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.

Our Army at War #237

Our Army at War #237 (On Sale: August 3, 1971), has an interesting  Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in  "Nobody Cares" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath.

Next up is a Medal of Honor story "Assault on the Hermit Kingdom" drawn by Norman Maurer.

Our next story is a reprint, "Battle Sun" by Bob Haney and Russ Heath and reprinted from Our Army at War #61 (1957).

Our next reprint is "The Wall Around the War" by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #24 (1957).

We end with our final story "The Bloody Star" by Bob Haney and Fred Ray. 

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #236

Our Army at War #236 (On Sale: July 1, 1971), has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Face the Devil" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. An old man comes out of the fog, claiming that Billy Boy is his lost son. Is the man real, or a ghost? Reprinted in Sgt. Rock #19 (1991).

Next up is "22 Hrs. to San Francisco" by Mike Friedrich and John Severin. Alan Tomasz returns home from Vietnam. Reprinted in Sgt. Rock #21 (1992).

Our first reprint is "The Empty Cockpit" by Hank Chapman and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Capt. Storm #3 (1964). Lt. Danner, a new Spad pilot, wants to fill the empty cockpit of the squadron's hero Captain Kelly.

That brings us to another reprint: "The Third Enemy" by Bob Haney and Russ Heath and reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #45 (1959). During World War II a rookie Allied Ski Soldier learns that every mountain contains three types of enemies.

We end with "No Beginning -- No End" by Robert Kanigher and Frank Thorne. A look at war through the ages, from cavemen, through knights to WWI and WWII.

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.

Our Army at War #235

Our Army at War #235 (On Sale: June 1, 1971), has a so-so Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt Rock in  "Pressure Point" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. I do not have much on this one, though I have it in a box somewhere.

Next up is the U.S.S. Stevens in "Kamikaze" by Sam Glanzman. Tatsuno Sakigawa flies his plane on a Kamikaze attack against US forces at Okinawa. Reprinted in America at War: The Best of DC War Comics HC (1979), America at War: The Best of DC War Comics SC (1979), and Sgt. Rock #20 (1992).

That is followed by "The Glory Boys" by Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth. Reprinted in America at War: The Best of DC War Comics HC (1979), America at War: The Best of DC War Comics SC (1979), and DC Goes to War HC (2020).

The reprints start with "Wall for a Fighting Man" by Bob Haney and Russ Heath and reprinted from Our Army at War #52 (1956).

We end with "Instant Hero" by Hank Chapman and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Capt. Storm #6 (1965).

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #234

Our Army at War #234 (On Sale: May 4, 1971), has a nice Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We start this issue with Sgt. Rock in "Summer in Salerno" by Joe Kubert and Russ Heath. Sgt. Rock leads Easy Company into Italy during the Summer of 1943. In the town of Salerno, Easy enters a farmhouse and discovers an elderly couple living inside. When the men are pinned down by three enemy tanks, the couple leads Easy into the cellar for protection. Rock takes on the tanks himself. He destroys two, but the third has him pinned down. The old man comes out of the cellar and firebombs the Nazi tank. His tactic is successful, and Easy finishes liberating the town.

Next up is a Battle Album featuring Grenade Launcher! by Sam Glanzman. Information about different Grenade Launchers, including a 1685 Naval Brass Launcher, 1940 M1 30 Caliber rifle with M17 Launcher, 1965 40 MM Grenade Launcher, and 1969 M16 with 40 MM launcher. Also includes a cross-section of a typical WWII grenade.

We end with a tale by Ric Estrada; "Mercy Brigade" is a fictionalized retelling of the lives of three men destined to be great writers, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and John Dos Passos, during WWI.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

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.

Brave & the Bold #96

Brave & the Bold #96 (On Sale: April 15, 1971), has a Batman and Sgt. Rock cover by Nick Cardy. 

