HAWKEYE PIERCE

'Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce' is the lead fictional character in the ''M
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Contents

About the character

"Hawkeye" nickname

Changes in the character

Hawkeye in the television series

After the war

Trivia

References

External links

About the character

Born and raised in Crabapple Cove, Maine, Hawkeye is (according to the TV series) the son of Dr. Daniel Pierce. According to the novels, his father is “Big Benjy” Pierce, a lobster fisherman. Hawkeye attended Androscoggin College, where he played football and intercepted a Hail Mary pass thrown by Dartmouth quarterback John McIntyre. After his medical residency in Boston, Hawkeye is drafted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps and called to serve at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. Between long, intense sessions of treating critically wounded patients, he makes the best of his life in an isolated Army camp with heavy drinking, carousing, and pulling pranks on the people around him, especially the unpleasantly stiff and callous Major Frank Burns and Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan.

"Hawkeye" nickname

The novel established that Pierce’s nickname of "Hawkeye" was given to him by his father. It comes from the novel ''The Last of the Mohicans'', which Pierce, in Hooker's book, claimed was "the only book my old man ever read."^[1]
In an episode of the TV series in which Hawkeye believed himself to be in mortal danger due to heavy enemy shelling, he made out a will and left Colonel Sherman T. Potter (whom Hawkeye stated was like a father) the edition of ''The Last of the Mohicans'' that his father had given him. “It was his favorite book,” Hawkeye wrote in the will, implying that he had read more books. {The TV series also reveals that Hawkeye nearly drowned when he was very young and also suffers from claustrophobia when MASH has to move into a cave}.

Changes in the character

Although the Robert Altman film followed Hooker’s book somewhat in structure, much of the dialogue was improvised and thus departed even from Ring Lardner, Jr.’s screenplay. The screenplay itself departed from the book in a number of details (e.g., Frank Burns becoming a major instead of a captain, and also combined with the novel's Major Hobson, the zealously religious officer that Pierce and bunkmate Duke Forrest got removed from their tent and, subsequently, the camp), but on the whole, the main characters and mood were left intact.
Perhaps the biggest change in Hawkeye’s characterization from the book, to the big screen and finally to the small screen comes in his marital status. The Hawkeye of the book is married to Evelyn Pierce with children (according to the sequels) and faithful while in Korea (as far as the reader is concerned). He offers several doctors love advice, "Jeeter" Carroll for example, extolling the virtues of extramarital sex but never partaking himself. The film version of Hawkeye is still married, but gives himself more moral leeway, arguing that he is far from home, no one is ever going to know, and it will reduce stress for both involved.
Finally, the film’s Hawkeye was transformed into the womanizing and single Hawkeye of the TV series. In the pilot episode, however, Hawkeye told Lieutenant Dish that he was engaged, and in a later first-season episode he broke up with several women, when he believed the war had ended, by telling them that he was married, although it was revealed at the end of the episode that he was lying. In 4/23, Hawkeye does admit to having had a ''defacto'' common law relationship {before the Korean War} with a nurse.
Richard Hooker, who wrote the book on which the show (and the film version) was based, noted that Hawkeye was far more liberal in the TV show (in one of the sequel books, Hawkeye facetiously makes reference to "kicking the bejesus out of lefties just to stay in shape").
In the original novel and film, Hawkeye is given to frequently uttering "finest kind" as a catchphrase, and throughout the latter, he produces a distinctive whistle (which is appropriated by Radar O'Reilly at the film's end). Neither of these mannerisms carried over to the TV incarnation of the character.

Hawkeye in the television series

The television version of Hawkeye proved to be a somewhat different character. While his professional and social lives were much the same, he also gradually evolved into a man of conscience trying to maintain some humanity and decency in the insane world into which he has been thrust, sometimes to the point of trying to force his own sense of moral superiority onto others. This was to a large extent due to actor Alan Alda’s influence, as he infused the character with some of his political ideals and morals. Some fans regretted the change in Hawkeye, feeling that he eventually became too self-righteous and sanctimonious for his own good and the good of the show, and profess that Hawkeye worked better as a sardonic goofball.
Developed for television by Larry Gelbart, the series departed in some respects radically from the film and book. The character of Duke Forrest was dropped altogether, and Hawkeye became the center of the MASH unit’s medical activity as well as the dramatic center of the series itself. In the book and the film, Hawkeye had played football in college (Androscoggin College, based on Hornberger’s ''alma mater'' Bowdoin College); in the series, Alda’s Hawkeye was hardly the football champ type and even seemed proud of it and reveled in it, while his cohort Wayne Rogers’ Trapper could be seen playing football in several episodes, and later Mike Farrell's B.J. could be seen lifting himself up by his arms from a metal pole post, thus suggesting this his friends were more physically durable than him. He seemed to resemble Groucho Marx, with his quick wit and “madcap” antics, sometimes even affecting a Groucho-like schtick.
As noted above, Hawkeye had been married in the book and the film. Near the beginning of the series, he claims to be married, though this was a ploy on his part to get out of marrying a nurse he had been involved with. Presumably this alteration rendered his romantic dalliances (chiefly with nurses) more morally acceptable in the eyes of Gelbart and the other series officials. (In general, Gelbart tried to make the series less deliberately offensive than the film while nevertheless retaining some of its anarchic spirit.) Also, in early episodes, Hawkeye tells his father (Daniel) in a letter to say hello to his mother and sister, but in later episodes, he says he is an only child and his mother died when he was young. There is also a reference in the episode “Dear Dad,” where he wrote a letter to his father, that their home is in Vermont, and this is also in the Season 1 episode “Ceasefire,” but all other references, including in the book and film, are to Hawkeye being from Maine. Most episodes refer to the senior Pierce as a physician, but in at least one episode, BJ addresses him over the telephone as “Mr. Pierce.” In addition, when Hawkeye is writing to his father in one episode, he explains medical terms he would not have to explain to a doctor.
Also in a bit of "turn about is fair play", Hawkeye was twice placed in command of the 4077th, the first of which he afterwards remarked how truly difficult the burden of command was for Blake, Potter and even Burns, to which Margaret Houlihan replied, "If only Frank Burns could see you now." The third time Col. Potter left, however, Hawkeye seemed reluctant about taking the reins and relinquished control to Major Winchester.

