The military is synonymous with discipline, order, hierarchy and rules. But those are for soldiers. When a group of young surgeons, straight out of medical school, are drafted to serve as field surgeons in a collection of tents just behind the front lines, they throw all rules and order to the winds. Hawkeye Pierce, Duke and Trapper John join Lt. Col. Blake’s unit, the 4077th MASH.
In the brutal circumstances they are meant to live in, they see many young men, barely out of childhood, fighting for their lives. The doctors are repeatedly called upon to patch the wounded just enough to get them to a bigger hospital, with better resources. Twelve, sometimes fourteen or sixteen hours a day they are elbow deep in blood and guts.
But when they are not, their tent, dubbed the “Swamp”, becomes the focus of all manner of shenanigans, pranks and cocktails and tomfoolery to help them unwind from the physical and emotional toll of their punishing jobs. They get into several adventures, some hilarious and others poignant. Despite their wayward behaviour and frequent insubordination, Blake tolerates and even appreciates them, because they are highly competent and have an incredible work ethic.
The book is equal parts hilarious, touching, and deeply emotional; largely because of the nature of lives led by the front-line surgeons. They often act unhinged, and survive on copious amounts of alcohol to cope with the horrors visited on them. Their only connection to reality is the letters they exchange with loved ones back home. One excellent movie and a very long running TV show was spawned from this book. Needless to say, it is an absolute must read.