Batman and Sgt. Rock indeed star in "The Striped Pants War" by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. When Ambassador Adams, the ambassador to a South American nation, is kidnapped, Bruce Wayne is contacted by the Secretary of State to assume the role. The Adams was kidnapped by the Companeros De La Muerte, a terrorist group that is holding him for ransom. Bruce accepts the appointment when he is introduced to his guardian for the trip, Batman. We later learn that Batman was actually Alfred in disguise. 

Arriving in South America, Bruce is greeted by Abbot Carlyle, the First Secretary to the Embassy, who later introduces Bruce to Sgt. Rock at the embassy. Of course, they know one another from their adventure in Brave and Bold #84. Rock was overseeing security when Ambassador Adams was kidnapped.

While Bruce handles diplomatic matters, Batman begins the search for Adams. He is targeted by assassins twice and both times Sgt. Rock is nearby. When a bug is found in Bruce's rooms, the bug's receiver is found in Rock's room, pointing even more fingers to Rock as a traitor.

Meanwhile, a young boy delivers a lead to the whereabouts of the ambassador, pointing out the truck used to kidnap him. Batman jumps to the roof of the truck and lets the kidnappers take him to the U.S. Embassy and a secret room inside. Rock has followed and together they rescue Adams and Rock clears his name. The actual traitor is revealed to be Abbot Carlyle, the ambassador's secretary. Reprinted in Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold Batman Team-Ups Vol. 2 TPB (2008), Batman in the Brave and the Bold: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2017), and Batman in the Brave and the Bold: The Bronze Age Vol. 2 TPB (2019).

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Our Army at War #233

Our Army at War #233 (On Sale: April 1, 1971), has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Head-Count" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. Easy Company is joined by a new replacement Johnny Doe. Johnny is anxious to kill Nazis, but he takes dangerous risks and shoots first without asking questions. Sgt. Rock warns him to be careful, but Doe doesn't listen. 

At first, Johnny's antics earn him respect as he single-handedly takes out an enemy pillbox and uncovers a Nazi trap. However, in the town of Alamy, the surviving Nazis kidnap innocent civilians and use them as hostages. Johnny plans to use a grenade to kill the Nazis without regard for the hostages. When Johnny refuses to stop, Rock fires on him. The grenade explodes killing Johnny. Rock is not sure if he was responsible for Johnny's death. Reprinted in America at War: The Best of DC War Comics HC (1979), America at War: The Best of DC War Comics SC (1979), DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #18 (1982), and DC Goes to War HC (2020).

Next is a "Battle Album" on "Mobileguns and Howitzers" by Sam Glanzman. 

That is followed by a "Medal of Honor" regarding "Dwite Schaffner" by Norman Maurer. In 1917 and the 306th Infantry is getting clobbered by the Germans. Lt. Schaffner is sent to find out and discovers the Germans are living in luxury while his men are wading through mud. They try to take the German position but are thwarted by machine-gun nests. Schaffner is sent to find the nests and he takes them out. When the rest of the men arrive the Germans come out of hiding as it was all a trap. Schaffner goes ballistic and singlehandedly mows the Germans down, saving his men and gaining the Medal of Honor. 

This is Norman Maurer's first work for DC since 1952. Maurer had a long association with the Three Stooges that began about the time of his marriage to Joan Howard, the daughter of the comedy team's Moe Howard on June 29, 1947. In 1949, he produced two Three Stooges comic book issues for Jubilee, based on the short films the team made for Columbia Pictures. In 1953, Maurer created the first 3-D comics, Three-Dimension Comics featuring Mighty Mouse, with his brother, Leonard Maurer, and Joe Kubert. Two three-dimensional Stooge comics were also issued in 1953. He returned to the Stooges in comic form in 1972 with Gold Key Comics' The Little Stooges, which ran for seven issues over the next two years. Between 1971 and 1976 Maurer would do 19 stories for DC, mostly "Medal of Honor" stories for his old friend Joe Kubert. 

