- Henry finds out he's been discharged from the army and everyone at the 4077th prepares to say goodbye to him as he heads home.
- In one of the best remembered and most emotional episodes of the entire 11 year series, Radar has an announcement for Henry in O.R. Henry Blake has received his discharge: he is finally going home to Bloomington, Illinois, to his wife, Lorraine, and their children, the country club and his medical practice. The entire 4077 gang is thrilled for Henry and they wish him well; gifts are gotten, parties are thrown and all sorts of final memories are made. But, the entire gang is sad to be losing such an integral part of the 4077 gang. Radar, in particular, is losing the man who was a father to him. The final farewell formation is memorable; even Hawkeye and Trapper show up to tell their friend and leader a fond farewell. Some farewells are fonder than others. Klinger dresses to kill. As Henry starts to leave, Radar steadfastly holds his salute to his departing C.O. until Henry finally acknowledges him. Since the episode, "Ceasefire," Radar has grown into a young man; scrapbooks and jokes can no longer take the place of the honest affection and love he feels for Henry Blake. But, telling Radar goodbye makes it real for Henry: he is leaving his 4077 family for good. Henry's last glimpse of the 4077 is brief and his chopper disappears into the horizon. At the end of the episode, Radar has another announcement to make in the O.R. No one will ever be quite the same again.—LA-Lawyer
- Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake finally receives his discharge from the Army, and the entire 4077th wishes him a fond farewell. In the famous final scene, it is revealed at the end that his transport plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan and he was killed in action.—Anonymous
- Lt. Colonel Henry Blake has finally received his discharge papers. He is wildly looking forward to going home to his family, while Frank is eagerly anticipating taking control of the 4077th. Hawkeye and Trapper arrange a fond farewell party for Henry, and a friend of Trapper's makes Henry a suave black and white striped suit. After saying goodbye to all his friends, Henry boards his chopper and heads happily home. It seemed like smooth sailing from there on out...Until Radar receives some terrible news.—<ExplorerDS6789>
- The episode opens in the operating room (O.R.), as the surgeons and medical staff (with the exception of Frank Burns) participate in a game of "Name That Tune". Tension between Frank, who requests silence, and the other surgeons reaches a peak, and shortly afterwards, Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) enters the O.R. and informs Colonel Blake of his discharge: he has received all of the needed Army service points to be rotated home. Upon the completion of the surgical session, Henry begins planning his upcoming trip home and places a call to Bloomington, Illinois to inform his wife and family of the good news. Meanwhile, Major Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) are eagerly awaiting the upcoming transfer of command of the 4077th MASH: upon Blake's departure, Burns will become the unit commander. Henry and Radar begin to clean out the main office, sharing a sentimental moment in which Radar tells Blake of his meaning to him. As a token of appreciation and admiration, Radar gives him an inscribed Winchester cartridge; a surprised Henry returns the favor by spontaneously giving to Radar a rectal thermometer that once belonged to his father.
On the night before Henry's departure, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), and Radar throw a going-away party at Rosie's Bar and Grill for him. All four inebriated, they share some pleasant memories and reminisce before Blake leaves to go to the bathroom. While Henry is gone, the others prepare a comedic ceremony, in order to "drum [Henry] out of the Army". As a part of the ceremony, the three present Henry with a brand new suit as a parting gift. The next morning is the first with Frank Burns in charge, and he immediately starts using his "gung-ho", militarily strict, and whistle-happy attitude to assemble the company. A lack of respect from his subordinates is already evident, as an out of uniform and unshaven Hawkeye and Trapper and an outrageously dressed Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr) show up for the assembly. As Blake leaves his tent for the last time, dressed in his new suit, he is greeted with a round of applause from the unit. Frank and Margaret give Blake a formal "ten-hut" salute. Henry, in his typical laid-back fashion, tells Frank to "lay off" and to "stuff that whistle someplace"
After saying his individual goodbyes to many of the members of the 4077th, Hawkeye whispers to Henry and convinces him to give a long kiss to Margaret, generating another rousing round of applause from the onlookers. Blake then leaves the camp, walking towards the chopper pad with Hawkeye, Trapper, Margaret, Frank, Klinger, Father Mulcahy (William Christopher), and Radar, with the rest of the camp saying farewells and singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". When the helicopter arrives, it contains a wounded soldier, which occupies Hawkeye and Trapper; they say their short goodbyes before going to care for the soldier. Beginning to board the helicopter, Henry spots an emotional Radar saluting him and pauses for a moment. Blake boards the helicopter and leaves the 4077th.
The next scene takes place later in the O.R. and has become a defining moment in the series. As surgeons are working on wounded soldiers, a visibly shaken Radar enters and delivers the shocking news: "I have a message. Lieutenant Colonel... Henry Blake's plane... was shot down over the Sea of Japan. It spun in. There were no survivors." Radar leaves and the camera pans the stunned and silent hospital staff, including Trapper and a teary-eyed Hawkeye, who continue to operate on the wounded, and even Majors Burns and Houlihan, who are crying. The episode closes with an "affectionate and reluctant farewell" to Henry Blake, by means of a light-hearted montage of clips from past episodes.
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