Major Stoner was a character from the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H made a single appearance during the Season 2 episode "For The Good of the Outfit". Major Stoner was played by actor Frank Aletter.
About Major Stoner[]
After Hawkeye and Trapper make a report about the shelling of Tai Dong village by friendly fire, Major Stoner shows up at the 4077th to investigate the incident.
At first Hawkeye is antagonistic to him, especially when Stoner refers to the incident as an "alleged shelling". "Do these patients look alleged to you?" Hawkeye retorts. However Stoner remains cool. He tells Hawkeye he admires his courage for reporting the incident and this persuades Hawkeye to cooperate. He hands to Stoner a set of shell fragments and medical reports. Stoner tells Hawkeye this evidence should clinch the case and hints that there may be a commendation in store.
Margaret and Frank overhear this and eagerly ask when Frank can sign the report but Stoner tells them the report is already being processed. Before leaving, he reminds everyone that the report is highly sensitive and no one should talk about it.
Nothing happens for a long time - Hawkeye says he is unable to contact Stoner for more than a week and a half. "That's a long time to spend in the bathroom." However Trapper reads in Stars and Stripes that Tai Dong village has been damaged by enemy artillery attack. Angered, Hawkeye resolves to get hold of Stoner for an explanation.
Radar, using Henry Blake's name, finally reaches Stoner on the phone. Hawkeye confronts Stoner about the deception but Stoner tells him he has just returned from Okinawa and was just as surprised by the news story. He assures Hawkeye he will get on top of it and that heads will roll but Hawkeye is not convinced - after he rings off, Hawkeye tells Radar, "The Major happens to be the Korean distributor for crapola."
We don't see Stoner again. Later when Clayton shows up at the 4077th to persuade Hawkeye and Trapper to drop their report, he tells them that Stoner has been posted to a unit in Honolulu.
About Stoner's branch of service and insignia[]
Radar introduces Stoner as "adjutant inspector general" thus confusing two branches of service - the Adjutant General Corps and the Inspector General Corps. Later he tells Frank and Margaret that Stoner is from the Inspector General's Office. However the branch of service insignia on Stoner's lapel is clearly not that of the Inspector General Corps. It does look like that of the Adjutant General Corps which consists of a blue shield with the stars and stripes. However, closer examination shows what looks like a gold eagle on top of the shield - that's the insignia of an Aide to a General.