The arrival of the mail brings Col. Potter news that his first grandchild is about to be born, Margaret a new set of "fatigues" from Frederick's of Hollywood, and Frank the revelation that his wife has learned about his affair.
Attention! Attention all personnel! The mail has brought the following tropes:
- The Bet: Radar runs a betting pool for the birth date, weight, and sex of Col. Potter's grandchild.
- Blatant Lies:
- Radar sees inside Frank's letter after it "accidentally" comes open while he's making tea for Colonel Potter.B.J.: Steam'll do that.
- Klinger makes up an elaborate and well-performed one when, in an effort to get sent home, he informs Potter that his two older brothers have been tragically killed in a factory explosion back home. Potter, having Klinger's personnel file on hand, already knows he's lying.
- As he tries to convince his wife Louise not to divorce him, Frank claims he's never fallen for another woman after meeting her.
- Radar sees inside Frank's letter after it "accidentally" comes open while he's making tea for Colonel Potter.
- Bookends: The episode opens and closes with Colonel Potter breaking out into song.
- Chewing the Scenery: Literally: Frank actually rips the stuffing out of a pillow with his teeth when he reads the letter from his wife.
- First-Name Basis: Klinger accidentally calls Colonel Potter by his first name when he thinks his latest scheme to get out of the army is succeeding.Klinger: Question, Sherm?
Colonel Potter: Sherm?!
Klinger: I was overcome by a wave of civilianism, sir. - I'm Standing Right Here: When Frank learns from Radar that the company clerk has placed his phone call to Indiana as a lesser priority than Potter's call to Ohio, the major insults Potter by calling him a dimwit, unaware Potter is standing on the other side of the room.Col. Potter: The Ohio call's mine, Major.
- Meaningful Name: Col. Potter's granddaughter is named Cheryl Pershing Potter, after General John "Black Jack" Pershing (Potter would later work in a VA hospital named after him).
- MST: Not to the same degree as in previous installments, but Radar's home movies do prompt a few riffs from those assembled. Radar takes them with good humor.
- Newhart Phone Call: Radar arranges several throughout the episode for Col. Potter and Frank. Margaret listens in on Frank's.
- Not So Above It All: Margaret is at first standoffish when Radar offers her a chance to take part in the betting pool, stating she disapproves of gambling. Upon learning it is about Colonel Potter’s newborn grandchild, she quickly changes her mind.
- Running Gag: Hawkeye reads one article or more from a newspaper he received from home in nearly every scene he's in, to the annoyance or amusement of others.
- Security Cling: As he reads his wife’s letter and learning she wants a divorce, Frank grabs his pillow and hugs it tight to his chest. It soon turns out not to be enough to calm him.
- Shout-Out: The home movie of Radar's family ends with the O'Reillys going inside their house to listen to the radio, leading the MASHers to guess the program in question.
- Take That!: One of the newspapers Hawkeye's father sent to him.Hawkeye: The sardine cannery burned down. "The last structure in town designed by Frank Lloyd Wright."
