A/N: I just watched "Goodbye Radar" and a lot of people say that Radar was very bitter in it. I like to think that he had good reason (and I love
him to pieces!) so I decided to expand on it.
Klinger saw it first; the envelope that read "To My Friends at the 4077". He'd only been doing the job of Company Clerk for a short time and things were still
chaotic, but he knew an unusual letter when he saw one. He took at once to his CO.
"Colonel Potter! Colonel Potter!" Klinger shouted, bursting into the office.
Sherman looked up from his paperwork with an angry glare. "What is it, Klinger? I told you never to disturb me out of the blue like that!"
"I'm sorry sir. I just thought you'd want to see this right away."
At the way Klinger saluted him, Sherman let down his guard. "At ease, Corporal." Klinger was a good company clerk and although he was far from perfect-or
even half as efficient as Radar had been, Sherman knew that in time, Klinger would get the hang of it. Still, things hadn't been the same since Radar left. And
they'd never be the same again.
"All right, what is it, Klinger?"
Klinger showed him the envelope. "A letter, sir."
"That's why you came barging in here? For some cockamamie letter? Horse hockey! Can't it wait? I'm busy here!"
"I'm sorry sir, but you're gonna want to see this."
"Klinger, I'm much too busy to hear about the goings on in Toledo or hear about a so called death in your family just so that you can get a Section 8!"
"It's not from Toledo, Sir. It's from Iowa."
Sherman froze. "Let me see that." When he took the envelope from Klinger, his breath caught in his throat. It only took one glance at the envelope to make him
think of the young corporal, who wasn't so young anymore. The handwriting… why he'd know that handwriting anywhere.
"Oh… my…"
"Bad news, sir?"
Sherman removed his handkerchief and wiped away tears. Klinger, God bless him, was beside him in an instant, his hands on Sherman's shoulders. "How can
you know it's bad news, sir? You haven't even opened it!"
Sherman cleared his throat. "Klinger, get Pierce, Mulchay, Winchester, Houlihan and Hunnicutt in here on the double!"
"Yes sir!" Klinger said, saluting Sherman.
Sherman stared at the envelope, wanting so badly to open it. But he didn't dare, not until they were all present.
And minutes later, they all stood in his office, looking none too happy.
"Colonel, what's going on?" Margaret demanded. "We were the in the middle of surgery!"
"A broken femur at that!" Charles finished.
"What is it Colonel? Look, I mean no disrespect but I've got a kid on the table in OR that is suffering from a damaged artery! I can't just-."
"They'll be in good hands. I need you all here right now."
"What's wrong, Colonel?" Hawkeye asked.
"Dear Heavens, you're not sick, are you?" Francis inquired.
"No, not sick, just… emotional."
"I'm not following, sir."
"Well, I…" He stared at the faces of his team and then at the letter. "Maybe I acted too hastily. Go back to your places. This can wait."
"It sure doesn't look like it can wait." Hawkeye said.
"We're all here now." BJ noted. "What's going on, Colonel?"
Sherman held up the envelope. "This.. This is from Radar."
They all spoke at once, the room suddenly joyous.
"Well, come on! Open it!" Hawkeye urged.
"Yeah, let's hear what he has to say!" BJ said.
"Tell us, please!" This, from Francis.
"All right, all right. Hold your horses." Sherman said. "Let's see what he has to say." His hand trembled as he carefully opened the letter. It was a long one,
folded neatly as only Radar could do. Just the feel of the letter in his hand made him miss Radar terribly and he swallowed hard, trying not to let his emotions
get the best of him.
"Dear 4077" he read.
"Forgive me for not using all of your names in my greeting, but I don't have much paper." Sherman chucked. "That Radar, he's such a character."
"Go on, Colonel." Margaret coaxed.
