Disclaimer: I do not own the characters to MASH they are owned by 20th Century Fox. I own Nurse Pelt.
In the morning Radar was up and running about. He notified higher up the need for MPs to remove Colonel Flagg and this time Potter intended to stick it this pest. Thievery would ruin his career, a court martial and discharge and he would not bother him or his command again.
Pelt was also up. Her whole body hurt but she seemed more coherent and talked more as Nurse Kelley sat down at her bed side and wrote down everything. Though her attack was still vague she could recall that the man was in fatigues, taller than her, had large strong hands but also saw an eagle on his collar. "Are you sure?" Kelley insisted. "Yes," Pelt nodded groggily, "I saw an eagle." Kelley immediately went to inform Potter whom was just waking up himself and hearing this he connected the dots and reached for his service pistol.
"I'm going to shoot that son of a bitch myself," the old bird colonel yelled as he marched out of his tent, pistol in hand as Radar came running up.
"Sir, I AUGH!" seeing the pistol he recoiled in fear, "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to eat the last Milky Way. I was hungry."
"No, Radar, this is for Flagg," Potter kept marching towards the VIP tent where four Military Police were posted. All through the night they had watched over the prisoner inside the stripped tent. Going by the Swamp Pierce and Hunnicutt came out to see the colonel enter the tent and heard him yell and scream at Flagg calling him "poor excuse for a human being. How dare you attack one of my people especially a woman!" It took the two captains to restrain the old man from shooting but in the confusion that reined Flagg sought his chance and bolted from the tent and the MPs chased him. He was long gone and Potter, fuming mad still, left back to his tent telling Radar that finished the order, "Get on the horn and call division for more MPs."
A little while later, Margaret was told that the ambulance was ready to take Pelt and other patients to Seoul. Coming to her bedside she came to say her farewells, "Now remember," the major said softly, "When you get out promise that you won't forget about us."
"Never, major," Pelt smiled.
Litter bearers carried Pelt outside as the ambulance pulled up. Hawkeye and B.J came to see her leave and she was overjoyed that they came. "Well, this is it. You'll be in Tokyo with good food, clean sheets, and better doctors," smiled Pierce.
Pelt chuckled, "Well, maybe just two of three. Good bye, Hawkeye," smiling under her bandages, "I'll miss you." She offered her hand to which the captain kissed. Being placed in the back of the ambulance she waved at the others. Shutting the doors they were off down the road and everyone turned to go back inside when there was a honking from an approaching Jeep.
"What in the Sam Hill now?" said a bitter Potter.
The Jeep pulled up in front of the building and a large major climbed out from the passenger seat and saluted, "Excuse me, I'm looking for a Colonel Potter."
"You found him."
"Sir Major Ellis Military Police. I believe we have someone that is familiar to you," he turned and pointed to the back of the Jeep where two large MPs were sandwiching in between them a still bandaged and deshoveled Flagg.
"Yeah, that's him. Colonel Flagg," the colonel pointed out.
"Colonel Flagg, sir?" the major looked at the shorter, older, Colonel Potter whom was stone faced when he responded, "Yeah, Flagg from intelligence."
"That's him," Pierce stepped forward with B.J.
"Sir," the major continued, "His name is Samuel Flagg but he is no Colonel. He is a private and a cook. He went missing in 1950 just after the North invaded and when found he had lost his marbles. He was sent to Tokyo Mental Hospital and promptly escaped.
The staff looked at each other stunned. This man, this loose cannon, one they had suspected of being a looney really was the whole time and his character was a charade. "We've been looking for him since then but he left quite a mess. He stole from Black Market people and from civilians and from soldiers from virtually every contingent here in Korea, steal everything from medicine to ammunition to weapons to personal items."
"What would he do with it?" Father Mulcahay asked.
"He would burn them or just dump them into a ditch and leave, as if he had lost interest in what he had down the road," said the Major. "Well, not to worry. We're he's going they'll be flying cars by the time he gets out."
"Thank you, Major for getting rid of this menace," Colonel Potter shook his hand and the MPs left taking with them the thorn in their backside and there was much rejoicing, however, before they could uncork their bottles Radar came running into the office.
"Sirs, choppers incoming!"
Mash 4077th went back to work.