G.I. Combat #150

G.I. Combat #150 (On Sale: August 10, 1971), has a Haunted Tank cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with "The Death of the Haunted Tank" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Reprinted in G.I. Combat #169 (1974) and Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB (2008).

Next up is "The Two-Legged Mine" by Bob Haney and Russ Heath and reprinted from All American Men of War #66 (1959).

That brings us to the U.S.S. Stevens in "Hip Shot" by Sam Glanzman. "Wild Bill" Rogers, a simple deck-hand, jumps into action firing a spread of torpedoes that saves the U.S.S. Stevens from a Japanese warship.Reprinted in U.S.S. Stevens: The Collected Stories (2016).

We end with Sgt. Rock in "Ice Cream Soldier" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #85 (1959). Phil Mason, a new replacement, joins Easy Company. Phil is just a kid and has no combat experience. When he melts under pressure, the other members of Easy name him the Ice Cream Soldier.

Easy falls under fire. Phil freezes up forcing Sgt. Rock to protect him. Rock is wounded by enemy fire. Phil blames himself for the incident. The rest of Easy continues to tease Phil, calling him Ice Cream Soldier.

Rock reassigns Phil to be the bazookaman's assistant. When tanks attack Easy during a snowstorm, Phil is cut off from the others. Despite a severe case of frostbite, Phil takes out the tanks with the bazooka. Phil survives the experience, keeping the Ice Cream Soldier nickname.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #149

G.I. Combat #149 (On Sale: June 10, 1971), has a Haunted Tank cover by Joe Kubert. They kept the "Bigger and Better" slug off this cover since the last few issues have been 64 pages for 25 cents.

We begin with the Haunted Tank in "Leave the Fighting to Us" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Some of the soldiers despise the new replacement, an observant Jewish sergeant. When he shows great valor and accomplishes the mission at the cost of his life, they're forced to reconsider. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB (2008).

The backup is Sgt. Rock in "Last Man -- Last Shot" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #152 (1965). Sgt. Rock picks up a new group of recruits as replacements for Easy Company. As he returns with them to the front, they meet several attacks by enemy forces. The new recruits all freeze under fire and do not get off a shot. Rock is forced to stop the enemy attacks himself.

Between attacks, Rock tells them stories of other soldiers who were scared under pressure. He explains that they froze too. However, each one of them eventually overcame the fear and heroically died in combat.

Rock’s jeep is hit by another attack. He is forced to crawl toward the enemy forces, expecting his men to follow. They have frozen again. Rock is hit by enemy fire and goes down. Seeing their leader is human, the recruits finally return fire and fight off the enemy attack. Rock, who is wounded, then brings the troops to Easy Company.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #147

G.I. Combat #147 (On Sale: February 11, 1971), has a cover by Joe Kubert.

we begin with the Haunted Tank in "Rebel Tank" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. After his old commanding officer dies in combat, Jeb Stuart is reassigned to the command of Major Bragg. The major is offended that a Yankee has been given the name of a confederate general, so he orders Jeb to sit out of combat and make supply runs instead. The crew of the Haunted Tank complies, but after a while, they want to get back in the fight.

Eventually, Jeb disobeys orders and sends the Haunted Tank to Mount Abruzzi, where Major Bragg has launched an offensive. Jeb finds Bragg's tank and the others destroyed, Bragg orders Jeb to retreat, but once again he disobeys orders and attacks the Nazi position. By guiding the small tank along a mountain goat trail, the Haunted Tank is able to surprise the Nazis from behind and deliver the knock-out blow to their installation. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB (2008).

Next, we have "Sniper's Roost" by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and reprinted from All American Men of War #71 (1959). The story of a Nazi sniper, called "The Hawk" and how he looks at his targets as toys or insects until one gets far too close. Really wonderful artwork by MAD's Mort Drucker.

That is followed by "Tin Pot Listening Post" by Bob Haney and Jerry Grandenetti and reprinted from All American Men of War #70 (1959). A young recruit is sent into the jungle to be the forward listening post for his outfit. He is so jumpy he mistakes insects, monkeys, and birds for the enemy but each such mistake brings out a real enemy that the young recruit takes care of himself.

Next up is "Broomstick Pilot" by France Herron and John Severin and reprinted from Our Army at War #69 (1958). A young co-pilot on his way to bomb a Nazi submarine pen is startled when the pilot leaves formation and drops low to the ground to avoid enemy aircraft. The pilot says they are now "broomstick pilots" as they fly on at 100 feet, running enemy planes into tension wires and poles, dodging the fire of tanks and ground artillery. They take out the submarine pen then head back home hugging the ground all the way. 

