Entertainer Alan Alda did a brilliant job in directing "The Billfold Syndrome" in the 1978-1979 Television Season. The opening clip of the episode had Corporal Kilnger picking up trash near the confines of the 4077th. Major Winchester -- in a big disgust -- ripped up a letter he received in the mail. Corporal Klinger picked up the letter knowing about Major Winchester's rejection to become head thoracic surgeon at Boston General Hospital. He acted in anger and tore the letter into ten pieces. All of the sudden, the incoming wounded soldiers arrived at the 4077th; Sergeant Nielsen arrived with the wounded soldiers to see the whole camp observe surgery.
Major Winchester -- in his haste -- developed a case of the crankiness in surgery. For one thing, he resented the fact that Sergeant Nielsen was in surgery to observe the wounded patients recover well. For a second thing, he was passed up to become chief thoracic surgeon as Boston General Hospital because of his assignment to the 4077th during the war; moreover, he would declare war on everyone in camp by not speaking to anybody at all. Little did he knew that Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt would make him talk in this episode.
Before the start of Act Two, Sergeant Nielsen started to develop a sudden memory loss. This occurred after the doctors found out the haphazard bandaging and dressing of the wounded soldiers on the bus. Colonel Potter would notify Major Freedman about the situation where he would recognize this blank. Meanwhile, Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt sent a phony telegraph to Major Winchester about his "plans" to become chief thoracic surgeon at Boston General Hospital. This was the only way they could get him to talk within the camp; the act turned out to be a despicable act on their behalf. Major Freedman would eventually have Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt play the roles of corpsmen to find his brother. They would gradually realize that Sergeant Nielsen's brother could not be found in the battle field. In reality, his hometown was Hartford, Connecticut in this episode; and more specifically, they would discuss this traumatic ordeal in greater depth. A Sensational 14!!