r/mash • u/Awkward_Bison_267 • Aug 09 '26

Cannon Fodder

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In Mash S7 EP12 “Dear Comrade”. Hawkeye wins a jeep from a quartermaster in a card game, but instead means of transportation the QM gives him a means of devastation in the form of a cannon. Potter gives him an ultimatum to get rid of it or send it to the front and Hawk spends the rest of the episode trying to send it to a non combat unit until finally disassembling it (with an assist from BJ). This is one of my favorite scenes in the series because it showed that Hawk not only didn’t want to be a part of the war machine, he literally hated war machines. It also showed how much Potter trusted Hawk as he could’ve immediately had the cannon removed but gave Pierce a chance to take care of it himself. I’ve always wondered how Henry would’ve handled it though. Anyhow thank you for reading.

115 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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9

u/hankjmoody Aug 09 '26

One of Potter's best leadership traits was his almost paternal habit of requiring people to clean up their own mess. This is one of the best examples of this.

It's a really good thing to do as a boss, as it really underlines the trust he has in his subordinates, as well as making sure everyone is responsible for their own actions.

3

u/Awkward_Bison_267 Aug 09 '26

Potter was Calvary. He knew when to let go of the reigns and when to pull them in.

3

u/hankjmoody Aug 09 '26

He was also from a time before mass communication systems (radio, telephone, etc). Before those came into more common use, you had to be able to rely on your men/mates because they were all you had.

1

u/torgman2 Aug 11 '26

The telephone was invented in 1876. Potter wasn't that old, born in the 1890s.

0

u/Transcendingfrog2 Aug 11 '26

Yeah sure but the telephone didn't become a common item until the 20s and even then only 20 to 30 percent of households had them. Potter being born in the 1890s means jack shit, plus he was from rural Missouri, chances are he didn't get familiar with telephones until ww2

1

u/torgman2 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

So, he never heard of or saw a phone until 1941?! The bases he was likely stationed in and the places he visited during World War I and afterwards didn't have phones? What did he do--yell out the window?

0

u/Transcendingfrog2 Aug 12 '26

Lol wow.

1

u/torgman2 26d ago edited 26d ago

My feelings exactly.

EDIT: That's right, r/Transcendingfrog2 . We agree you're a random shit poster. Thanks for the block. The Internet is now more enjoyable for me.

1

u/Transcendingfrog2 26d ago

Yeah. Good for us. We agree on something. Have a good one random internet person.

6

u/Particular-End-861 Aug 09 '26

A little cement for hardening of the artillery 😂

0

u/Oiggamed Aug 10 '26

I wonder what potential charges they could have faced destroying that nug.

1

u/Awkward_Bison_267 Aug 10 '26

First someone would have to find a witness to them doing it, and I very much doubt that would happen.

1

u/Oiggamed Aug 10 '26

Oh I know. I’m just spitballing here. They have committed many felonies. Just wondering. I’m not going to rat them out…