They started in a Stuart named after you, general! But now they're fighting in a tank named after me... a Sherman! So they're my responsibility! 
- — General William Tecumseh Sherman
G.I. Combat #234 is an issue of the series G.I. Combat (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1981.
Synopsis for Haunted Tank: "War of the Ghost Generals"
With D-day now behind them, the American supply lines from the beaches to the advancing G.I. have been stretched tot he breaking point. The Haunted Tank has been dispatched to provide cover for the Infantrymen, who are under constant attack from the surrounding German forces. From in front of them on the road, a Panzer tank appears readying its attack. The Haunted Tank moves up and counterfires, destroying the Panzer before it can reload. Then, immediately after, they are attacked from the right. The Haunted Tank moves into the woods to come out near a cliffside, where a Sturmpanzer has perched itself to fire at the G.I.s. Lieutenant Stuart orders Rick to give the cannon maximum elevation, and in one shot the German tank is destroyed. Jeb is pleased, and when the ghost of General J.E.B. Stuart appears next to him, the General tells Jeb how proud he is to be their guardian. Then, another ghost appears behind him, the ghost of General William Tecumseh Sherman, who is there to relieve General Stuart of his duties. He states that while General Stuart was their guardian while they were in a Stuart tank, now that they are fighting in a Sherman tank they are his responsibility. The ghost of General Sherman rips the Confederate flag from the Haunted Tank, and replaces it with the Stars and Stripes of the American Flag. General Stuart relents, and tells Jeb that he is a soldier and must obey orders. He wishes Jeb and the Haunted Tank good luck, and then vanishes possibly forever.
Now back in the afterlife, General J.E.B. Stuart remembers when he was first assigned to protect his descendant namesake and his tank. He appears before the most famous, and infamous, leaders of military history, led by Alexander the Great. He is greeted at his appearance by General Von Hammer, great leader of World War One. General Sherman returns, and belittles the both of them as losers of their respective wars. The ghosts argue, some believe that victory should be met no matter the cost, while others believe that victory should not be achieved without honor. Now, in the present, the General worries just how General Sherman will treat the men, and will they fight his type of war?
Meanwhile, Jeb refuses to even listen to or answer General Sherman. Over the radio, Jeb receives hi new mission - the Haunted Tank is to destroy the German ball-bearing factory at Coordinates G114-M238. They head off into the direction of the coordinates. When they arrives at their destination, the Haunted Tank is unable to attack the factory because it is surrounded by innocent farmers and civilians on the grounds. General Sherman disagrees, and tells Jeb to attack. When Jeb refuses, Sherman calls him a loser just like his namesake. Jeb knows there has to be another way. The Haunted Tank turns and begins to survey the lands around the factory. They find a tunnel, where a freight train exits heading towards the factory. Making a quick decision, Jeb orders an attack. The train is manned with 88s, and begins to fire back at them. They manage to destroy the cannons, but the train slips by. They follow it. Eventually the train stops, and when the crew approach the train they find the engineer and crew dead, having been killed in their firefight earlier. Jeb drives the Haunted Tank up onto one of the flatbed cars, while Slim jumps out to man the engine. They're on their way again, but the tracks quickly come to a fork with the switch set in the wrong direction. Jeb tosses a grenade at the switch. It explodes, throwing the handle back and moving the switch to the right position. As they approach the factory, the Germans see them and begin to open fire onto the train. Gus climbs atop the Haunted Tank and begins to fire, while Rick lets loose the cannon. The entire area is ablaze, destroying the enemy's cannons and setting the factory on fire. Slim is unable to stop the train in time, and Jeb and Slim are forced to jump to safety just before the train barrels into the burning factory! After a few tense moments, the Haunted Tank appears from out of the fire, with Gus and Rick safely inside. General J.E.B. Stuart appears, just wanting to check up on his friends and see how they did on their mission. Before he can fade away again, General Sherman takes down the American flag and tells General Stuart that the men still fight your way and could never fight his. Then, General Sherman fades away back to the ghostly realm. Jeb replaces the Confederate flag back onto the Haunted Tank, and is happy to have his General back again. They're still a team, and back in business again!