We end this issue with "The Sapper" by Sam Glanzman. Joe Jingles was a Sapper, he wielded the mine detector and he liked saving the lives of his men rather than killing the enemy. One day during a rainstorm his men found out that as he dug out the mines he found, he would plant flower seeds in the holes. Like Joe Kubert was fond of adding to his books, Make War No More.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #232

Our Army at War #232 (On Sale: March 2, 1971), has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We being with Sgt. Rock in "3 Men in a Tub" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Sgt. Rock and Easy Company capture three Italian soldiers who claim to be working against the Nazis. Easy takes the prisoners with them and soon discovers that they possess useful skills including shoemaking and cooking. When Rock receives orders to attack Nazi-held Cortina Castle, the Italians claim to know a secret entrance.

Rock allows the Italians to guide him past Nazi patrols. However, the Italians seemingly turn against him and turn Rock over to the Nazis. The betrayal is only a ruse, and the Italians help Rock to invade the castle. They clear a path for the rest of Easy to take control and defeat the Nazis.

The back-up is "Buck Taylor You Can't Fool Me", another tale of the U.S.S. Stevens by Writer/Artist Sam Glanzman. Buck Taylor gets sent home for acting crazy. Or was it really an act? Reprinted in U.S.S. Stevens: The Collected Stories (2016).

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #231

Our Army at War #231 (On Sale: February 2, 1971), has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin this issue with Sgt. Rock in "My Brother's Keeper" by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath. Easy Company is joined by five new recruits. Rock assigns four of them to be watched over by the veterans. The fifth, Danny Anderson, keeps tabs on himself because Danny reminds Rock of his kid brother Eddie, who died in a motorcycle accident as a kid. Rock protects Danny during a mortar attack, but Danny is anxious to prove himself.

Later Rock leads a small group to secure and hold a position. Danny is left behind. When Rock and his team are pinned down, Danny disobeys orders and follows them. Danny helps to defeat the attacking Nazis, but he is killed in so doing.

Next is a one-page Warrior featuring "Ch'in-Shih-Huang-Ti" by Sam Glanzman. Information is given on Shih-Huang-Ti who conquered most of ancient China.

This is followed by a two-page Battle Album, "Suicide Weapons" by Sam Glanzman. Information is given about various Japanese Suicide Weapons during WWII.

We end with the U.S.S. Stevens in "In the Frying Pan" also written and drawn by Sam Glanzman. The U.S.S. Stevens abruptly loses power at an inopportune time.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #230

Our Army at War #230 (On Sale: January 5, 1971), has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Home Is the Hunter" by Joe Kubert and  Russ Heath. Sgt. Rock and Easy Company discover the tracks of a giant bear outside of a village. The villagers claim that the bear is part of a curse put on the village for helping the Americans. Rock and Easy set out to prove that the curse is a phony by killing the bear. However, on the first night, Bulldozer is mauled. Little Sure Shot goes after the bear by himself only to discover that it is a Nazi in a bear suit. He is led into a trap, but Rock and the other men of Easy Company come to his aid by ambushing the Nazis.

Next, we have a Sgt. Rock's Battle Stations on Military Scouts drawn by Sam Glanzman.

We end with a U.S.S. Stevens story, "Cause and Cure" by Sam Glanzman. The U.S.S. Stevens captures four Japanese frogmen. This story was reprinted in  U.S.S. Stevens: The Collected Stories (2016).

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #229

Our Army at War #229 (On Sale: December 17, 1970), has a Sgt. Rock's Prize Battle Tales cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "The Battle of the Sergeants" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #128 (1963). Sgt. Rock joined the U.S. Army on the same day as his German counterpart Sgt. Krupp. Both men were trained by their respective militaries, then sent to North Africa.

The two Sergeants face off in the desert. Rock and Easy Company learn the location of a hidden German base. Krupp tries to destroy Rock before he can return to base and report the location. Rock and Ice Cream Soldier are the only survivors from Easy. Krupp chases Rock across the desert, leading to a struggle for Krupp's pistol. Krupp is shot and killed. Rock then carries the wounded Ice Cream Soldier out of the desert.

