When one soldier, George, needs an aorta within 20 minutes to avoid paralysis and another soldier, Harold, arrives brain dead but with a beating heart, BJ must decide if he should remove Harold's aorta to save George's life.
Hawkeye's childhood buddy drops by, and reveals that he is writing a book about his experiences in the infantry - experiences that may hit a little too close to home.
Hawkeye returns from R&R to find out Trapper has been discharged. He rushes to the airport to say goodbye but misses him. But it gives him an opportunity to welcome Trapper's replacement, B.J., to Korea.
Psychiatrist Sidney Freedman composes a letter to Sigmund Freud during a visit to the 4077, while the rest of the camp endures the hijinks of a mystery prankster.
Although Radar is granted a hardship discharge, the camp's difficulties make him seriously consider staying. Klinger begins taking over the company clerk job.
While local orphans attend a Christmas party in the mess tent, Hawkeye, B.J., and Margaret try to delay the death of a critically injured solider so that his family won't think of Christmas as the day that their father died.