Appearing in Haunted Tank: "War of the Ghost Generals"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- General J.E.B. Stuart
- General William Tecumseh Sherman
Antagonists:
- German Artillery soldiers
- German Infantry soldiers
- German Train engineers (All Dead)
Other Characters:
- American Infantry soldiers
- German civilians
- Alexander the Great (Ghost)
- Baron Hans von Hammer (Ghost)
Locations:
Items:
- American flag
- German 88 mm anti-aircraft gun
- M1 grenade
Vehicles:
- The Haunted Tank
- German Panzerjäger I heavy tank destroyer
- German Sturmpanzer Armored Infantry Support gun
- German Steam Locomotive train
Synopsis for OSS: "Blind Mission"
In the tomb-like gloom of the sewers under the streets of German-occupied Paris, two O.S.S. agents are being chased by the German Gestapo. The Germans fire at the two escaping agents, and eventually both go down before they can get too far. As the Gestapoapproach for a closer look at the bodies, both agents jump up and shoot the two Germans, sending their bodies tumbling into the dank waters below.
That night, while many German troops flock to the theaters in Montmartre to be entertained, one of the O.S.S.'s top agents, code named "Vera", received an urgent radio message from Control in London. He tells her to board the train heading to Berlin that night at 2000 hours and wait until she is contacted by another agent in the dining car. Later that night, she checks in and boards the train only to stumble into Herr Hauptmann, a high-ranking officer of the Gestapo, who offers to help her with her luggage. She heads for the dining car and takes a seat. A waiter approaches her table and gives her a bowl of black bean soup, something that she didn't order. She finds a secret message hidden under the bowl, telling her to visit a bookstore in Berlin at exactly 1200 hours where an agent will leave vital information on page 200 of the book "Masters of Italian Art" that must be delivered back to Control in London. She crumples up the note and drops in into the soup just as Herr Hauptmann enters the dining car and takes a seat at her table. The aiter returns and she tells him to take the soup back, as she's on a diet. Hauptmann suspects nothing.
The next day, in Berlin, Vera arrives at the bookstore and finds another agent, code-named "Eric", standing outside its door. Eric flips his coat's collar up, signaling her not to notice him. Just then, Gestapo troops appear in the street and shoot Eric, killing him. IN the confusion, Vera enters the bookstore. She quickly browses through the shelves before she finds the book she is looking for. She turns to page 200, only to find on it a full-page illustration but no massage. Then, from behind the bookcase, steps Field Marshal Goering, one of the most powerful leaders in the Nazi party. He tells her that he has been looking for that book for his collection, and asks her for it. Of course, she hands it to him, and Goering extends an invitation to spend a weekend at his estate where she can view his private collection of priceless art that has been liberated from Germany's enemies. She accepts his invitation. As she is escorted to the Field Marshal's car, she discovers that the Nazi's aide is the same officer, Herr Hauptmann, that she had met on the train.
Later, on reaching the Field Marshal's estate, they drive past an old World War 1 Fokker biplane parked on the lawn. Goering explains that it is the same plane that he flew in the first World War. They arrive at the manor, and that night after dinner Goering shows Vera around the house and his art collection. Later, after everyone's retired for the night, Vera once again finds the book and tries to examine it, but can find no hidden message. Goering walks into the room, questioning her interest in the book. She plays it off, saying that she couldn't sleep and was looking for something to read. As she heads off back to her room, Goering has become suspicious. He sits down onto his chair and thumbs through the book, but can find nothing of interest in it that would cause suspicion. He falls asleep in the chair, and a woman's hand takes the book from his sleeping grasp. An hour before dawn, Vera is walking down the road away from the estate carrying the book. Before she can get too far, she is blinded by the headlights of a car in front of her. It is Herr Hauptmann. He accuses her of being a spy and trying to get away. Vera pulls a gun, and orders Hauptmann to drive through the gates and away from the estate. The guards at the gate order the car to stop, but she tells Hauptmann and crash through them. Now away from the estate, Vera notices the bi-plane circling above them in the air. Hauptmann explains that Goering always takes it up every morning for a flight. The bi-plane circles around and beings to attack, firing its machine guns at the car. The car crashes off of the road. Goering lands the bi-plane and walks over to the smoking car, certain that no one could have survived the crash. He is wrong, and Vera lunges at him. Goering is surprised, dropping his pistol and falling into the water along the side of the road. Vera then runs to the bi-plane, taking to the air before Goering and his guards can get to her. Now in the air, she pulls the book out from underneath her blouse. It has a bullet hole in it, having saved her life during the attack.