After the war

At the end of the television series, Hawkeye was the second-to-last to leave the dismantled camp with the announced goal of returning to his hometown of Crabapple Cove, Maine, to be a local doctor who has the time to get to know his patients instead of the endless flow of casualties he faced in his term of service.
In Hooker’s two sequels to ''M
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Having left the Army, Hawkeye is established to be working for the Veterans Administration. In May, 1954, he is laid off. At this point, Hawkeye doesn’t have much money in the bank, is 31 years old, and has three children: Billy, Stephen and Karen.
The day he’s released, Trapper John comes to visit and sets Hawkeye’s future in motion. Trapper John, a Lieutenant in the medical organization of Maxie Neville in New York City arranges for further thoracic training for Hawkeye, first in the East Orange VA Hospital in New Jersey, then at St Lombard’s in Manhattan from July, 1954. After two years Hawkeye breezes through the Thoracic Boards. At the end of his training in June, 1956, two Spruce Harbour locals, Jocko Allcock (the man who was responsible for Hawkeye being fired by the VA) and “Wooden Leg” Willcox (the local fish magnate) come to visit Hawkeye to set him up in practice—by betting favorably on the outcome of his operations.
The first operation, with Trapper John’s assistance (upon Pasquale Merlino), is a success, and thanks to his superior training Hawkeye becomes ''the'' local surgeon. As time goes by, Hawkeye is given more patients by the local general practitioner of note, “Doggy” Moore, goes into private practice with ex-Spitfire pilot, Tony Holcombe, and plots the eventual reuniting of the 'Swamp Gang'. By 1959 Hawkeye has lured Duke Forrest, Trapper John and Spearchucker Jones into his net, and thanks to the proceeds of the “Allcock-Willcox” syndicate, a new “Finestkind Fishmarket and Clinic” is set up along with the new Spruce Harbor General Hospital.
In the twenty-year period described in Hooker’s two sequel novels, Hawkeye becomes notably more conservative politically (he supported Republican “Crazy Horse” Weinstein for governor of Maine and railed against people with “Recall Ford” bumper stickers), but remains as playful and humorous as ever. His golf game improves to an eight handicap depending on the time of year. He donates heavily to various causes, such as needy children and the re-education of a local clamdigger, and spends an inordinate amount of time caring for his patients. He is, however, prone to use racial and homophobic epithets.

Trivia

★ Both the actors who portrayed Hawkeye Pierce had roles as Republican politicians on television political dramas in the 2000s. Alda played Arnold Vinick on ''The West Wing'' and Sutherland played Nathan Templeton on ''Commander in Chief''.

★ Only four times in the TV show does Hawkeye adhere to US Army Regulations.

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★ In Episode 1.17 "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet", he has an underage soldier (played by Ron Howard) sent home.

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★ In Episode 1.18 "Dear Dad...Again", Hawkeye discovers a man pretending to be a doctor but gives him a day to escape before alerting the MPs. {The man reappears at the end of the episode on his way out dressed as a chaplain.}

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★ In Episode 4.23 "Deluge" Hawkeye has to use his rank as Captain to order a Sgt to not smoke near the operating room-due to the presence of flamable ether.

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★ In Episode 9.16 "The Red/White Blues", Hawkeye remarks on how he agrees with the Army when he refuses to falsify Colonel Potter's high blood pressure numbers to look better than they are.

★ Hawkeye is nearly killed at least eleven times in the TV show:

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★ In Episode 2.09 Hawkeye must operate on a patient with an unexploded grenade in him.

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★ In Episode 2.10 Hawkeye comes under fire from a sniper.

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★ In Episode 3.02 Hawkeye and Trapper John are nearly shot by the Chinese Guards when Major Burns tries to be a hero and brings a gun along to wounded exchange.

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★ In Episode 3.06, his neck is nearly broken by a shell shocked soldier who has to give up a cat he was holding to Hawkeye.

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★ In Episode 3.19, Hawkeye, Houilhan and Klinger come under artillery fire at a aid station.

