Frank throws his back out whilst spending the evening with Margaret, and ends up in traction. He promptly applies for the Purple Heart, having been 'technically' wounded at a frontline unit. Tommy Gillis, an old friend of Hawkeye's, is writing a book about the war, and pays him a visit. Later, Tommy is brought into the camp, seriously wounded, and Hawkeye can't save him. A 15-year-old kid is in the hospital to have his appendix out. He joined up to be a hero back home, but Hawkeye has him sent home, giving him Frank's purple heart.
Elenco: Alan Alda , Loretta Swit , Jamie Farr , William Christopher , Harry Morgan , Mike Farrell , Kellye Nakahara , David Ogden Stiers , Jeff Maxwell , Roy Goldman .