Private Johnson is a wounded U.S. Army soldier who makes a one-time appearance in the Season 6 episode "Tea and Empathy". The part of Private Johnson is played by Neil Thompson who is the husband of Barbara Brownell, the actress behind Lieutenant Jones in the early seasons. This is the first of two appearances by Neil Thompson. in Season 7 he would play Corporal Basgall in "Rally ‘Round the Flagg, Boys".
About Private Johnson[]
Johnson's rank is never mentioned on-screen and is inferred from the absence of stripes on his uniform when he first arrives at the 4077th MASH. He tells B.J. during triage that he was last here 8 months ago. He complains about his pain so B.J. gives him 10 milligrams of morphine.
After the operation, in Post-Op, he complains about the pain again and manages to persuade B.J. to give him another shot of morphine. Some time later, he tries again. This time, B.J. is suspicious and agrees to give him morphine and then walks away. He looks back and sees Johnson all relaxed and not in pain at all. He comes back and tells Johnson he has been hooked. It turns out that on his previous visit to the hospital, he had been treated for shrapnel in his hip and had been on morphine for about two weeks. B.J. also suspects that he had continued on morphine after being discharged. He tells Johnson he will help him, even hold his hand, but he is not going back to his unit a junkie.
Johnson goes through a tough time of cold turkey but has kicked the habit by the end of the episode where we see him enjoying a cup of orange juice with B.J. "Is orange juice habit-forming?" he asks. "I hope so," B.J. replies and they shake hands.