Plot

A visiting general, appearing to be more eccentric than the usual army brass and a stickler for regulations, tries to move the camp closer to the front and court martial Hawkeye before they discover that he's completely loony.

Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele (the incomparable Harry Morgan) is one of three Steele brothers from West Point, all generals. As Trapper aptly observes: 'Hey, the word's out that general's a little bit "el wacko."' Gen. Steele certainly has a bee in his bonnet regarding military uniforms, protocol, waste and (dubiously) quoting great warriors of history, like Hannibal ("He was a darky, you know"). When black chopper pilot, WO Martin Williams, gives Steele the stats on his daily chopper runs, Steele wants to move the 4077 closer to the action...just to conserve fuel. Steele later demands a musical number from Williams. The officers are aghast: such a move will get them all killed. An order is an order, but although Steele is a 2-star general, he is a 3-star loony, a fruitcake with raisins for eyes. Hawkeye suggests they disobey him but Henry cannot disobey a general unless he gets an order to disobey. But when an order of Steele threatens the life of one of his patients, Hawkeye has no similar compunction; he gives an orders to Williams that ignore General Steele. Proceedings preliminary to a formal Court Martial ensue and one Capt. BF Pierce is in the hot seat; Williams and Henry are witnesses. How will Hawkeye talk his way out of this one? Or, will somebody sing his way clear? Hey, hey Uncle Fud. It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud...—LA-Lawyer

Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele (Harry Morgan) is one of three Steele brothers from West Point, all US Army Generals. One of them is now a US Senator and the other was the first volunteer to be bitten by a mosquito in the Panama Canal. As Capt. "Trapper" John MacIntyre (Wayne Rogers) observes that General Bartford is a stickler for military protocol Gen. Bartford certainly has a bee in his bonnet regarding military uniforms (and does not tolerate individual variations), protocol (30 mins of calisthenics daily at 0600), waste and (dubiously) quoting great warriors of history, like Hannibal. He also decides to HQ at the 4077 for a week to observe, So Henry tells Trapper and Hawkeye to shape up. Even Klinger is told not to wear any dressed around Steele.

Steele inspects the full company staff, even finding faults with Maj. Frank Burns (Larry Linville) (He asks him to trim the hair inside his nose) and Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) (Gut in, chest out).. Klinger arrives in a dress, specifically to rile up Steele and to push for a section 8 discharge. But Steele takes no notice of him (Bartford thinks that Klinger is his wife Margerie, and tells him that he is inspecting the troops).. Steele makes Radar polish the bottom of his boots and starch his socks. Steele goes on a tour of the camp with Henry and finds Hawkeye on a date with nurse Sheila in the supply room. Hawkeye introduces himself as a member of the press, since he is out of uniform.

When the colored chopper pilot, WO Martin Williams (Theodore Wilson), gives Steele the statistics on his daily chopper runs at the bar, Steele wants to move the 4077 closer to the action...just to conserve fuel.

The officers are aghast: such a move will get them all killed. An order is an order, but although Steele is a 2-star general, he is a 3-star loony. Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda) suggests they disobey him but Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) cannot disobey a general unless he gets an order to disobey. Steele identifies a new site (with Henry and Frank) for MASH and orders the move.

But when an order of Steele threatens the life of one of his patients (Hawkeye had operated on him but the patient was developing a temperature in post op.. Hawkeye thinks he might be developing an infection and starts him on penicillin), Hawkeye has no similar compunction; he gives an order to Williams to ignore General Steele. Steele wanted to use the chopper to observe the move of MASH 4077. But Hawkeye tells Williams to take his patient to Seoul, because he has bacterial infection and needs specialized care. Steele orders a formal Court Martial and court proceedings ensue. Capt. BF Pierce is in the hot seat; Williams and Henry are witnesses. Steele asks Williams to testify, but asks him to sing a song first. Everyone can see Steele is crazy, not in his senses and the hearing comes to an end. A few weeks later, Henry finds that Steele has been promoted to a 3 star general, with an assignment at the Pentagon.