Lt. Colonel Burton D. Hedley was a character who appeared in the Season 8 M*A*S*H episode "Goodbye, Cruel World" . The part of Lt. Colonel Hedley was played by character actor Philip Bruns.
About Colonel Hedley[]
Klinger is upset about the rest of the MASH personnel laughing at his office decorations and fakes a set of discharge papers by forging Potter's signature and has them sent off to I Corps Headquarters. However, soon after this, Potter surprises Klinger by apologizing to him for hurting his feelings and offering him a three-day pass. Klinger feels guilty and must now rush to I-Corps to retrieve the package of fake papers before they are processed.
At I Corps, the papers are with Lt. Colonel Hedley so Klinger barges into his office, pretending to be Radar. Hedley tells Klinger that he has received Klinger's discharge papers and is about to process them. He says it is a very tragic case and he intends to send Klinger home as soon as possible. But Klinger pleads with him not to do that because the whole thing is a scam - the documents are forgeries. He asks Hedley if he is familiar with Klinger's "checkered history. He used to wear dresses." Recognition dawns on Hedley: "Oh that nut. He once sent me bonbons!"
Now convinced about the scam, Hedley decides to take disciplinary action against the forger but Klinger asks Hedley to let Potter do it instead because Potter is "so P.U.ed at Klinger that he is ready to convene a firing squad." Hedley concurs, remarking that since Potter has had to put up with Klinger for so long, it seemed only fair to let Potter have Klinger's hide. With this, Hedley returns the all important package of papers to Klinger, whom he thinks is Radar.
A closer view of Hedley. The lieutenant-colonel's silver oak leaf is clearly visible on his shoulder and his medal ribbons are clearly visible. On his shoulder he is wearing the I Corps insignia. His lapel insignia shows that he is from the infantry branch of service. While officers from the Adjutant-General's branch usually handle personnel matters, it is not unusual for officers from other branches to hold such appointments.
Trivia[]
- As seen in the photograph above the Presidents photograh is Harry S Truman; yet in the previous episode The Late Captain Pierce (TV series episode) the President is Truman successor Dwight D Eisenhower -an example of the sliding time in the series.