You're too irresponsible to know whether you could or not! This is not a circus, Kendall! This is not a barn-storming tour! 
- — Lt. Shelby
G.I. Combat #43 is an issue of the series G.I. Combat (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1956.
Synopsis for "Invasion, Ambush"
This story is reprinted from G.I. Combat #14.
Off the coast of north western Japan, three unidentified submarines surface under the cover of darkness. An unknown invasion force disembarks in rafts towards the beach. On shore, they begin their attack. Commandos are sent in advance to sever communication lines. They infiltrate the American bases and overpower the guards while destroying weapons and vehicles. Hours later, at dawn, a pair of GI's on the late shift listen closely at a strange and unfamiliar signal coming from a U.S. Radar station near the coast. At first the operators believe that the signal may be coming from a school of whales passing by, but when the signal is returned they know it to be the enemy. They try to call headquarters to warn of an attack, but the phone lines have been cut. It is too late, the invading forces are on land and massing to spring their surprise trap.
Meanwhile, In Tokyo, the men of the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd Infantry ready themselves to return back stateside on furlough. While the guys share what their plans once they get back home, their commanding officer's voice comes over the intercom ordering them to assemble outside in fifteen minutes. On the parade grounds, all men gather in full Class “C” uniforms – full combat gear – their CO steps out to give them the bad news. They have now all been ordered to participate in a “sham” invasion maneuver. The men are confused and upset, discouraged that their trip stateside has been cancelled.
At 0600 hours, the men of Company “B” file into the gliders at the Tokyo airport. Once airborne, Captain Royce Miller can now tell them the real reason for their strange change or orders. He tells them that an unidentified enemy has invaded Northern Japan and cut all communications. Air recon reports a mass movement of troops and equipment over the entire western section. Their mission is to secretly sneak in and stop the enemy, without the rest of the world ever finding out. Several hours later, the gliders reach their destination and come under fire by the enemy troops below. The glider, carrying soldiers from the 93rd Infantry Company “B”, gets its tail lines severed, and the glider drifts into the up draft to land in a dried up stream just beyond the enemy's lines. The men disembark, and their plan is to cause the enemy plenty of trouble without getting themselves killed.
At dawn the next day, the GIs of Company “B” watch from a ridge as the enemy prepare their artillery to go into operation. Captain Miller orders the Sarge to lead the men down on a sneak attack from behind. The carefully rush down the hill, and successfully overpower the enemy soldiers, taking possession of the cannon. Captain Miller can see through his binoculars the harbor nearby, swarming with enemy submarines. He orders the men to turn the cannon on the harbor and fire! Moments later, a rain of hell pours down onto the enemy subs, cutting off their foes supply line and means of escape. After nearly forty minutes of barrage, all the subs are taken out. But the men have been spotted, and enemy tanks are on their way. Captain Miller orders his men back up the hill and towards the mountain for cover. Even at the safety of the height of the mountain, the soldiers know it will be only a matter of time before they are found. Then, Captain Miller gets an idea. Later, as the enemy tanks continue their search for the GIs, one of their tanks crosses over a grassy patch. Just as it enters, the GIs jump out of the tall grass and fire into the tank, killing the enemy occupants. Now in possession of an enemy pant, they are able to quickly take out another enemy tank by surprise, clearing their way back towards the American lines. Later, however, as they move down the road, they pass right in the midst of the enemy traffic heading to the front. Cautiously, the GIs and their captured tank slip to the front of the column, where they can spot a halftrack carrying what appears to be the enemy's top brass. Captain Miller can't pass the opportunity, and has the Sarge fire directly onto the halftrack. It explodes, killing the entire command of the enemy!
Several days later, at the American command post, Captain Miller and his men are gallantly rewarded for their heroism in defeating the unknown enemy. The captain says all they want is one reward… just send his men home!
