. These chronicle the (mis)adventures of military surgeons Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce, Augustus “Duke” Forrest and “Trapper” John McIntyre. As assistant writer W.C. Heinz has said in interviews: “there isn’t a hell of a story line in MASH, just a succession of operations and techniques and humor. The only thing that holds it together is the characters and the familiarity that the reader comes to have with them.” It’s the humour and characters that really make this book.

‘Delivered to the front entrance of the 28th Station Hospital, Trapper and Hawkeye entered and approached the reception desk. Behind it sat a pretty WAC, whose big blue eyes opened like morning glories when she looked up and saw the apparitions before her.
“Nice club you’ve got here, honey,” said Hawkeye. “Where’s the pro shop?”
“What?” she said.
“What time’s the bar open?” Trapper said.
“What?” she said.
“You got any caddies available?” Hawkeye said.
“What?” she said.
“Look, honey,” Trapper said. “Don’t keep saying ‘what.’ Just say ‘yes’ instead.”
“That’s right,” Hawkeye said, “and you’ll be surprised how many friends you’ll make in this man’s army.”
“Yes,” she said.
“That’s better,” Trapper said. “So where’s the x-ray department?”
“Yes,” she said.

MASH p.82, Richard Hooker

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Although the story is set during the Korean War, there is little warfare in the book. We do get a brief yet fascinating look into some of the workings and conditions of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during that time period. But the author doesn’t go into too much detail, preferring to focus more on the different ways the doctors and nurses tried to keep sane in increasingly insane conditions.

“What characterized the fighting in Korea”, one the author’s fellow officers recalled, “was that you would have a period of a week or 10 days when nothing much was happening, then there would be a push. When you had a push, there would suddenly be a mass of casualties that would just overwhelm us.” (The Courier-Journal.)

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I enjoyed MASH and recommend it if you have watched either the movie or the TV series. It’s a quick and easy read with some funny moments, as well as a few more sobering scenes. Although there are just a few main characters, they are engaging and the banter between them is well written.

Thanks so much for reading!

-Wakizashi, *feeling the approaching typhoon’s influence on the weather. It’s hot and sticky and there’s a notable build up of pressure in the air.*

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