Major Ross was a character who appeared in the Season 6 episode of M*A*S*H titled "Tea and Empathy". The part of the Major was played by veteran TV and film character actor Bernard Fox.
About Major Ross and his unit[]
When Major Ross arrives to visit his troops. a British unit, he insists that the 4077th doctors are "molly-coddling" his men, and that they are ready to return to active duty. Hawkeye and B.J. refute this, and it gets a little nasty, ending with Hawkeye telling Ross to "get your 'bloody butt' out of here"!
Ross returns to visit his men. Klinger rushes to the Swamp to tell Hawkeye that Ross is back, and Hawkeye runs to Post-Op, prepared for another fight, except, when he walks in, he sees that Ross is sitting with his men, with them all reading letters from home and telling stories. Ross now seems like one of the guys, and all the soldiers seem in high spirits. What's going on here?
Ross asks Hawkeye to talk outside, and its then Ross admits this whole thing was a plan - he has found that if he acts like his wounded men are actually fine, they know subconsciously that they'll be okay, which helps speed their recovery. Ross, who maintains in his approach that "sometimes, it's better to slap a hand, than to hold it", admits that his approach may seem callous, but as Hawkeye witnesses, it seems to work.
Hawkeye admits Ross was right, but points out that another British condition - giving wounded soldiers tea - leads to peritonitis. Ross is aghast - not have tea? - but says he'll mention it to his superiors.
Both men satisfied, Ross heads back into Post-Op, and Hawkeye goes back to the Swamp to get some sleep.
Research notes[]
The cap badge of Major Ross' beret shows that he is from the Gloucestershire Regiment.