Next, we have "The Mouse and the Tiger" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito and reprinted from Star Spangled War Stories #73 (1958).

That is followed by "The Fighting Blip" by Bob Haney and Jack Abel and reprinted from Our Army at War #112 (1961).

Next is "Two Men -- One Hill" by Bob Haney and Mort Drucker and reprinted from Our Army at War #96 (1960).

We end with Sgt. Rock in "Surrender Ticket" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Our Army at War #149 (1964). As Sgt. Rock leads Easy Company to the front in North Africa, Nazi leader Colonel Von Krizt seeks to demoralize his opponents. He sends several waves of attackers against Easy Company, then drops surrender tickets, hoping that the Americans will give up the fight.

Despite their fear and great thirst, Easy Company makes it across the desert and confronts Von Krizt's forces. Instead of surrendering, Easy Company wins the fight and proves themselves in battle.

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.

Our Army at War #228

Our Army at War #228 (On Sale: December 1, 1970), has a beautiful cover by Joe Kubert. 

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "It's a Dirty War" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. Sgt. Rock orders Easy Company to dig into their position while he goes out on patrol alone. In the surrounding woods, Rock is ambushed by a German soldier. A struggle ensues. It ends with Rock shooting the soldier, who he then discovers is only a young boy. Rock finds an unmailed letter and a picture in the boy's wallet.

When the commander orders Rock and his men out of the area, Rock makes a detour. He dodges Nazi patrols to reach the town of Dorf. The sergeant finds the boy's father and kid brother and delivers the letter. The father understands the nature of war and is not angry, but Willy, the kid brother, is upset.

After Rock departs, a Nazi patrol comes looking for him. He is surprised when the young boy sends the patrol in the other direction. Rock returns to ask what happened. Apparently, the letter he delivered contained a message that Hitler was a liar and a criminal. Rock leaves again. He then kills the Nazi patrol to prevent them from seeking retribution against the boy and his father. Reprinted in Sgt. Rock #21 (1992).

Next is a two-page Battle Album on "Bombers of the...Past--Present--and Future!" by Sam Glanzman.

We end with "The Brave Soldiers" by Robert Kanigher and Ric Estrada. When a Rebel scout discovers Union soldiers on the move to destroy a supply depot, he heads to a nearby military academy for troops, only to discover that only 33 cadets remain. The scout tells the colonel in charge that he must hold the Union forces for three hours while he goes to warn the depot. Though the cadets hold the Union forces at bay for a while, eventually they are overrun. When the Union men see that their enemy were children, they give them a military funeral.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #226

Our Army at War #226 (On Sale: October 1, 1970) has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

You never know what you are going to find in a DC war book, and "Death Stop" written and drawn by Russ Heath is a real treat. New  recruits Mac and Rickey are pinned down in a trench with the rest of Easy Company by a Nazi machine gun nest. Rickey is so scared that he contemplates shooting Sgt. Rock when he tells the men to reload and prepare to attack.

Snapping out of it, Rickey remembers how all through his childhood he has been afraid, of gangs, graveyards at night, heights, diving and dogs, running many times to the comfort of his mother. He is shaken from his reverie when Rock orders him and Mac to flank the nest from the left while Rock and the rest of Easy attack from the right. He confides his fear to Mac who says he is terrified too, but that they will get through it together. Rock gives the attack order and Rickey leaps out of the trench only to find he is alone, that Mac is still in the trench.

Just then, Rickey is hit by machine gun fire and calls back for Mac to help him, but Mac does not move. Seeing that Mac is too yellow to do the job, Rickey slowly crawls towards the machine gun nest, vowing to settle with the cowardly Mac when this is over. Jumping into the nest Rickey single-handedly kills all the Nazis, then begins to stagger back to deal with Mac. But suddenly, Mac is shot in the back from another nest, falling once again to the dusty ground. He slowly begins to drawl towards Mac who is still in the trench aiming his gun at Rickey, Rickey begs Mac once again to help him, telling him that if he does not, that Rickey will kill Mac when he gets to him. Inch by inch he moves toward Mac, goading him, saying "You are what I been running away from all my life...guys like you Mac. Now...I'm goin'...to...get...you."

