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129,084
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in: Dick Giordano/Executive Editor, Joe Kubert/Cover Artist, Robert Kanigher/Writer,
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G.I. Combat Vol 1 243

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"Haunted Tank: "The Young Wolves"": The synopsis for this issue has not yet been written.

Quote1 Loneliness! That's the price you have to pay... for being in command, Jeb! Quote2
— General J.E.B. Stuart

G.I. Combat #243 is an issue of the series G.I. Combat (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1982.

Synopsis for Haunted Tank: "The Young Wolves"


Appearing in Haunted Tank: "The Young Wolves"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • American Infantry "Able Company" soldiers
    • Unnamed Lieutenant (Dies)
    • Unnamed Sergeant (Dies)
    • Private Cohen (Dies)
    • Private Finley (Dies)
    • Private Mack (Dies)
    • Private Leary (Dies)
    • Private Pzocki (Dies)
    • Private Gianelli (Dies)
    • Private Silver (Dies)
    • Private Amato (Dies)
    • Private Finnegan (Dies)

Locations:

Vehicles:


Synopsis for OSS: "The Steel Eye"


Appearing in OSS: "The Steel Eye"

Featured Characters:

  • Agent "Raoul"

Supporting Characters:

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Locations:

Events:

Vehicles:

  • German planes
  • Speedboat

Synopsis for The Unknown War: "A Test of Loyalty"


Appearing in The Unknown War: "A Test of Loyalty"

Featured Characters:

  • Unnamed American Secret agent

Antagonists:

  • Japanese Infantry lieutenant
  • Japanese Infantry soldiers

Other Characters:

  • British Commandos
  • British pilot
  • American Secret agents's parents
    • Mother
    • Father
  • Emperor Hirohito (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for Behind the Battle Lines: "Hitler's Human Weapon"


Appearing in Behind the Battle Lines: "Hitler's Human Weapon"

Featured Characters:

  • Fraulein Gilda Volke (Dies)

Supporting Characters:

  • Captain Erik Hammer

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for Haunted Tank: "The Wednesday Soldier!"

As the Haunted Tank sets out to patrol across the enemy front, the ghost of General J.E.B. Stuart appears alongside the tank. Jeb remarks how quiet and lonely it is out in the field, and the General reminds Jeb that his loneliness is the price he paid in order to be in command. The conversation is interrupted by a distress call on the radio from Lt. Silver and his tank, who were patrolling near the town of Villaneuve. Jeb orders Slim to head that direction full speed.

When they arrive, they find only the smoking wreck of Lt. Silver's tank, its entire crew dead. Rick warns Jeb that the Germans that did it must still be int he area, and that it's up to him to spot it for them. Jeb at first begins to doubt himself and his command, as the stench of burning flesh from the charred tank overwhelms him. Then, two Panzers appear atop the hill in front of him. The enemy is more heavily armored, and Jeb orders Slim to head right and get out of the area while they still can. Both Rick and Slim think Jeb's gone chicken, but Gus still has faith in him. As the Haunted Tank turns around and begins to roll away, the German tank commander sees them and orders pursuit, believing the Americans are all soft and cowardly. Gus tells Rick to wait before he judges Jeb, and thinks that he has a plan to circle around for a surprise attack. Moving through the snow at high speed, Jeb spots a small shell-torn town ahead and tells Slim to head that way and take cover. Both Rick and Slim turn to Gus, firmly believing that Jeb has turned coward and wants to hide.

When they enter the village, the General's ghost appears once again. Jeb once again doubts his leadership, letting fear overwhelm him. The General tells Jeb that every man must face his fears, and his conscience. Jeb says that it's easy for generals, who stay back behind the lines with maps and tactics, safe in the rear, but he's up front where the action and the killing is. He begins to understand just how lonely it can be in command, and wonders when it will end. "Never, my boy," the General tells him. "Not as long as you're in command!" His brooding is interrupted when dozens of villagers begins to run out of their homes towards the tank, believing that they have driven off the enemy and unaware that two Panzers are right on their tail. Jeb tries to tell them to go back and hide, but then explosions erupt all around them as the Panzers have caught up and begin shelling the area. Jeb orders Slim to get the tank out of the village, before anyone is killed because of them. Slim obeys, but thinks that Jeb's panicked and trying to run again. As the reach the edge of the village, Jeb suddenly orders Slim to take a hard right, smashing into a store building. He then orders full stop and the revolve the turret. They wait until the first Panzer begins to move past and then Rick fires. The first Panzer is destroyed, leaving only one other. Jeb then orders for full reverse and the tank slams out the back of the building and back into the streets. Finding a bomb crater, the Haunted Tank drops down into it and waits. The last Panzer turns onto the street and sees the Haunted Tank hiding in the crater and turns all its attention onto it. Unknown to the Germans, the four crewmembers had exited the tank and ran up tot he top floors of the surrounding building. The German commander looks up just in time to see four men dropping grenades onto him. They explode, taking the commander and the last Panzer with them. As Jeb and his men exit the buildings to return to their tank, Slim and Rick apologize for doubting him so much. Jeb just tells them to forget it. As the Haunted Tank leaves the village, Jeb tells the General's ghost that you can be a hero one day and a coward another, but generals never think about the men they send out to die. The General corrects him, "Yes, they do... and the greater the responsibility the lonelier they are!"

Appearing in Haunted Tank: "The Wednesday Soldier!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • German Artillery soldiers

Other Characters:

  • Lieutenant Silver (Dies)
  • American Artillery soldiers
  • French citizens

Locations:

Vehicles:

Notes

  • Between story two and three there is the 2-page "All About Tanks: The Tanker", a close-up look at the life and training of a tank commander. Usually, a tank platoon was commanded by a lieutenant, but due to a shortage of trained officers in 1941, a Sergeant named David Charles of Troop E 1st Cavalry was put through the task of training to become a tanker, inclusing a rigorous three-month course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he learned to read maps and photos, became an expert at medium and small arms, a master opf the motorcycle, the firing and directing of the guns and cannons, and the overhauling of a tank's engine. Includes a close-up look at the uniform and gear of a Tanker. Written and drawn by Sam Glanzman.

Trivia

  • In this month's "Let's Make Tracks" letter column, editor Murray Boltinoff tells of a tale that General George Patton used to tell about his time during the St. Mihiel Offensive in the First World War. He had taken refuge in a foxhole after being fired upon, while his tank kept going on without him. With no one willing to help him, he had no choice but to run after it. After about 400 yards he finally caught up with it. He was angry, but too tired to yell so he just climbed aboard. Then later, while directing the attack on Beney, he had handed his pack to a corporal who at the time was guarding a group of German prisoners. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Germans emptied the pack out of the razers, tobacco, and other personal items and refilled it with rocks. Patton lugged the pack around for hours on his back before realizing he was carrying 20 pounds of stones.


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