Fightin' Marines #18

Apr 1956 · Charlton · 0.10 USD

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In the main story, Sergeant Burton leads his Marine battalion through heavy combat during what appears to be the Korean War, dealing with nervous recruits and maintaining discipline under fire. The narrative follows the Marines as they endure a brutal winter campaign, marching through knee-deep snow until they encounter an enemy ambush that kills the wounded platoon leader. In a subplot, an old character named Quigley becomes involved in troubles at a military installation, facing complications with a blonde woman and encountering gang members who attempt to force him into criminal activity. The story concludes with the Marines executing a tactical retreat under heavy machine-gun fire, regrouping under a hill as their wounded platoon leader withdraws his men to defensive positions.

Contains 4 stories

The Colonel's Jeep

6 pp

When PFC Flash Gaither volunteers to drive Colonel Jake Harden's prized jeep, the sharp-tongued commander quickly discovers the young marine has souped up the vehicle with hot rod modifications—transforming the Colonel's symbol of military precision into a speed machine. As combat erupts and enemy artillery pins down friendly forces, Colonel Harden finds himself behind the wheel of Gaither's creation, racing through enemy territory to spot targets and keep his unit's communications alive. What starts as a clash over regulations becomes an unlikely partnership when the Colonel realizes the jeep's performance might be exactly what his troops need to survive.

Bashful Hero

4.85 pp · War

Cal Burton

Sergeant Cal Burton is a hard-bitten Marine veteran who's earned decoration after decoration for acts of courage—yet refuses every one, insisting he's just doing his job. When his unit finds itself in a desperate fight with wounded men and dwindling supplies, Burton's quiet resolve is put to the test as command and comrades alike begin to see through his humble facade. This 1956 war story explores what it means to be a true hero when glory is the last thing on your mind.

Heroes or Hooligans

6 pp

When Marines Quigley and Beals stumble into an off-limits establishment on the West Coast, they trigger a chain of confusion that puts them at odds with shore patrol, a mysterious woman, and a gang of thieves—though whether they're actually helping or hindering the case remains anyone's guess. As the two fight their way through rooftops, interrogations, and a house full of crooks (or is it criminals?), the line between heroic intervention and pure chaos gets blurrier by the minute. By the time a bewildered lieutenant tries to make sense of their contradictory stories, even he can't tell if these two Marines are the solution or the problem.

Re-Tread

7 pp

When Sergeant McCann is told he's too old for combat duty, the Korean War puts that judgment to the test—and when his prized possession goes missing during a brutal firefight, the old leatherneck taps into reserves of ferocity nobody expected. Caught in a Chinese ambush alongside his weathered buddy Sergeant Stokowski and the younger Marines, McCann fights with a desperation that turns the tide of battle and proves age is just a number when duty calls.