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★ In Episode 4.06, Frank Burns runs a tank over the "Swamp" while Hawkeye is inside.

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★ In Episode 4.18, he suffers a concussion in a jeep accident.

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★ In Episode 7.21, a hysterical patient nearly stabs Hawkeye with a splintered wooden cane.

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★ In Episode 8.16, a POW nearly throws a live grenade in the Operating Room.

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★ In Episode 9.01, a North Korean nearly shoots Hawkeye in order to force him to operate on the wounded man.

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★ In Episode 10.4 a Turkish Officer tries to shoot one of his own men in the post op ward-and Hawkeye and Winchester have to struggle with the officer for the pistol. It goes off and the officer shoots himself in the foot.

★ There are four instances throughout the series where Hawkeye is in need of psychiatric help (provided three times by Dr. Sidney Freedman and once by Col. Potter), one that required help of a difference sort, and one that was a sham:

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★ In Episode 5.13,, "Hawk's Nightmare", the sleepwalking/sleep-basketball-playing incident.

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★ In Episode 5.17 "Hepatitis", psychosomatic back pain (caused by anger towards a [possibly inferior] doctor Hawkeye knew in the States having an extremely lucrative practice).

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★ In Episode 9.17, "Bless You, Hawkeye", a violent allergic reaction from a wounded soldier's soaked clothing (triggering memories of when he almost drowned).

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★ His complete emotional breakdown in the final episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", caused by guilt over a Korean mother's smothering her coughing and crying baby in an effort to keep it silent in order that threatening North Korean troops would not hear them and kill all in their group (he had demanded that she keep the baby quiet).

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★ In Episode 2.05, "Dr. Pierce and Mr. Hyde", Hawkeye's behavior becomes wackier than usual due to going over 72 hours without sleep because of continually incoming casualties, which could qualify, but he is eventually sedated by Trapper and Radar.

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★ In Episode 1.07, "Bananas, Nuts and Crackers", Hawkeye pretends to be crazy in order to fool a furlough to Tokyo out of Frank Burns. {Burns thinks Hawkeye is faking-until ironically when Trapper John remarks to Burns that Hawkeye thinks Burns is a considerate person-Burns believes that Hawkeye ''is'' crazy}.

★ Only four times did Hawkeye give a proper and meaningful salute. It should be noted that in all but the final instance, it was still somewhat irregular, as they were instances of an officer saluting an enlisted man or an officer of lower rank instead of the other way around.

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★ to Radar in "Fallen Idol", when giving him his Purple Heart.

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★ when saluting Radar as the latter prepared to leave for home (through the O.R. window).

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★ to Father Mulcahy at Rosie's Bar when the chaplain received his promotion to captain.

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★ when he and BJ gave Col. Potter a farewell salute in the final episode.

★ In "The Novocaine Mutiny", although Hawkeye has no awards on his dress jacket, he would have been eligible to wear the following awards:

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★ Korean Service Medal

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★ United Nations Service Medal

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★ National Defense Service Medal

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★ (Although Hawkeye did eventually become eligible to wear a Purple Heart when he received a piece of shrapnel in the upper leg as a result of enemy mortar fire. Episode: Comrades in Arms - 1977), also his concussion from episode 90 is from rolling over in a jeep from a mortar round.

★ Only once in the series does it seem Hawkeye will make a real commitment to a woman (episode 6.07), while in episode 10.1, a USO performer falls in love with Hawkeye; however, Hawkeye does not risk everything for love in either episode.

★ Despite the fact that Hawkeye claims to be non-violent and only fires his pistol once {in the air to scare off snipers}, at least three times he hits Frank Burns. The first time Burns provokes him in 1.21 when Hawkeye nearly loses a patient, and Burns sneers and calls Pierce "Super Surgeon". In 3.18, after a long day in the O.R., Burns snaps a towel at him, which causes Hawkeye to lose his temper and hit Burns in the eye. In 4.4, a presumed-dead Hawkeye doesn't get his pay, and attacks Frank, who is acting as pay master. In 6.11 Hawkeye shoves a callous Colonel who is only interested in statistics of casualties.

★ In Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, Hawkeye shows himself to have courage rivaling that of combat soldiers. An injured corpsman drove a tank into the 4077th, thus drawing constant enemy fire. Hawkeye expresses his outrage at this by running outside and getting into the tank (despite entreaties by Margaret, Mulcahy, and especially Potter), starting it up and driving it off the 4077th grounds altogether. Potter decided to put in a call to Sidney; when Freedman gets there he says that driving the tank away from the 4077th proper was probably the sanest thing Hawkeye could have done under the circumstances.

★ Hawkeye's alcoholism: in 3.9 Hawkeye and Trapper John go "dry" for one day-and refuse to admit they have serious drinking problems; in 8.16 Hawkeye goes "dry" for nearly a week-and silently concedes at the end he does have a ''drinking problem'', after ordering a drink stating, "I'll come back when I want it, not when I need it."

References

1. Hornberger, Richard. ''M
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External links

★ Finest-Kind.net - ''M
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★ H'' website with character profile