Our next tale is "Battle Window" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and MikeEsposito and reprinted from All-American Men of War #36 (1956). New recruit Terry was a window washer before the war and everything in the war reminds him of the windows he hates.

This issue ends with "Target for an Ammo Boy" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from All American Men of War #71 (1959). On a Pacific island, a recruit tags along with T.K., known by the men as Tank Killer. Everywhere they look, they find hidden tanks.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #146

G.I. Combat #146 (On Sale: December 8, 1970), has a cover by Joe Kubert. 

We start with the Haunted Tank in "Move the World" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Jeb Stuart and the crew of the Haunted Tank are stuck in a ravine in the North African desert while two other tanks are destroyed by Nazis. When Jeb gets the tank out, they are badly outnumbered. Jeb outraces the Nazi troop carriers following him, then stops to pick up Ulysses, an infantryman. The tank then heads to Fort Solitary.

When the Haunted Tank arrives, the fort has already been destroyed. The Nazis pursuing them are close, so Jeb has his men detach the tank's turret to use as a decoy. When the Nazis arrive, they are taken by surprise from multiple directions. Jeb and his men win the battle, then reassemble the tank. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB (2008).

Our first reprint is "Hickory-Foot Soldier" by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #13 (1956).

Next, we have "A Flower for the Front" by France Herron, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #5 (1955). 

That is followed by "The Secret Battle Eye" by Hank Chapman and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #66 (1962).

Next is "The Bug That Won an Island" by Bob Haney, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito and reprinted from Our Army at War #125 (1962),

We end this issue with Sgt. Rock in "Battle Tags for Easy Co." by  Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #120 (1962). Sgt. Rock calms a new recruit while under fire by telling him stories of Easy Company's past missions. He tells the soldier how Ice Cream Soldier, Bulldozer, and Wild Man each earned their nicknames. When it comes time to fight, Sgt. Rock also shows why he is called "the Rock" by standing in the face of enemy fire. The new recruit proves himself in battle, earning his own nickname, Green Apple.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #145

G.I. Combat #145 (On Sale: October 8, 1970) has another cool Haunted Tank  cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin this "BIG" issue with one of the original stories in it, "Sand, Sun & Death" starring the Haunted Tank, written by Robert Kanigher an drawn by Russ Heath. In the desert of North Africa, the Haunted Tank in surrounded by enemy tanks. When they run out of ammunition, Jeb orders the tank to take cover in a sand storm. When the storm clears, they are lost, but they soon find a crashed bomber. 

The pilot is still alive, but he has gone mad. Jeb convinces him to get back into the fight when the enemy tanks arrive. Rick, Slim, and Arch man the plane's guns while the pilot and Jeb strike at the enemy from behind. They win the battle, but the pilot is killed during the fight. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB.

Next we have the first of the reprints, "A Hatful of War" by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and reprinted from G.I. Combat #61 (1958). A green recruit asks his Sarge what the tightest spot he could expect to be in, to which the Sarge replies, "You'll know it when you're in it." Out scouting one day the kid gets pinned sown by a machine gun and his helmet starts to feel real tight, but the kid manages to get close enough to use a grenade to end the threat and his helmet suddenly feels much looser. Shortly, while guarding a deserted farmhouse, the kid sees a German grenade flying at him and uses his helmet to knock it away, He crawls under the farmhouse steps and from there is able to take out the Nazi who threw the grenade, making his restrictive helmet feel loose again.

A few days later he is in a foxhole when a German tank arrives and once again his helmet begins to tighten. He jumps onto the tank and manages to take it out. Later when the Sarge asks if he has found the tightest spot in the war yet, the kid points to his head and say, "Right in here!"

Our next reprint is "The Iron Punch" by France Herron and Arthur Peddy and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #5 (1955). When Seabee Bob Tully is ordered to get supplies through a jungle he uses his bulldozer, Peg, to get the job done, promising to go "straight through the jungle." When attacked by snipers from up in some trees, Peg knocks them down. when attacked by machine guns in pillboxes, Peg bulldozes them over, and when challenged by an enemy tank, Peg pushes it over a cliff. Later at Seabee headquarters, Tully is shown an aerial photo of his rad and it is anything but straight.

Next we have a new two-page Battle Album, "Terror in the Sky!" on different types of anti-aircraft shells used during World War II. The art is by Sam Glanzman.

