General Tomlin is a U.S. army officer who makes a one time appearance on the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H during the Season 7 episode "Peace on Us". The part of Geenral Tomlin was played by actor Hugh Gillin (credited as Hugh Gillan).
About General Tomlin[]
General Tomlin is one of the senior US negotiators at the Peace Talks at Panmunjom. Hawkeye gatecrashes the peace talks by bluffing the M.P.s that someone at the talks is sick and needs medical attention. The M.P.s think it is Tomlin because he is always complaining about his gastritis. Hawkeye barges into the tent and, when Tomlin challenges him, replies that someone called him to treat the General. Hawkeye proceeds to examine the General and ask about his diet. He then starts his harangue the negotiators, urging them to hurry up and come to an agreement. He makes them say "howdy" and shake hands. By this time, the General has figured out what is going on and gets the M.P.s to remove him.
The General obviously has a sense of humour. After the event, Tomlin sends an M.P. officer Major Goss to the 4077th but not to arrest Hawkeye. Instead, Goss is instructed to warn on the record Hawkeye that if he comes to Panmunjom again, Tomlin would lock him up and throw away the key. However the General also says, off the record, that he wished he himself were a young doctor like Hawkeye who could get away with his crazy stunt. Tomlin also asks Hawkeye through Goss for a diet for his gastritis.
Research notes[]
The actual UN Neogatiors at Panmumjom were:
- Navy Admiral Charles Turner Joy July 1951 until May 1952,
- Army General Mark Wayne Clark May 12, 1952 July 27, 1953