When Rock and the rest of Easy show up, having taken the other nest, they find Rickey dead, inches from the frozen Mac. When Rock shakes Mac, asking why he did not help Rickey, Mac falls over dead, having been hit by the first shot from the nest and how if it had not been for Rickey wanting to pay Mac back for not helping they would probably all be dead by now. 

We end with "Up, Up and AWA-A-AY" drawn by Fred Ray. It is the Civil War and misfit Union soldier Lt. Walker is ordered for fly a tethered hot-air balloon equipped with cameras and telegraph over Confederate lines. But Walker is afraid of heights and gets motion sickness. Walker gets orders over the telegraph from the general, but does not know Morse Code. Rebel shells cut the tether and Walker is loose over Confederate land. A sniper puts a hole in his balloon and he crashes on a farm, where he steals a dress off a clothes line and uses it to patch his balloon. Walker gets back in the air, but his balloon is shot again. However he manages to take some pictures as he once again suffers from motion sickness and crashes into a tree near Union lines.

He is rescued but when they look at his pictures of the Confederate positions, all he got were pictures of cooking pots. Walker is yelled at for being incompetent till someone notices that their are enough pots to feed an entire division. They realize that Confederate troops must be massed and hiding in the forest and they call off the planned attack. For saving their lives Walker is rewarded by being made commander of the balloon squadron.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #225

Our Army at War #225  (On Sale: September 1, 1970) has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert. Kubert was a master of infusing a cover with suspense and this one is almost Hitchcockian in its execution. It is not enough to be fighting an unheard of number of Nazis, he has to add in the dynamite about to blow and Rock being the only one aware of the impending disaster. Classic Kubert!

Sometimes, in our rush to see the latest super hero in action, we forget about the real heroes that appear in the DC war books. The stories are usually not very complicated, just like real life, but the heroes are there none the less. And the artists who brought them to life, were the best in the business, though most fanboys could not have cared less. No spandex, no interest. The art in this book is so diverse, yet so brilliant. Russ Heath, Sam Glanzman, Ric Estrada and Joe Kubert. It seriously did not get any better than this.

We begin with Sgt. Rock and Easy Company in "Face Front" written by Joe Kubert and excellently illustrated by Russ Heath. New recruits Iggy and Gus have wandered off in the African desert only to be found by Sgt. Rock, who is taking them back to Easy, when they are attacked by three F.W's. (Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger single-engine fighter aircraft). Heath lovingly details the death of two of the planes at the hands of Rock and his Privates. The story pivots between the death-dealing in the desert and the sacrifices being made by every-day Americans at home. The title, "Face Front" refers to the two different fronts of the war, the Front Line and the Home Front. The story contrasts the heat of the desert with the rationing of gas and meat and eggs at home and really does a great job of how America sacrificed for the war. It is pretty amazing how time alters the focus of the story. Seeing people these days refusing to even wear a mask to save the lives of their fellow citizens, I wonder how many of them would have been screaming about having to sacrifice anything for the effort during WW2.

The Nazi F. W. that got away has radioed for ground support and the three are soon looking down the barrel of a Nazi half-track. The three run for the cover of some rocks and strip out of their uniforms, use some sticks to play the part of guns and sucker the Nazis into attacking empty suits. Rock and his men gun the Nazis down, then scavenge new boots from the dead men before heading back out into the harsh desert. The heat of the day makes way for the chill of the night and Iggy talks about how his sister wrote that they save newspapers and tin cans for the war and how in New York and other big cities they turn out all the lights and black out all the windows in case of a Nazi air attack. I can't see many Americans doing something like this in this day and age; too much imposition on their "rights."