Appearing in "Invasion, Ambush"
Featured Characters:
- Private Regan "Smokes" (Single appearance)
- Private Yates (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Captain Royce Miller (Single appearance)
- American Infantry sergeant "Blackie" (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Chinese Infantry soldiers
Other Characters:
- American Military police
- American Radio operator "Ben" (Single appearance)
- American Infantry soldiers
Locations:
Items:
- Chinese Field cannon
Vehicles:
- American Willys MB Jeep
- Chinese submarines (Destroyed)
- Chinese T35/85 medium tank
- Chinese halftrack
- American Troop Transport gliders
Synopsis for "One Man Army"
This story is reprinted from G.I. Combat #13.
On the 8th of October, elements of the U.S. 6th Division quietly led a mule train up a towering Korean mountain appropriately dubbed “Pike's Peak” by the G.I.s. Three nights and two days later, the supply train reached its objective, a cave close to the top of the mountain. The captain orders a squad, led by Sergeant Al Smitty, to unload the ammo inside the cave and stand guard with his men. He explains that headquarters is planning an all-out offensive against the Chinese forces and the secret ammo dump on the mountain will come in handy when the shooting starts. Smitty agrees, telling the captain he'll see him in a few days. The safety and security of the valuable depot now rest solely on the shoulders of Sgt. Smitty and his men from “K” Company.
The men take their places within the cave, kicking their feet up and relaxing. They know this guard assignment will be an easy one, and are thankful they don't have to trek back down the mountain for a few days. Then, the screeching sound of a shell overhead and a nearby explosion catches them by surprise. The men of “K” Company are wounded, all except Sgt. Smitty, He drags his men back into the safety of the cave and contacts headquarters on the radio. The General on the line informs them that the Chinese Tenth is pulling a surprise assault, and Smitty's men just happened to get caught in the middle. The General orders Smitty to blow the ammo dump and retreat, but Smitty talks him into allowing him to stay and care for his wounded men, even if it means holding off the entire Chinese army himself. The men think he is crazy, and tries to convince him to leave them behind. Smitty tells them to shut up, and then gets to work with a plan.
Later, as dawn is breaking, Smitty begins his one man patrol. He spots movement from lower down the mountain. He orders Pvt. Collins to fire a flare. As the flare lights up the area, he can see the column of enemy troops heading his way. A few explosives on the train send them running. Then, he gets word that a platoon of Chinese troops are heading up the north side. He rushes over. Having set up a row of machine guns along the ridge wired with a master trigger, he is able to keep them at bay. No time to rest, as Pvt. Winters tells him over the radio that a couple of enemy tanks are now moving towards the west slope. Once again, Smitty dashes across the mountain side where, on another ridge, he has a line of mortars waiting for him. Back and forth the sergeant streaks from mortar to mortar, destroying the bridge and cutting off the only route the tanks have to them. But one tank has made it through, and Smitty has nothing left but small arms to fight back. He retreats back into the cave with his mother men, to await their impending fate. Then, the sounds of rockets overhead! The rocket shoots past the cave, and targets the enemy tank, destroying it. As Smitty and the others peer out, they can see the sky full of G.I. paratroopers coming in for a landing. They're saved, and the assault has turned in their favor.
Afterward, the men relax once again. As the G.I. army pulls up, the Captain is impressed by the one man army show that Smitty put on. Smitty doesn't take all the credit, as he couldn't have done it without the watchful eyes of his men. He decides to keep one of the detonator caps, as a good luck charm!
Appearing in "One Man Army"
Featured Characters:
- Sergeant Al Smitty (Single appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Private Collins (Single appearance)
- Private Winters (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- Chinese Infantry soldiers
Other Characters:
- American Infantry captain
- American Infantry soldiers
- American paratroopers
- General White (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
- Ammunition
- Dynamite
- Mortars
- Grenades
Vehicles:
- Chinese T-34-85 tanks
Synopsis for "A Medal for a Coward"
This story is reprinted from G.I. Combat #13.
In the town of Medford, a group of inductees to the U.S. Army pause as they prepare to board the train for camp. With them is Rip Haile, well known in his parts as a hero of World War II for knocking out fifty-seven German tanks with a bazooka. Rip is seeing his younger brother Johnny off, who has just enlisted. Johnny swears that he'll make his brother proud, and give the Commies “Haile's Hell” just like Rip did years before. As Johnny takes his seat on the train heading towards Camp Hood, he begins to have doubts that he can live up to his brother's expectations. But he's determined to try.
