While the book served as the inspiration for the TV series, there are significant differences between the two. The series took liberties with the story, adding characters, storylines, and humor that weren't present in the book. It also altered the setting, moving it from a MASH unit in Korea during the Korean War to a unit in the fictional town of "Camp Swampy" during the Korean War.
Still, the book's depiction of the chaos, camaraderie, and absurdities of wartime life in a MASH unit served as a crucial foundation for the series.