Back at O.S.S. Headquarters in London, Vera stands with Control while the experts examine the book. They can find nothing of note on page 200, until Control notices a small dot in the upper right corner of the page. Bringing it to maximum magnification, they discover that it's a micro-dot, with the message "Two Panzer Divisions massing to attack 94th Division at Metz". Thanks to Vera's bravery, Patton's tanks can now be diverted to attack before the Germans can even get started!
Appearing in OSS: "Blind Mission"
Featured Characters:
- Agent "Vera"
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Gestapo Officer Hauptmann (Dies)
- German Gestapo troops
- Field Marshall Göring
Other Characters:
- Agent "Eric" (Dies)
Locations:
Items:
- Book "Masters of Italian Art"
Vehicles:
- German Locomotive train
- German Citroen Traction Avant staff car
- German WW1 Fokker D.VII fighter aircraft
- German Sd.Kfz. 7 Half-track
Synopsis for "P.F.C. Snafu"
An American Infantry company, it's defense line stretched thin, retreats back when German tanks begin a surprise attack on their position. When word reaches back to H.Q., they send a lone howitzer platoon there to help the Infantry. One man in the platoon, Private Fricke, has been branded a "Snafu" due to his clumsiness. He manages to drop the ammo container on his corporal's foot. He is reprimanded, and sent to help the others placing fuses into the shells. While working, they suddenly hear the sound of approaching Panzer tanks coming their way. They quickly load up a shell, close the breach on the cannon, and fire! The shell hits the Panzer at point-blank range, but just bounces off. It lands behind the Panzer, and then explodes doing no damage. The others scream at Fricke for setting the fuse on delay-action instead of impact. He's sorry, saying that he just forgot. The explosion has now alerted the enemy, and more Panzer tanks appear from out of the woods. The corporal orders them to keep firing. They load up another shell, load the primer, and fire... but nothing happens. It's a misfire, with a defective primer! Now in the sights of the tanks, the men scatter before they're killed. The Corporal blames Fricke for the misfire, and swears he'll make sure he'll get every punishment detail under the sun if they get out of this alive. As they're running away, the cannon fires. The three Panzers are so close to one another now, that the one shell rips through them and destroys them all with one shot. The Corporal realizes it was the delay-action again. A lucky one-in-a-million-shot, and they owe it all to Fricke. The men thank Fricke for his goof-up, and the Corporal warns him that one more mistake and he'll get every punishment detail in the book!
Appearing in "P.F.C. Snafu"
Featured Characters:
- Private Fricke
Supporting Characters:
- American Infantry corporal
Antagonists:
- German Artillery soldiers
Other Characters:
- American Infantry soldiers
Locations:
Items:
- American 105 mm M101A1 howitzer gun
Vehicles:
- German Panzerbefehlswagen Tiger Ausf. B heavy tank
Synopsis for Women at War: "A Killer Wind in Korea"
Lieutenant Duncaster, an O.R. nurse working for a M.A.S.H. unit near the Yalu River west of Chosin during the Korean War, is preparing to take a trip up to the front lines to visit her twin brother Billy there. She is ready to go, dressed for a combat zone in the middle of winter, with her medical kit stuffed full of chocolate chip cookies for her brother. She hitches a ride to the front lines, then walks her way down towards Billy's platoon position. She is told that Billy is at the Buddhist temple at the end of the street, but she better hurry as the enemy Chinese have crossed the river and are heading this way. When she arrives at the temple, she finds her brother lying among the dead bodies of the soldiers killed in action. She cries, but is forced to hold back her emotion when the sergeant tells her to get back to her own unit before she gets caught in the battle. With a final kiss to the forehead, she bids her brother goodbye and leaves.
