Well yes... Don is a "deserter". But I don't think getting out of the Army was the sole reason (or even the MAIN reason) he switched the tags. Don hated his step-father and his life in that small town, so he saw switching the dog tags not only as a way to get out of the army quickly, but a way to have a new life.

Of course he runs away. That's what he does. He ran away from home, he ran from the army so he runs again now... or tries to.

But Don (or rather Dick) IS a deserter is he not? He switched the tags so he could have just a little time left in his tour of duty (as the real Don was almost finished.) Which means he didn't serve the time he agreed to. Completely understandable as staying would probably have gotten him killed but less than honorable if he had agreed to serve.

Seeing Don fall to pieces so quickly and try to run away was amazing. Yes, Emmy worthy stuff.

This great episode was one in the steam of "great" from AMC of all places. I am past 60 and I can tell you 1960 was prePC, and the antics are tame compared to things that were common everyday office conduct. This was no internet,no fax, only 3 TV channels, and Time, Life and Look were weeks old when they were printed. Everyone drove drunk, smoked and drank during pregnancy, had unprotected sex without a second thought, and longed for a salary of $1,000. per month. You have to remember that 48% of the people in the USA today were not born when man walked on the moon. To me that was like last week. Oh for the simple life...NA... I like today much better.

This was a great episode.

I'm surprised that Don was as nervous as he was going into Cooper's office (the scene of Pete and Don racing to de-shoe was priceless). I guess he hasn't actually gotten around to reading any of those Ayn Rand novels that Cooper keeps pushing at him. All along, I was assuming that Cooper wouldn't give a damn about Don's "secret identity"--they're in advertising, for heaven's sake; their entire life is creating false fronts that capture others' interest!

The scene was worth it, though, to see Pete's face when Cooper said, "Who cares." Gotta give Kartheiser props for this one.

Tele-Toby:

The same thing crossed my mind too. Perhaps 'cause I was thinking about that, the "Korea" scenes looked like Malibu Canyon to me, the place where all the MASH exteriors were shot.

The worst part about Don's secret -- he pissed his pants -- and then idiotically proceeded to blow up the real Don Draper.

Dick Whitman was not some killer or war deserter (that would be too sexy) - he was just a weak, inept, coward (and we saw signs of him re-emerging tonight...as did Rachel Menken). I love that Rachel was disgusted by his willingness to just abandon his wife and kids.

Honestly, from what we saw of him, I hate Dick Whitman almost as much as fake Don Draper does. I never want to see him again. He just ruins my image of Don as the strong, handsome, silent type.

But that's why I love this show. What a complicated hero they've given us. Besides, despite all fake Don's flaws, we still love him.

Don's "I'm in total control" demeanor sure crumbled quickly, even though he seemed to have pulled it together when he went to talk to Cooper. I hated seeing how unnerved he became. His hair was even mussed up. I hope we don't see any further unraveling.

Anybody else think Whitman and Draper were setting up the location for M*A*S*H 4077?