M*A*S*H: Mail Call Three

M*A*S*H: Mail Call Three
CBS
February 6, 1978
Dramedy
DVD
B

This Fritzell & Greenbaum story is better than most, maybe all, of the similar ones, because the letters actually have consequences and play off of each other in interesting ways.  And as Radar sums it up when Klinger returns from his attempt to go AWOL, the M*A*S*H unit is itself "family."  Note that Klinger had married Laverne long-distance while stationed in Korea, so he hasn't actually seen her during their marriage, although we learn here that they grew up together.  It's funny that of all the married regular characters, he's the first to get divorced.  Also note that Hawkeye says his father has been a widower for years (by the time Hawkeye was twelve), despite the early references to his mother and sister.  But that's part of the retcon reset I guess.

Oliver Clark makes his second appearance on the show, this time as the other Capt. Ben Pierce.  Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) and Carmine Scelza (his last appearance, again as a Corpsman) return.