Radar O'Reilly

Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly is a fictional character in the novel ', the movie M*A*S*H, the television series M*A*S*H, the television movie W*A*L*T*E*R and two episodes of the series After M*A*S*H. He was portrayed in both the movie and the series by Gary Burghoff--the only movie actor to reprise his role in the series.

Character background

The novel established that Radar was from the Ottumwa, Iowa area in south-central part of the state. He was from a farm family and his father was deceased. Radar's mother lived on the family farm and his Uncle Ed helped out on the farm and served as his father figure. Radar was often portrayed as a friendly young man from the midwest. As a symbol of how young this man was when he got to Korea, he slept with a teddy bear.

Related Topics:
Ottumwa, Iowa - Midwest - Korea - Teddy bear

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Cpl. O'Reilly had a rough start as clerk at the 4077th, where it seemed he couldn't do anything right. The unit's commander, Lt.Col. Henry Blake, took him under his wing. Eventually, the young man became an excellent clerk with the near-magical abilities to get whatever the unit needed, to anticipate the demands and even the words of his bosses, and to hear incoming helicopters before anyone else. These latter two earned him the nickname "Radar."

Related Topics:
Henry Blake - Helicopters

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Blake and Radar grew very close, and it was Radar who tearfully announced Blake's death over the Sea of Japan. While Radar needed some time to adjust to the new Col. Potter, he eventually became very close to Potter as well. Radar was very fond of animals and raised several during his duty at M*A*S*H. For Col. Potter's anniversary, Radar gave him Sophie, a mare that he, Pierce and B.J. Hunnicutt rescued.

Related Topics:
Sea of Japan - Col. Potter - Mare - B.J. Hunnicutt

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Radar idolized Hawkeye Pierce, but the two had a falling out after Radar was injured during a trip to Seoul; their friendship developed more as that of two equals rather than hero worship.

Related Topics:
Hawkeye Pierce - Seoul

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