In the end, I guess every man has to be true to his own tradition...but at least for a moment, there was understanding between two enemies. 
Star-Spangled War Stories #180 is an issue of the series Star-Spangled War Stories (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1974.
Synopsis for "The Doomsday Heroes!"
During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Unknown Soldier accidentally collide his TBF Avenger with a kamikaze Zero fighter and thus preventing the enemy fighter from hitting an aircraft carrier. The Soldier parachute out to safety and attempt to find his co-pilot, who was not able to escape, from the wrecked Avenger, but only to find the kamikaze pilot. The Japanese, who is just a young boy, attempt to commit ritual suicide for his failed attack but is prevented and knocked unconscious by the Soldier.
The Soldier take the enemy pilot on an emergency raft and decide to wait out throughout the battle. The Japanese pilot, Katsu Isihara, soon regain consciousness and argue with the Soldier to give him back his family dagger to finish his death. The Soldier disagree with Katsu's bushido and arguing that death is only worthwhile if they can't do more by staying alive. Their argument quickly subside when they see they are floating close to naval mines. The situation becomes even more worse as they are surrounded by sharks. The Soldier and Katsu work together in carefully guiding their raft to shore with the former use his oar to carefully push away the mines and the latter using the Soldier's pistol and his dagger (used as a makeshift spear) to fend away the sharks.
By the next morning, the two wake up on shore. The Soldier and Katsu thanks each other despite being enemies. But the amity doesn't last as Katsu makes a feint kick to the Soldier and makes a run back to sea, still intent on throwing his life in sinking the Soldier's kamikaze-crippled aircraft carrier. The Soldier then realize that Katsu is going after one of the loosed naval mines and using it to sink the carrier. He swims after Katsu but is too far to reach him. Just as Katsu is close to the carrier, a shark suddenly appears and attempt to attack Katsu but only to bump the mine, causing it to explode and killing the kamikaze pilot.
Appearing in "The Doomsday Heroes!"
Featured Characters:
- Unknown Soldier (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Lt. Ames (Dies)
Antagonists:
- Imperial Japan
- Katsu Isihara (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Harry (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Leyte Gulf
Items:
Vehicles:
- Grumman TBF Avenger
- Mitsubishi A6M Zero
Synopsis for "Return"
Appearing in "Return"
Featured Characters:
- Kyr Nostrand
Supporting Characters:
- Rhuna
Notes
- "Return" is a sequel to "U.F.M." in Star-Spangled War Stories #170.
- The characters Kyr Nostrand and Rhuna first appeared in the Star Trek comic "Siege in Superspace", which was published earlier in the year.
See Also