Our Army at War #177 is an issue of the series Our Army at War (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1967. It was published on December 13, 1966.
Synopsis for "Target-- Easy Company!"
This story is reprinted from Our Army at War #94.
A high ranking general in the Nazi army has decided to see just how good Easy Company is by singling them out in attacks. His ultimate goal it to destroy the seemingly unbeatable Easy Co. to score a propaganda victory for the Nazi army.
Easy Co. is on patrol with Abel and Baker Co.'s and soon find themselves singled out by attacks from various Nazi attack fleets. They are able to fight past everything from air attacks, mortar cannons, and finally a final stand against Nazi foot soldiers in a location called "The Heap", there Sgt. Rock finishes the last Nazi soldier in a western duel. Having failed at his mission, the Nazi general wonders what it would take to defeat Easy Co.
Appearing in "Target-- Easy Company!"
Featured Characters:
- Easy Company
- Sgt. Rock
- Ed Ritchie
- Mack Fenton
- Nick Bates
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Synopsis for "The Ace of Vengeance"
This story is reprinted from All-American Men of War #88.
Appearing in "The Ace of Vengeance"
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Synopsis for "Blind Gunner"
This story is reprinted from Our Fighting Forces #49.
Appearing in "Blind Gunner"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Pooch (First appearance)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- U.S. Military
Synopsis for "Tank With Wings!"
This story is reprinted from G.I. Combat #89.
The crew of the Haunted Tank are discouraged when their little tank is made fun of by the crews of the larger and more powerful Pershing tanks in the squadron. Jeb Stuart, the commander of the Haunted Tank, is angry at the other crews, but then the ghost of his ancestor General J.E.B. Stuart appears and reminds him of the story of David and Goliath. Then, new orders come over the radio for the two tanks to head for Sector Y-4, where the infantry are being attacked by a roving Panzer tank. Their orders are to locate and report back but not to attack, letting the big guns to handle it.
Later, as they move up the road into Sector Y-4, they come under attack by a German 88. The Haunted Tank is bombarded by shells from the German Panzer on the high ground, and is unable to bring their gun up to elevation to get a good shot. The crew of the Pershing laugh at them, telling Jeb to take his tank to a fox hole while they take care of the Germans. The Pershing moves up into position, and a clear shot destroys the German Panzer. Jeb is embarrassed, and swears that he'll show the others just what he and his crew can do one day.
The Haunted Tank continues up the road when they are again attacked, this time from the air. A German fighter swoops down for the kill, destroying the Pershing and killing the crew within. The Haunted Tank tries to fight back, but once again they are unable to get the elevation needed to fire a decent shot. Having made the kill, the Red Buzzard plane swings around and flies off into the distance. Jeb and his crew vow to track the plane down and destroy it, to fulfill the vow he made to the dead crew of the Pershing. That evening, during a break while the others are sleeping, Jeb slips away to talk to the General to ask his advice.
The next day, the Haunted Tank gets a message from a nearby infantry squad that is being attacked. The message cuts off in mid-sentence, and Jeb orders Slim to head in that direction hoping to find the Red Buzzard again. They arrive at the beach to find instead the infantry are under attack from a German U-Boat just off-shore. As soon as the Germans spot the approaching tank they turn their attention and firepower onto them. Jeb orders Slim to go full-speed ahead. The tank continuously fires at the U-Boat, and just when they crash into the water a lucky shot from the tank hits the German's ammo and the U-Boat explodes. The infantry thank Jeb and his crew, who continue on even more determined than before to find the Red Buzzard. As they begin to enter a wooded area, the Red Buzzard appears once again, dropping incendiaries down around the little tank below. Worried that the fire and explosions may ignite their gas tanks, Jeb orders Slim to drive the Haunted Tank down into a nearby stream. The Red Buzzard disappears again, and Jeb is furious that they lost their chance at blasting the plane out of the sky.
The next day, the Haunted Tank is ordered to be loaded up on board a cargo plane, to be dropped into a new sector along with other supplies over 200 miles away. The cargo plane takes off with Jeb and his tank on board, but not long after flight the plane Is attacked by the Red Buzzard. The cargo plane is badly damaged and will have to make an emergency landing, but first it must drop some weight - including Jeb, his crew, and the Haunted Tank! The bay doors open and the Haunted Tank is launched into the air. It's parachute opens, but they are now in full sight of the Red Buzzard who turns his plane around to attack. But the Buzzard doesn't know that there's a crew inside the little tank, and that mistake costs him his life. With the Buzzard in full sights of their cannon, the Haunted Tank fires! The Red Buzzard is destroyed, and Jeb has kept his promise to the Pershing and its crew.
Appearing in "Tank With Wings!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- General J.E.B. Stuart (As a spirit)
Antagonists:
- German Army
- German Naval U-Boat crew
Other Characters:
- American Artillery tank soldiers
- Will (Single appearance; dies)
- Milt (Single appearance; dies)
- American Infantry soldiers
- American Army Air Corps Sergeant
Locations:
Items:
- Incendiary bombs
- Parachute
Vehicles:
- The Haunted Tank
- German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft (Destroyed)
- American M23 Pershing tanks (Destroyed)
- Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B (Destroyed)
- German Unterseeboot "U-Boat" submarine (Destroyed)
- Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express transport plane
Synopsis for "U-Boat to Nowhere"
This story is reprinted from Star-Spangled War Stories #86.
Appearing in "U-Boat to Nowhere"
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Synopsis for "The Steel Trap"
This story is reprinted from Star-Spangled War Stories #88.
Appearing in "The Steel Trap"
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Antagonists:
- Commandant Von Ekt
- Lieutenant Messer (Harry West) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Pop (Single appearance)
- Professor Lane (Single appearance)
- Victor (Single appearance)
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See Also
Recommended Reading
- World War II Recommended Reading
- Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (Volume 1)
- Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (Volume 2)
- All-American Men of War (Volume 1)
- All-Out War (Volume 1)
- Blackhawk (Volume 1)
- Blitzkrieg (Volume 1)
- Capt. Storm (Volume 1)
- Four-Star Battle Tales (Volume 1)
- G.I. Combat (Volume 1)
- Men of War (Volume 1)
- Military Comics (Volume 1)
- Our Army at War (Volume 1)
- Our Fighting Forces (Volume 1)
- Sgt. Rock (Volume 1)
- Sgt. Rock (Volume 2)
- Star-Spangled War Stories (Volume 1)
- Unknown Soldier (Volume 1)
- Weird War Tales (Volume 1)