SHOW ‘TRAMPLED DOC’S MEMORIES’ MASH creator hated anti-war TV version... and only made £300 an episode

amputated. When the war ended in 1953 he returned to Maine and became a thoracic surgeon.

To deal with his traumatic memories he started writing a novel about three army doctors, set in the fictional 4077th MASH.

It took him more than a decade to complete the book and another five years to get it published.

His novel vividly captured the gallows humour, crazy pranks and “cocktail parties” held by doctors letting off steam in The Swamp.

In 1970 Hornberger sold the rights to 20th Century Fox and director Robert Altman transformed the book into a Golden Globe-winner.

It cost £2million to make but netted ten times more at the box office.

Then in 1972 came the TV series. Like the film, it was styled M*A*S*H in publicity posters, and it introduced a new army of fans to characters such as Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, BJ Hunnicutt, Trapper John, “Radar” O’reilly, Colonel Sherman T Potter and hilarious cross-dressing Corporal Maxwell Klinger.

Although MASH was about the Korean War, Hawkeye’s sarcastic comments and cynicism went on to reflect

America’s growing disillusionment with the conflict in Vietnam too.

But Hornberger hated the liberal sentiments given to his character.

In a 1983 interview he said the show “tramples on my memories”.

MASH ran for 11 years – eight years longer than the war – and produced more than 250 episodes.

When the show ended in February 1983, some 121.6 million viewers tuned in to see Hawkeye finally lock lips with Hot Lips, who had been his conservative arch-enemy.

But Hornberger wasn’t among those watching. He had long since given up on the show that rewrote his memories. He once recalled: “My wife and I were in a hotel room in New Zealand one time.

“We had the choice of watching The Dukes of Hazzard, MASH or an educational programme on the artificial insemination of cows.

“I chose to watch the cow show.”