Meanwhile, the battle has really begun to heat up. The last of the Marines readied themselves to hold back the enemy's charge. The Chinese attack in waves. With the sound of a bugle, they come down the hill like an avalanche. When they are near enough, the sergeant gives the order to fire and the Marines open up with everything they've got. The Chinese continue to attack in waves, and fall in waves, creating piles of their own dead. Over it all, the sound of the bugle continues to be heard despite the crescendo of Marine fire. The Marines jump up and charge, their bayonets glaring in the light, and one corporal is determined to get that bugler if it's the last thing he does. The battle is intense, both sides firing and slashing at each other, blood from both sides mingling on the Korean earth. The Chinese bugler hurls himself at one of the soldiers near him. The two fall down the slope. When they reach bottom, the bugler pulls a knife to finish the life of his opponent, but the helmet falls off to reveal that it's Lieutenant Duncaster! The Chinese bugler is unable to kill a woman, and walks away. Duncaster picks up her rifle and aims it at her enemy's back, but she is also unable to kill. Just then, the corporal appears behind her and shoots the bugler, wounding him. The bugler rolls down the slope to stop just before Duncaster. She is horrified by the man's face, unable to see anyone else but her dead brother's face in the injured man. As the battle moves on from their position, she stays, using the bandages from her medical kit to stop the bleeding and save the man. The bugler is thankful, and tells her that in the eyes of Buddha they are all the same. With tears in her eyes, she agrees. "We are all bothers and sisters... under the skin"!
Appearing in Women at War: "A Killer Wind in Korea"
Featured Characters:
- Lt. Duncaster
Supporting Characters:
- Corporal Billy Duncaster (Dies)
Antagonists:
- Chinese Infantry soldiers
Other Characters:
- American M.A.S.H. Captain
- American Marine soldiers
Locations:
- Chosin, Korea
Items:
- Bugle
Synopsis for "The Voice of the Enemy"
In 1938, in an SS outpost near Luckwnwalde, Germany, a German translator named Joerg has finished translating a Yiddish recording for his sergeant. The recording, taken from last Saturday's Jewish sermon, states that the Jews must resist the Nazi regime at all costs and not be bullied. The Sergeant has suspected the town's Rabbi of treason for some time, and with this evidence he will be able to silence the man for good.
Later, after a short drive, the German Sergeant and Joerg arrive at the synagogue to arrest the Rabbi for subversion. They enter, and the Sergeant approaches the Rabbi and slaps him across the face. He then orders Joerg to read the message they discovered back to him. Joerg obeys, reading the recording's message back in perfect Yiddish. The Rabbi is amazed, and the Sergeant reveals that they had hidden a wire recorder in the rabbi's pulpit that recorded everything. He tells the Rabbi that he will die at the very pulpit where he delivered his blasphemous message, and orders Joerg to shoot the man. Joerg fires, and hits the Sergeant square in the chest, killing him. Joerg then turns the gun onto his own head, but the Rabbi stops him before he can commit suicide. He tells Joerg to atone for his sins and jion the organization to strike back at the Nazi enemies. Before he goes, Joerg asks the Rabbi if feared for his life when he pointed his luger at him. The Rabbi smiles, and tells him that he did not, not after he said "Say Kaddish, the prayer for the dead, for me Rabbi" in the perfect Yiddish just as the Rabbi had taught Joerg when he was a child. Joerg sheds his Nazi uniform, and with a wave goodbye he runs off to join the resistance.
Appearing in "The Voice of the Enemy"
Featured Characters:
- German SS Private Saul Joerg
Supporting Characters:
- German SS Sergeant
Other Characters:
- Jewish Rabbi
Locations:
Items:
- German Luger
Vehicles:
- German Mercedes-Benz W31 staff car
Synopsis for Haunted Tank: "Search For a Soldier!"
