Chapter 2: At the 4077th
MASH 4077th
December 1951
72 hours before Captains McMurphy and Quinn Departed Japan
"Colonel Blake, sir its General Clayton on the phone "Corporal "Radar" O'Reilly announced to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake commanding officer MASH 4077th. "Got it Radar" Henry said. "General Clayton sir, good morning sir" Henry rattled off to the senior medical officer of I Corps.
"Henry, I have some news for you. Your unit is about to make History. As you already know I'm sending you a replacement for Captain Spaulding. What you don't know is that the replacement is no other than the first female Surgeon to be assigned to a MASH unit, Captain Michaela Quinn."
"Wow, Holy smoke the first female surgeon. Thank you General Clayton, sir what an honor". Henry said all in one breathe. "When is the Captain coming?
"Captain Quinn should be at your unit by the end of the week." The General's tone now turned serious. "Henry, keep those two degenerates Pierce and McIntyre away from Quinn. This is a first for the Army, a female surgeon who just happens to come from one of the finest families in Boston. A lot of people will be watching you and your hospital. "
"One of the finest families in Boston sir?" Henry muttered. "That's right Henry a family that has friends in Washington." The General snapped at Henry. "Do not I repeat do not fuck this up "General Clayton said with cold menace. This shocked Henry Blake. He had never heard the General swear before. This must be real serious. "YYYes sir General Sir I'll take care of it."
30 minutes later the medical staff of the 4077th along with the unit's chaplain Father Mulcahy and Radar were crowded in Henry's office. He told them the news about the new surgeon. To everyone's surprise Trapper knew about her.
"Michaela Quinn works in South End at St Eligeus. I got family down there in the old neighborhood. All the Irish mothers in the neighborhood either pray that their daughters will become doctors like her or that their sons will marry her. Her father's a big time doctor who does lectures at Harvard medical school sometimes."
"Great we get a society girl who turned into a saint" Hawkeye muttered. "Is she good looking"?
"A knockout but she's out of your league Hawk" Trapper warned his buddy. "She should be in Hollywood".
"Out of my league? We'll see my friend. I'll be the toast of Boston society" Hawkeye said with a devilish grin.
"Oh you to perverts shut up" Major Houlihan snapped at Hawkeye and Trapper. "This is an honor for the 4077th and for women. Colonel Blake, Major Burns and I will be happy to assist in making Capt. Quinn feel comfortable."
"Quinn sounds like a good Irish name" Father Mulcahy said. "I wonder if the girl is catholic"
"Any more Irish show up we'll have to change our name to Notre Dame" Hawkeye said.
"Pierce you might be right because Major Houlihan is getting a new nurse named McMurphy". LtCol Blake added.
"Oh when Irish eyes are smiling………" Hawkeye began to sing.
72 Hours Later
Kimpo Air Base
South Korea
"It is freezing here" Colleen McMurphy said standing in the passenger terminal at Kimpo Airbase. It wasn't much of a terminal, just another tin building with a counter and some benches. Michaela Quinn stood next to her looking depressed. "Yes it's colder than Boston and uglier too." Michaela said.
The two women had landed in Korea an hour ago. As soon as the door of the plane opened they were hit by a blast of frigid air. There were about a dozen other passengers on the flight from Yokota, a mix of Army and Air Force officers. Colleen and Michaela were the only women and the only two who had not been to Korea. Everyone else was returning from R &R in Japan. The Air Force passengers were picked up immediately and taken to somewhere else on the air base. The Army personnel were told to standby and wait for an Army representative to get them.
A truck eventually showed up with two enlisted men who began loading everyone's bags. Colleen and Michaela never touched a bag as the male officers practically fought over who would "assist"' the enlisted men in loading the ladies' bags. It had been like that the whole trip from Yokota. Each man hoping to be noticed by one of the female Captains. "Next they'll be asking to carry our books to class" Colleen whispered to Michaela.
The truck made the short trip across the runway to another tin building. The officers were greeted by an Army Sergeant who ushered everyone inside. Once in the building, the Sgt. and another soldier began checking everyone's orders. Naturally the Male officers let McMurphy and Quinn go the head of the line. The two women had just handed the Sgt. Their orders when a Lieutenant and Major walked up with a Corporal carrying a Camera trailing them.
"Excuse me, which one of you ladies is Captain Michaela Quinn?" The Major asked.
"I am, Dr. Quinn at your service" Michaela said raising her hand.
"Captain, I'm Major Stone, I Corps Medical. I'd like to welcome you to Korea. General Clayton I Corps Chief Surgeon is waiting for you at the 325th Evac Hospital. You will spend the night there before heading up to your unit the MASH 4077th."
"Thank you Major" Michaela shook his hand. "And who is this" the Major said, turning to Colleen". "Captain Colleen McMurphy, the new nurse for the 4077th ." "My cousin" Capt. Quinn suddenly said. Colleen gave her a funny look.
"That's right Major, my cousin from the Kansas side of the family. So if the General wants to meet me, he meets the whole family" Michaela said while elbowing Colleen, who gave a big smile.
The Major seemed flustered then got a big smile. "Wa-Wa- well ,well ladies I didn't know. Of course Captain McMurphy will be joining us. Major Stone now turned to the Lieutenant. "This is Lieutenant Martin, public affairs he's here to document the arrival of the first female surgeon in Korea." The Lieutenant rushed forward extending his hand.
"Ladies a picture please" the public affairs man said. Michaela's face tightened but she managed to smile. "Let me check myself first. Cousin Colleen can you help me?" she said grabbing Colleen by the arm and pulling her a few steps away.
"What's with this Cousin Stuff? Colleen whispered while Michaela fidgeted with a mirror. "The General wants me to be his girl-doctor who looks pretty in the magazines and keeps him in the headlines. I'm here to do a job. If they want to show me off to the press and wine and dine me, then everyone with me gets to share the wealth. We all get treated special or no one does. "Michaela whispered back. Especially my fellow Irish Captain". Colleen smiled. "Okay" This is the start of a beautiful friendship Colleen thought.
"We're ready" Dr. Mike said turning back to the camera. "Make sure you get Cousin Colleen".
A/N: MASH Fans will remember Capt. Spaulding, the guitar playing doctor who sang the "Oh Tokyo "song. Sorry our heroines haven't actually got to camp yet.
