Ep 15. Yessir, That's Our Baby

In season 8 episode 15 of M*A*S*H, titled Yessir, That's Our Baby, the story centers around a Korean woman who gives birth to a baby girl at the 4077th. The mother is unmarried, and when the staff tries to send the baby to an orphanage, they learn that the mother's boyfriend is killed in action. The staff decides to raise the baby themselves and create a plan to care for her.

Throughout the episode, we see how the staff members at the 4077th react to the presence of the baby, with varying levels of enthusiasm. The episode highlights the challenges faced by the staff as they try to adapt to taking care of an infant in a war zone. The team also faces some opposition from higher-ups who believe that the presence of a baby in the camp is inappropriate.

Moreover, some of the staff members become particularly invested in the baby's welfare. Father Mulcahy, in particular, becomes very attached to the baby and goes to great lengths to ensure that she is taken care of. On the other hand, some of the staff members, like Hawkeye, are more ambivalent about caring for the baby, and it takes some convincing for them to get on board with the plan.

As the episode progresses, we see the staff members coming together to find ways to care for the baby. They create a makeshift nursery in their living quarters and work together to find supplies like formula and diapers. The episode stresses how important it is for people to work together in difficult times and showcases the kindness and compassion of the staff members at the 4077th.

Throughout the episode, there are also some humorous moments as the staff members adapt to caring for the baby. Hawkeye in particular has trouble adjusting to the screaming and crying that comes with taking care of an infant, and there are some amusing scenes of him trying to soothe the baby while also dealing with work-related tasks.

As the episode concludes, there is a bittersweet moment when the baby is sent away to a safer location. The staff members are sad to see her go but know that it is the best decision for her safety. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with the staff members expressing their gratitude for the time they spent with the baby and the lessons they learned about teamwork and compassion.

Overall, Yessir, That's Our Baby is a heartwarming and poignant episode that showcases the kindness and resilience of the staff members at the 4077th. Despite the challenges they face, they come together to provide love and care for a helpless infant in the midst of a war zone. The episode is a touching reminder of the importance of working together and showing compassion to those in need.