At one point Hawkeye addresses Father Mulcahy as 'Red'. This is a reference back to the film MASH (1970) and Richard Hooker's Book in which Mulcahy is known by the nickname "Dago Red" - a type of cheap wine.
The first of many shows based upon the characters writing letters home.
Klinger's only early appearance in which he never appears in women's clothing. He is, instead, wearing a red bandana with his fatigues, which he says his mother gave him for luck, and that he is to never take it off, lest something bad will happen to him. After this episode, however, he is never again seen wearing it.
This was the first of three "Dear Dads". Future episodes in other seasons also featured similar themes of characters writing home , including a Dear Peggy, Dear Sis and so on. Season 4 had the most of such episodes - Dear Mildred, Dear Peggy and Dear Ma. Later seasons featured Dear Sigmund, Dear Sis and Dear Uncle Abdul.
The last such "Dear..." theme was Dear Uncle Abdul (Klinger - season *8).
The last such "Dear..." theme was Dear Uncle Abdul (Klinger - season *8).
Hawkeye's letter home to his father mentions winter in Vermont. In the novel by Richard Hooker Hawkeye's family is from Maine. A sequel to the novel is titled M*A*S*H goes to Maine.