Hawkeye Pierce holds the Army rank of captain in the M*A*S*H television series.
The series identifies him as Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, a surgeon and the 4077th MASH’s chief surgeon. Alan Alda played the character throughout the show’s 11-season run, making Hawkeye one of television’s most recognizable fictional military doctors.
Hawkeye’s rank also explains why he is addressed as “Captain” even though his authority is often informal. He is a commissioned medical officer, while the camp includes personnel across a wide range of ranks, from Corporal Radar O’Reilly to Colonel Sherman Potter.
A frequent mix-up comes from confusing Hawkeye with other senior characters. Henry Blake is a lieutenant colonel, Frank Burns and Charles Winchester are majors, and Potter is a colonel. Hawkeye remains a captain while serving as the unit’s leading surgeon.