The TV version of M*A*S*H lasted 11 years whereas the actual Korean conflict went for 3.
As with many TV series, it came from a movie, also named M*A*S*H, which was released in 1970. At a time when the US (and Australia) were involved in the Viet Nam war, M*A*S*H was director Robert Altman’s comment on that war but set in Korea.
When the movie became TV fodder, it took with it from the movie Gary Burghoff as Radar and G Wood as General Hammond. Notably it also took the theme music, played during the opening credits of the TV series but this time without without lyrics.
The haunting song,"Suicide is Painless”, was sung in the movie by Ken Prymus during the suicide scene and is also used for the opening credits.