"Oh yeah. Let's see…" "I'm sorry for not writing sooner, but I've been getting settled in on the farm and spending as much time as possible with Ma. She's been
pretty down in the dumps lately about losing Uncle Ed and frankly so have I. But really I don't think that's the only reason that I haven't been myself lately. You
see, I really need to get something off of my mind. I should have said it before but since I didn't, here goes… I'm really sorry for the way I acted before I
left. I know I wasn't very nice to you all, especially you, Klinger. The truth is that I wasn't ready to leave. You guys needed me but when you all convinced me
that I needed to go home and be with my ma, I felt like I wasn't needed anymore and I guess I just realized that my time at the 4077 was over. But I shouldn't
have taken it out on you guys. I know now that the 4077 will run just fine without me. Klinger, you're going to be great as Company Clerk and if you need help,
you have Colonel Potter, Hawkeye, BJ, Major Winchester, Major Houlihan and Father Mulchay there with you. And you can always write me although by the time
I get the letter you will have probably figured it out anyway."
"Ain't he terrific?" Klinger asked. "I'm sorry I snapped at him the way I did."
"What else does he say, Colonel?"
"Well, Hawkeye, lets find out." "Major Houlihan, I don't know if you're reading this yourself, but…" Sherman smiled and handed the letter to Margaret. "Perhaps
you should read that yourself." He watched her face and when it lit up, he knew she'd come to the words "Your kiss certainly surprised me, but I'll never forget
it."
Margaret blinked back tears and handed the letter to Colonel Potter. "It was my pleasure, Radar."
"What was your pleasure?" Hawkeye asked.
"Sounds intriguing." BJ said.
"I'll tell ya later." Margaret replied.
"Go on, Colonel." BJ coaxed.
"Don't worry about me, though. I'm doing swell, or as swell as can be expected. Hawkeye, I am sorry for being so mean and stubborn, I was just-."
Hawkeye held up his hand. "You don't have to finish, Colonel. "Hawkeye said, swallowing hard. "I get it.''
"Captain Hunnicutt." Sherman continued. "Don't worry about your wife and daughter. Erin and Peg are just fine. Erin's a terrific little girl and your wife is a
terrific lady. I hope it's okay for me to say that. And I gave them the kisses that you sent to them. They were much appreciative and gave me some in return
but I guess it will be a while before I can give them back to you."
BJ blinked back tears. "Keep them, Radar. You deserve them."
"Shall I go on?" Sherman asked.
"Please." Father Mulchaey said.
"All right." "As for you Father Mulchay, thanks for all of your advice, religious and otherwise. And Major Winchester, I learned a lot from you."
Charles smiled. "Well, it's nice that my time here meant something to someone."
"And finally…" Sherman's voice caught. "… to you… Colonel Potter."
"Would you like us to leave, Colonel?" Father Mulchay asked.
"No, you all can stay." Sherman replied.
"Then go on, please." Margaret said.
"And finally to you… Colonel Potter. I know we didn't get off on the best start. I admit I was a little afraid of you when I first met you." Sherman smiled "That
makes two of us, Radar…"
"But it wasn't your fault. I was just used to Colonel Blake. Gee, I sure do miss him, but you're the swellest friend a guy could ask for and I sure do miss you
something awful."
Sherman swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady but it was becoming more and more difficult.
"Well… I need to go and tend to my animals and see if Ma needs any help. Oh, speaking of my animals I hope my animals at the 4077 are okay. They might be
scared at first but I assured them that there would be lots of people taking care of them so tell them I miss them okay? I miss you all too. I don't know when I'll
see any of you again but I hope it's soon. And I've never said this to any of you before, so I hope it's okay ,but I love you all. Sincerely, Corporal Walter Eugene
O'Reilly… Radar."
When Sherman finished the letter, he looked up to see that everyone had tears in their eyes. He passed it around, handing it to Klinger. It was nice to watch the
emotion on their faces as they read Radar's thoughtful words.
"We'll write back as soon as we can, but we'd best get back to work. You can write your own letters if you want and I'll write one of my own and we can all write
one together as well."
They all stood and went their separate ways. Colonel Potter glanced at the letter once again.
"We love you too, Radar."
~Fin~