Three days later, at the training center in Camp Hood, his name's reputation spreads throughout the camp. Captain DeWitt, who was with Rip in World War II when he took out his 57th tank, is pleased to have another Haile in his company and assigns him to bazooka training. Three weeks later on the practice range, a very nervous Johnny takes hold of his bazooka and nervously aims for the target. He tries to remember everything Rip had told him – keep his sight on the target, aim for the treads, and keep a steady shoulder. He fires, and makes a perfect shot. Time after time he always hits his mark. The camp officers are extremely impressed, and feel that Johnny may even surpass his brother's record.
Soon, the 137th Infantry Regiment is shipped out to Korea. The men are in high spirit, certain of a victory with Private Johnny Haile on their side. A month later, Johnny and his buddies are with the company, preparing for a frontal assault against the Communist enemy at Wonsan. The Red Army has dig in a half mile north of their position, and they have orders to attack and route them out of their hiding places. The bazooka team is to concentrate their fire on the enemy bunkers. Johnny moves up with his platoon. At 1430 hours they make contact with the enemy and take cover. Johnny circles around and takes aim at a nearby enemy bunker, just when a Red tank appears from behind them. Johnny swings his bazooka around, but finds that he can't pull the trigger! His officers and buddies shout at him to fire, but he is frozen on the spot unable to. The tank is destroyed by another bazooka team. Johnny is frustrated at his unexplainable hesitation, but the others just write it off as first-time baptism of fire.
A day later, the 137th Infantry is moved deeper into enemy territory. The air is tense with sudden death. Private Johnny Haile thinks back on the events of yesterday and begins to worry. The major has informed the platoon that enemy tanks were spotted in the area and have to be taken out. The platoon moves forward, only to find the enemy in their path. The mountain brush parts and a Red tank exits, heading straight towards them. Every other bazooka team is taken out except for Johnny's. The major screams at Johnny to fire. Johnny raises his bazooka, aims… and then is once again frozen with fear. The tank rumbles past them, as Johnny collapses onto the ground in rage and tears. Meanwhile, behind them, the enemy tanks have broken through and are pounding havoc on the rest of the regiment. The tanks are taken out by the artillery, but not without loss of life. Back in the hills, Johnny Haile has no words to explain his actions. The major orders him behind the lines, where it's safer.
Johnny arrives at the supply depot to accept his new post, out of the line of action. The men around him can't believe it, and Johnny has begun to believe he's a coward with no courage. However, not long after his arrival, enemy shells begin to rain down onto the supply depot. The Communists have busted through the lines in a sneak attack with at least a dozen tanks… and they're heading their way! Johnny freezes for a second, just as a shell lands next to him and knocks him off his feet. Dazed but unharmed, Johnny rises up and then begins to dash through the exploding grounds towards the weapons shed. Wild-eyed and screaming, Johnny Haile takes a bazooka and begins a one-man attack on the enemy tanks. Loading and reloading, Johnny's bazooka spits flaming fire into the Red tank attack. Two, three, five tanks go down as Johnny blasts them one by one. The men around him are flabbergasted as they watch the steaming mad Johnny take out the enemy single-handed.
Afterward, all have gathered around the hero of the day, Private Johnny Haile. The others can't believe what just happened, but the major knows. The major tells him that the shell that hit him must have knocked out the memory of his hero brother, a self-imposed mental block causing him to doubt his abilities. Beaming with pride, Johnny can't wait to tell his brother what happened!
