Lieutenant General Theodore A. Korshak, was a U.S. Army General who made a one-time appearance in the Season 5 episode of the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H titled "The General's Practitioner". The part of General Korshak was played in the episode by Edward Binns.
About General Korshak[]
The tough-talking Lieutenant General Korshak had made a name for himself during World War Two as "The Tamer of the Tiger Tank". Now, during the Korean War he is the Commanding General of I Corps, one of the major combat formations under the United Nations Command and also the parent headquarters of the 4077th MASH. Korshak has the idea that he would like a personal physician and sends Colonel Bidwell, his operations officer, down to the 4077th to headhunt for the best doctor - Hawkeye.
Bidwell sees enough of Hawkeye to know he is not suitable - he tells Korshak that Hawkeye is a maverick, insolent and "a real hardnose". Korshak is not deterred. "That makes two of us," he says, as they drive down to the MASH for Korshak to size up Hawkeye for himself.
Brought to meet the General, Hawkeye is at his most disrespectful best. He turns down the General's offer of promotion and opportunities as a General's personal physician. To Hawkeye, that is "the same deal I offered Nurse Baker last night." But Korshak is not put off by Hawkeye's attitude and he wants Hawkeye to give him a physical.
Hawkeye finds the General is in bad shape - he has high blood pressure and a heading for a stroke but the General stubbornly refuses to give up his lifestyle of both heavy drinking and smoking-along with 20 pounds overweight. Hawkeye is exasperated. Why does he want a personal physician if he won't listen to the doctor's advice.
The General prepares to leave, still determined to have Hawkeye as a personal physician. After all, as he told Hawkeye earlier, he didn't get his stars by taking no for an answer. He tells Hawkeye he will receive his orders. Hawkeye tries desperately to talk Korshak out of it. He tells the General that he has better things to do than count his calories and listen to his liver hiccup. There are a lot of people whose lives he could save by remaining at the MASH. "You guys always say the men come first. Well, do they or don't they?"
This last argument clinches it for the General. "They do," he declares. He tells Hawkeye to stay at the MASH and do his job while he does his. "I can take orders too," Korshak concludes and leaves the camp in good humor.