On the Tuscany plains of Italy, the Haunted Tank has been diverted to help the 1st Platoon of Able Company attacking a German concrete bunker. They are moving at top speed, trying to reach the area in time. As they approach, Jeb can see through his binoculars that one man is still left standing. The lone Infantryman charges past the bodies of his dead comrades towards the bunker, and throws the satchel of high explosives he is carrying at it. The bunker explodes with a thunderous blast, destroying the Germans and throwing the INfantrymanback like a human bowling pin. The Haunted Tank finally reaches the scene, but by then it is all over. Jeb jumps out to help the injured soldier, but the only thought on the man's mind is the welfare of his buddy Stein. Jeb orders the others to start collecting the dog tags off the dead, while Jeb helps the Infantryman back to the Haunted Tank. However, the man refuses to get inside the tank. He wants to ride atop, so that he can look for his friend Stein. Jeb agrees, and the Haunted Tank takes off to head back to headquarters.
On the ride back, the Infantryman keeps repeating the same thing - "Did Stein make it?". Jeb tells him that they checked every dog tag they collected and didn't find anyone with the name "Stein". He's sure he made it out alive and will be back at Company HQ when they get back. Just then, an explosion rocks the Haunted Tank from below, splitting the bridge they are on in half and sending the tank down into the water. A German heavy-armored Puma car appears from the woods, ready for an attack. The Haunted Tank is helpless, wedged down with their backside half in the water. The Infantryman jumps off the tank onto the still-standing part of the bridge and, surrounded by enemy fire, rushes the Puma car. He throws a grenade under the car's wheels, destroying the enemy vehicle. The blast once again sends the man flying back. Having heard the sound of the explosions, Able Company appears from the woods to help. They find the gravely wounded Infantryman lying on the ground, and medics rush to help him. As the Infantryman dies, his last words are "Did Stein make it...?". Jeb asks the medic if he knows where Stein could be. The medic is confused, and shows the dead man's dog tags to Jeb. The Infantryman's name was Stein!
Appearing in Haunted Tank: "Search For a Soldier!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- German Infantry soldiers
- German Artillery soldiers
Other Characters:
- American Private Stein (Dies)
- American Medics
- American Infantry soldiers
Locations:
- Tuscany, Italy
Items:
- M1 grenade
Vehicles:
- The Haunted Tank
- German Sonderkraftfahrzeug 234 "Puma" Special Purpose Vehicle
Notes
- The inside front cover features the 1-page story "Backfire", whitten by George Kashdan and drawn by Dick Ayers. A G.I., guarding a German prisoner, stops to take a rest. He knowns that if he falls asleep, the German will make a move, so he is determined to stay awake. But for a second he lets his mind wander, and the German takes his rifle. The German fires, but the rifle explodes in his hand, killing him. The G.I. realizes he was so tired, he left a cleaning cloth inside the barrel causing it to backfire and save his life!
- Page 16 contains Part 1 of the "Famous Fighting Outfits" profile on the 3rd Infantry Division, the "Blue and White Devils", the only division of the U.S. Army during World War II that fought the Axis on all European fronts, and was among the first American combat units to engage in offensive ground combat operations. This part chronicles their fight through the beginning of the war, into Morocco, and their battles in Sicily and Messina. Written by Murray Boltinoff.
- The inside back cover features the 1-page story "Silent Weapon", written by George Kashdan with art by Dick Ayers. As the Japanese herd two captives through the jungle on Mindinao, one soldier tricks his captors into bringing them straight into the American lines by using his empty canteen to throw off his enemy's compass.
- The back cover features an "All About Tanks" entry for the different variants of Sherman tanks used during World War II. The examples shown include the Skink (Grizzle), a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, developed in 1943–44, in response to a requirement from the First Canadian Army, and the Sexton SP25 PDR, which could fire either an HE shell or an armour-piercing shell.
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)