Usually when they do things so strongly like that there are background reasons.. eg , I want more money. No , and we will kill off your character so you can never come back.

That`s a nonsense! They killed him because McLean Stevenson had tired of the role! And I think it was a way to show real war, where no one can be in safe even on the way home 

I’m a huge fan of MASH.  I especially love the Henry Blake seasons.  The Absentia Henry episode is painful to watch.  It’s terribly sad that McLean left the show and that his character would never be reunited with his family.   When I watch my DVDs of the McLean seasons, I usually don’t watch Absentia Henry.  It’s too sad.  :-(

Iam really upset about Henry's chopper being shot down especially when he was killed and poor radar having to break the very bad news to all of his colleagues