Maxwell Q. Klinger

Overview… a fun-loving, creative Lebanese-American from Toledo, Ohio who’s currently trapped in the U.S. Army.  Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger has only one goal as orderly/corpsman at the 4077^th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M*A*S*H unit) in Korea – to convince those in charge that he is mentally unfit for service. If only he could earn himself a Section 8 discharge, he could return to his crazy relatives in Toledo. Despite habitually dressing in women’s clothes that would make even Academy Award-winning costume designer Edith Head proud, faking illnesses, planning escapes, and coming up with hardship excuses to be sent home, most everyone in camp knows that he is faking it. There are even those that feel Klinger is saner than almost anyone else in the army.

Personality… lively, spontaneous, and enterprising, if not downright ballsy. Max Klinger’s world is his stage. He loves people, new experiences and being the center of attention. This is why he just has to get out of the regimented, inflexible, and creativity-stifling army. Despite his crazy stunts, like writing love letters to generals complete with revealing photos of himself even though he’s heterosexual, Klinger does perform his job. He drives, cooks, sets up movies, helps nurses, and does guard duty. It might be guard duty in high heels or wearing nothing but his rifle, but it’s guard duty nonetheless.  Klinger is also generous, kind, and caring. He gets help for those that really need it, from military personnel to Korean orphans. For the most part, everyone likes Klinger. Col. Potter says, “I’ve got a soft spot for Klinger. He looks like a little like my son, and he dresses a lot like my wife.”