Star Spangled War Stories #157

Star Spangled War Stories #157  (On Sale: April 20, 1971), has a cover by Joe Kubert, which purports to be about The Unknown Soldier meeting Sgt. Rock, but this is not THE Unknown Soldier whose exploits we have been reading for a while now in Star Spangled War Stories. In fact, this is a bullshit reprint issue in the guise of a team-up. As a kid, buying this off the rack, how could you not feel ripped off?

"(I Knew the Unknown Soldier)" is purely a Sgt. Rock reprint by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert from Our Army at War #168 (1966). This reprint has been heavily modified. The original story was 15 pages. Only twelve pages are reprinted here and a new splash page introduction is included. Sgt. Rock and Easy Company are pinned down by an enemy gun position located on a cliff. Rock witnesses a lone soldier swing down from the top of the cliff and destroy the enemy guns. However, the soldier disappears. When the soldier saves Easy again, Rock wants to know who the soldier is. However, the other members of the company think Rock is imagining the phantom soldier.

Rock then moves forward alone and encounters enemy tanks. A flash of light temporarily blinds him, but he hears another soldier destroy the tanks. The soldier then leads him back to Easy before dying while covering the rear. The soldier's body is recovered, but his identity is unknown. The body is taken home and buried in the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. See, not the guy whose exploits we have been reading about and expected to read about this issue.

The backup is Enemy Ace in "Fokker Fury" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #155 (1965). During a fierce aerial battle, Enemy Ace pursues an English plane and shoots it down. Only too late does he realize that the enemy plane's guns were empty. He returns to base feeling bad for killing an unarmed man.

Later Von Hammer receives a challenge from Alan Iver, a pilot in the RAF. The Englishman wants to duel with Von Hammer because he killed the unarmed pilot. Enemy Ace meets the challenge with his own guns empty. He dodges the English pilot's shots until both are out of ammunition. The Englishman realizes that Enemy Ace is a man to be respected. Both men come to an understanding and salute one another, knowing that tomorrow will be another day when they will do their utmost to send the enemy plane crashing to the ground.

Edited by Joe Kubert.