The Goodbye That Broke America's Heart On March 18, 1975, millions of Americans watched Colonel Henry Blake say goodbye to the 4077th on MASH*. After three seasons, actor McLean Stevenson was leaving the series. His character had finally received his discharge orders and was going home to his wife and children. The farewell was everything viewers hoped for. There were jokes, hugs, and a tearful goodbye with Radar. Henry boarded a helicopter, and everyone believed he was headed home. But the writers had one final scene planned. Near the end of the episode, Radar entered the operating room with a message. Henry Blake's plane had been shot down. There were no survivors. The news was so unexpected that the producers had kept the ending from most of the cast until shortly before filming. Writer Larry Gelbart later explained the reasoning. MASH* was a comedy set during a war, but war didn't always allow people to make it home. And the audience was devastated. CBS received angry letters from viewers who couldn't believe the show had killed off a character they loved. Henry Blake wasn't the first sitcom character to die. But his death became one of television's most unforgettable departures. For three seasons, Henry had made us laugh. And just when we thought he was finally going home, MASH* reminded us what war could take away.