They soon see a light in the desert, but it is not Easy Co., it is a Nazi fuel dump. When the young-un's want to bypass the dump or wait for Easy to show up, Rock schools them on being a man and doing your job. Ashamed by their inactions, the kids shape up and Iggy shows up out of the darkness, giving himself up to the Nazis. When they congregate around the kid, Rock and Gus blow the fuel and attack. Following the explosion, Easy shows up and Iggy and GUs fall into line after realizing it takes both fronts to win the war.

Next we have the U.S.S. Stevens in "Buckethead" by Sam Glanzman. The Stevens is under attack from Japanese fighters and a young recruit, Johnny, is in his first air-sea battle and is scared shitless. The "old hands" could tell how close the planes were by the caliber of the guns firing at them: the closer they get the smaller the guns firing at them. Johnny goes topside to refill a water pitcher and is shocked by the rage of battle. He scampers back in fear, grabs a nearby bucket and placing it over his head he sits in the corner shaking and shivering. This maneuver earned him the name "Buckethead", but the man who pinned the name on him got a name of his own, "Crybaby." Glanzman served on the U.S.S. Stevens during the war and claimed that the stories he told were all true.

"Swamp Indian" by Ric Estrada takes place during the Seminole Wars of the 1830s and detail the fate of Chad Grey and his men, some of whom were his slaves at the hands of the Seminole Indians. It is not so much a story as a four-page slice of life and death.

We end with "Anchored Frogman" by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert, reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #17. This is the harrowing take of a frogman tangled in an enemy cruiser's anchor chain after he has has strapped a bomb to the side of the cruiser. Unable to get free he is slowly pulled up towards the doomed ship when the anchor is raised. Th

is is a really effective story and art and I see why editor Kubert chose to include it. 

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #224

Our Army at War #224 (On Sale: August 4, 1970) has a standard cover by Joe Kubert.

This book has belonged to Sgt Rock and Joe Kubert for years. It is amazing that it will take DC almost 80 more issues before they officially change the name of the book to Sgt. Rock. Of all the "auteur" editors Carmine Infantino installed at DC, none came close to the success that Kubert found.

For more than a decade he had been the face of DC war books and in his role as editor, nothing much changed there, except that he started writing stories instead of relying on Robert Kanigher. Kubert's run as the maestro of DC war comics is unprecedented in its length and breadth. From Sgt Rock to Balloon Buster to The Haunted Tank to the Unknown Soldier to Enemy Ace they all were improved if not conceived visually by Joe Kubert.

In  "One for the Money..."  Joe Kubert writes and draws a 14-page Sgt. Rock story about a new member of Easy Company, "Trader" Johnson. One of the things Kubert was so good at was creating a full-blown character in just a few panels. Look at the first page of this story. You know almost all you need to know about "Trader" in six panels.  "Trader" was part of a five-man recon squad with Rock checking out a town ahead of Easy Co., when they run into a Nazi sniper nest.  A couple of grenades take out the nest and "Trader" starts going through the remains looking for souvenirs.

"Traders'" scavenging ways bothers Rock and he tells him so, but Johnson counters that he is just a businessman and plans on having enough money put aside by the end of the war to go into a legitimate business. The argument is interrupted when Rock sees a German convoy coming over the hill and heading for the town.

From their hidden position "Trader" admires the sleek German staff car as the soldiers march into the city. The Germans know that someone took out their sniper nest and that they may still be in town, they also know that Easy is approaching, so while they hide their vehicles and set up a trap for Easy they also search the town.

Rock says they need to do something so easy doesn't walk into a trap, but "Trader" want to lay low, "What good would it do for Easy...if we commit suicide?" Rock tells him to "Shut up!" Johnson goes into a quiet rant of why he is just as good as Easy and just as deserving, but it is interrupted when a German officer extols the hiding soldiers to give up and "spend the remainder of the war in safety...in a prisoner-of-war camp."

