Fightin' Army #23

PFC. Lucas Harte, haunted by a lifetime of fear and avoidance, finds himself trapped during a critical mission near the 38th Parallel, forced to confront his deepest insecurities when his unit is pinned down defending a vital dam. Though mocked by his comrades for his past cowardice, he must face the enemy head-on when a young soldier freezes in terror, and Harte’s long-suppressed courage finally surfaces.

PFC. Mansell, a skilled rifleman, is tasked with infiltrating Japanese lines on Saipan to steal a code book before it can be destroyed during a retreat. Hidden under a rotting log, he endures the horrors of the jungle and the constant threat of enemy patrols while trying to identify the code officer by a distinctive emblem.

In the heat of battle, a Navy Medical Corpsman rushes under fire to treat a wounded Marine, embodying the dangerous dedication of stretcher bearers who risk their lives to save others. Despite carrying no weapons and being clearly marked, these medics face deadly danger from both enemy fire and the chaos of war, their sole mission to preserve life regardless of allegiance.

Sergeant Sam Bruce, a weapons platoon replacement known for avoiding danger, is forced to confront his reputation when a surprise enemy raid puts his unit in peril. Though initially reluctant to engage, he’s pushed into action when his expertise is needed to train others in a new anti-tank weapon, ultimately proving his worth despite his past caution.

Sgt. Lenahan’s squad is used as bait to lure German Tiger tanks out of hiding during Patton’s advance into Germany. With no backup and outnumbered, they set up a fake headquarters to draw the tanks into the open—only to find themselves trapped between enemy fire and the very trap they were meant to set.

In this corner... the Bazooka, a portable rocket launcher used by U.S. forces during World War II, is detailed in a straightforward military primer. The story explains its mechanics, from the electric circuit test to the high-explosive rocket warhead, highlighting how its psychological impact on German tank commanders was often greater than its actual destructive power.