Appearing in "A Medal for a Coward"
Featured Characters:
- Private Johnny Haile (Single appearance)
Antagonists:
- North Korean Artillery soldiers
Other Characters:
- Rip Haile (Single appearance)
- Captain Eddie DeWitt (Single appearance)
- Private Evans (Single appearance)
- Private Fuller (Single appearance)
- Private Givens (Single appearance)
- Private Burns (Single appearance)
- American Infantry major
- American Infantry sergeant
- American Infantry soldiers
Locations:
- United States of America
- Medford
- North Korea
- Wonsan
Items:
- M20 bazooka
Vehicles:
- Passenger train
- North Korean T-34-85 tanks (Destroyed)
Synopsis for "Operation Showdown"
On a U.S. troop ship bound for the island of Formosa, Private Hank Kendall, a former stunt driver, has found a motorcycle below deck and has brought it up top to ride around. The other soldiers on his company quickly get out of the way, accusing Kendall of "show-boating" and making a nuisance of himself. Finally, Lt. Shelby hears the commotion and walks out on deck to stop him. He chews the private out for making turning the ship into a circus and making a racket. He orders Kendall below-deck before he's court-martialed. That night, the other soldiers warn Kendall that the lieutenant is really annoyed with him and tell him to cool off, but Kendall just accuses them of being jealous.
A few days later, at the company barracks on Formosa, Lt. Shelby is speaking with the South Korean officer attached to their battalion, Colonel Soong, who has taken notice of Kendall and his motorcycling skills. Shelby informs him of his intentions of transferring the man out of their way, but Colonel Soong tells him that such a skill is rare and should be kept around. A week later, as the battalion left Formosa on a new assignment, they are loaded back aboard the troop ship heading to the island of Korshu. On board, Lt. Shelby makes up his mind and decides that he's going to transfer Kendall the first chance he gets.
The following night, the battalion reaches Korshu Island, and two platoons from Company K depart into the interior. They are spotted by the North Korean soldiers, who have secretly made an illegal airborne landing on the island. Their plan is to use the island as a base for their dive bombers to attack Chiang Kai-Shek's shipping lanes. They quickly plan a trap for the approaching Americans. Twenty minutes later, Pvt. Kendall, on his motorcycle, tells Lt. Shelby that he's got a feeling their being watched. Shelby dismisses it, believing they're the only ones on the island. Then, the road explodes around them as they are shelled from the front. The soldiers are stunned, and uncertain where the enemy is hiding. The jeep is destroyed, including the radio to contact headquarters about the attack. The men take cover and fire back, but they are greatly outnumbered. They head up the hill for a better position on the ridge. Kendall offers his suggestion, that he uses his motorcycle to go back to camp and deliver the message about he enemy attack. Lt. Shelby agrees to ride with him in the sidecar to offer supporting fire, believing there is no way he can get through the enemy lines by himself. Kendall's impressive skills at the reigns of the motorcycle and his years as a stunt driver get them through the enemy lines, with Shelby providing covering fire along the way. Fifteen minutes later, at headquarters, Kendall and Shelby pull up and warn of the attack, and the rest of the battalion gear up and ride out to join the fight. Shelby admits that they never would have made it without Kendal and his skills at the motorcycle, and the rest of the company look on Kendall with admiration and gratefulness!
Appearing in "Operation Showdown"
Featured Characters:
- Pvt. Hank Kendall
Supporting Characters:
- Lt. Shelby
Antagonists:
- North Korean Major
- North Korean Infantry soldiers
Other Characters:
- Col. Soong
- American Infantry Sergeant
- American Infantry soldiers
- Chiang Kai-Shek (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Formosa, East Asia
- Korshu, Pescadores Islands
Items:
- M1 Garand rifle
- Thompson Submachine gun
Vehicles:
- American Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycle with sidecar
- American Troop ship
- American Willys MB Jeep
- American M3 Halftrack Personnel carrier
Notes
- Final Quality Comics issue. The next 245 issues (#s 44 ~ 288) were published by DC Comics.
- Also contains, between stories 3 and 4, the 1-page text story "Trap for Trappers". A man named Phil Ashley wakes up in a hospital after a boating accident. He remembers diving beneath the waves to find a huge domed underwater city, and being taken prisoner by the citizens of the ocean city. But when others try to corroborate his story, they find only and empty sea bed. Did he dream the whole thing? Originally presented in Blackhawk #90.
Trivia
- The first story, "Invasion, Ambush" was originally published in issue #14 under its original title "Invasion, Top Secret".
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)