"Trader" jumps from hiding and gives up, but when he refuses to tell them were Rock and his men are, the officer tells his men to shoot Johnson. Wounded on the ground "Trader" pulls the pin on a German grenade he had in his collection. Easy sees the resulting explosion and comes in fighting, taking the Germans out. Wildman tells Rock that if it wasn;t for the explosion they would have walked right into the trap.

Next is a two-page Battle Album featuring the "Sinking of the U.S.S. Seawolf," which is drawn by Sam Glanzman. 

That is followed by a  Warrior, History’s Mightiest Men Of Combat! story featuring "Russian Guerrilla Warrior," which is also drawn by Sam Glanzman. I don't know if Glanzman was channeling Al Williamson and Roy Krenkel or what, but this one-pager was really nice.

Next we have "Roncesvalles," a four-page Great Battles of History story written and illustrated by Ric Estrada.

It is 778 A.D. and Emperor Charlemagne is making his way through the Pyrenees after campaigning in Spain. They camp beyond a pass and a man is sent back to have Sir Roland bring the baggage train forward.

They are unaware that they are being watched and when Roland and his men attempt to traverse the tight pass they are set upon by a savage hoard of great number.  Roland fights on with such savagery that the attackers wonder if he is indeed mortal.

However, by the next dawn, the pass, Roncesvalles, is strewn with the bodies of hundreds of the dead. Charlemagne orders graves to be dug for his fallen men, "Never again shall I have their like beside me."

The book ends with a Wild Blue Yonder gag strip, "Control...control..." by John Costanza.

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #223

Our Army at War #223 (On Sale: July 2, 1970) has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

In "On Time" Russ Heath illustrates an 11-page Sgt Rock story written by Joe Kubert. In it Sgt. Rock and Easy Company capture a small town in France which was occupied by the Nazis. They find a warehouse full of food provisions stored by the enemy. When the Germans return, Rock and his men defend the warehouse. The fact that the enemy wants the warehouse intact serves to protect Easy Company from assault.

A new recruit named Turtle joins Easy Company in the midst of battle. He informs Rock that reinforcements will arrive soon, but the sergeant doesn't count on them making it in time. During one enemy attack, Turtle disables an German tank. The crew is taken prisoner. The captured soldiers then inform Sgt. Rock that a hidden weapons cache is under the warehouse. Rock and Easy Company then use the weapons to turn back the enemy attack and defend themselves until the reinforcements arrive.

Next is "Pvt. Buck's Army" and we end with a U.S.S. Stevens tale, "The Kunko Warrior" by Sam Glanzman

Edited by Joe Kubert.

Our Army at War #222

Our Army at War #222 (On Sale: June 9, 1970) has a Sgt. Rock cover by Joe Kubert.

We begin with Sgt. Rock in "Dig in, Easy" written and drawn by Joe Kubert. While trying to take a Nazi fortress Sgt. Rock is captured. A Nazi major tries to break him and get him to reveal the weaknesses of his men. Meanwhile, outside the fortress, the rest of Easy Company has dug in, but they are planning a rescue. 

Atop the fort, the major puts Rock on display and demands surrender. Easy seems to comply, and are brought in by the enemy guards. When they get close, the soldiers of Easy and the guards (members of Easy in Nazi uniforms) attack and complete the take down of the Nazi fortress and the rescue of Sgt. Rock.

Next is a one-page Warrior featuring Dwight Eisenhower by Sam Glanzman.

This is followed by the Great Battles of History featuring "The Defeat of the Spanish Armada" written and drawn by Ric Estrada.

Next we have a one-page gag by Pete Costanza called "You're in the Army Now."

We end with the U.S.S. Stevens in "Black Smoke" by Sam Glanzman. After the battle of Leyte Gulf, the Stevens and the U.S.S. Rake are sailing home. IN the morning the Rake started spewing black smoke, something it does often. The smoke is done on purpose by engine crew to rile some of the men, but what they don't realize is that the smoke is a signal of their location to the Japanese and it is not long before the Japanese artillery fly over the Stevens and land on the Rake. 

Edited by Joe Kubert.