I may have to read the novel again, since I can't remember where Trapper John was supposed to have come from... I seem to recall the "Boston area" but not even Wikipedia gives that information.

Anyone out there know, remember?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_M*A*S*H_characters#Trapper_John_McIntyre

Captain "Trapper" John Francis Xavier McIntyre, M.D. appears in Richard Hooker's M*A*S*H novels, as well as in the film and the two TV series (M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D.) that followed them. A lead protagonist of the early seasons of the first TV series, his nickname was derived from his being caught having sex with a woman in the lavatory aboard a Boston & Maine Railway train; when being caught in flagrante delicto, the woman announced, "He trapped me!"

McIntyre was depicted by Elliott Gould in the film, Wayne Rogers in the television series M*A*S*H, and Pernell Roberts in Trapper John, M.D.,

In the book and the film, Trapper John is a graduate of Dartmouth College (having played quarterback on the school's football team) and serves as thoracic surgeon and eventually Chief Surgeon of the 4077th. In the film, he had a dry, sardonic deadpan sense of humor, while in the M*A*S*H TV series he was something of a class clown. Trapper spent much of his time on the series playing second fiddle to Hawkeye Pierce's lead role, with the two constantly playing practical jokes on Majors Frank Burns and Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, drinking, and trying to seduce women. While Trapper expressed great love for his wife and daughters, he also fraternized with the nurses a great deal, with no pretense of fidelity.

he was from Boston like in the novel and movie.

he was from Boston like in the novel and movie.

Exactly, I was thinking Boston.

Now, with Wayne Rogers coming from Alabama, it would have been an easy leap to have seen him playing Duke rather than Trapper.

Exactly, I was thinking Boston.

Now, with Wayne Rogers coming from Alabama, it would have been an easy leap to have seen him playing Duke rather than Trapper.
I've often wished that they had kept Duke in the show instead of Trapper.

I've often wished that they had kept Duke in the show instead of Trapper.

In some ways, I felt like Wayne rogers' version of Trapper John was sort of a blending of TJ and Duke.

And I feel they really would have done better to have brought on Duke instead of B.J. when Trapper did finally leave. Duke's more abrasive style would have worked better against the steadily mellowing Hawkeye rather than the bland style B.J. brought.