The next reprint is "Hot Corner" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from G.I. Combat #59 (1958). When ball player Arnie gets his chance in the big leagues, his hitting is fine, but his fielding at third base, what his manager called the "Hot Corner" was so bad his career was over before it started. Too embarrassed by the stories in the papers to return home, Arnie joins the army and is shipped out to North Africa where he hopes to prove himself on the front, but it is not to be. He is ordered to babysit some supplies till another platoon comes to pick them up. 

While waiting he sees a platoon of Nazi infantry approaching and prepares to stop them with his machine gun. He is so distracted by the approaching men that he fails to see the Nazi sneaking up behind him, and they knock each other out in a fist fight. He awakens to the approaching Nazis and opens fire on them. Suddenly he is attacked from the air by a Stuka which in his mind is a running trying to score on him. He manages to shoot the Stuka down, but later he sees a tank attack as another runner trying to get past his corner. He manages to get a grenade into the tank and later when the second platoon shows up for his supplies and asks what he thinks he is doing just sitting there, he says he is, "Sitting on a hot corner!"

That is followed by "Mile-Long Step" by John Reed and Jerry Grandenetti and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #2 (1954). After landing on a beach, an infantry group has to help another company three miles away. Their transport by truck is interrupted by a Nazi tank, which they mange to take out but they now have to hoof it to the next company. After dealing with some more Nazis, they arrive safely. A few weeks later they parachute into enemy land and are once again attacked but manage to fight their way out, one remarking that "War's only a step away--one after the other---a million of them."

Our last reprint is  "Glory Dive" by France Herron and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #32 (1955). On a US held island the soldiers put on a mini Olympics, but when one of the men from a submarine crew, Barney, participates in the high diving event, he does not come back u to the surface. He has dived into enemy frogmen who capture him and take him to a nearby island in their mini sub. There he is questioned for information but manages to escape, where he sees a hidden Japanese air-craft carrier. Barney steal a Japanese mini sub, returns to his men and an air strike is called to take out the carrier.

We end with the other new story, "Missing: 320 Men" a U.S.S. Stevens tale by Sam Glanzman. This is the story of Jerry Boyle a crewman who spent all his spare time drawing the hardware around him. After battles he would draw them from memory. The rest of the men loved his drawings, but after the war Jerry would notice that although he drew all the tings around him, he never drew any of the 320 men on the ship. 

Edited by Joe Kubert.

G.I. Combat #143

G.I. Combat #143 (On Sale: June 9, 1970) has a Haunted Tank cover by Joe Kubert.

We start with The Haunted Tank in "The Iron Horseman" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Pop Peters is an old war veteran. He tried to fight in the first World War, but he was declared to be too young. When he came of age, he re-enlisted, but the war was over. Now he is too old to fight in the second World War, so he works as a tank mechanic and tells the orphans at a convent war stories that stretch the truth.

After Pop makes repairs to the Haunted Tank, it returns to action. Following a skirmish with the Germans, Jeb learns that a group of Nazi tanks is headed for the convent. The Haunted Tank comes to the rescue, but it is set on fire by a Nazi flame-thrower. While the crew takes cover, Pop mans the machine gun and stops the Nazis. He is injured in the fight and must receive a blood transfusion from one of the nuns to save his life.

Heath seems to have really rushed this one. Maybe sleeping at the Playboy Mansion was starting to take its toll. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Vol. 2 TPB.

The is followed by a two-page Battle Album featuring the "General Stuart Light Tank M3A1" by Joe Kubert.

Next is "Taps for a Bugler-Boy!" by Robert Kanigher and Fred Ray. A grandfather reminisces with his grandson about when he was a bugle boy for General Washington during the Revolutionary War, of crossing the Delaware with Washington and the attack on Trenton. When his grandfather passes, the young boy keeps his bugle and a year later, as the Civil War starts, the boy joins the Confederacy as a bugler. 

When his Colonel is shot, he plays taps at his funeral and it then told to not play the bugle again, as it lets the Union soldiers know their position. Though he keeps his bugle, the boy stops playing it, till one day in the heat of battle he is wounded. In desperation he reaches his fallen bugle and begins to play, invigorating the soldiers. A Captain picks the boy up onto his horse and they ride into battle as the boy blows his bugle. When the battle is over the boy once again plays taps for the dead, before he too, succumbs to his wounds.

We end with  a one-page gag by Pete Costanza, entitled "Army Time -- Now and Then."

Edited by Joe Kubert.