G.I. Combat (1952) 87

It’s the origin of what we now call Memorial Day, but was born in the conflict that pitted brother against brother and brought about the most American deaths in a conflict in United States history.

Today is Confederate Memorial Day. Though over 100 years previous, the ghosts of the Civil War are still felt by the descendants of both sides of the Mason Dixon.

Haunted Tank creators Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath offered another ghost in the aftermath of another conflict while yet another brewed.

On the pages of G.I. Combat, General J.E.B. Stuart would lead namesake Jeb Stuart and his M3 tank crew through the African campaign of World War II to its end days in the European Theater.  All the while, “advisors” were enroute to a little country called Viet Nam.

Kanigher would attempt to stir some diversity with Jeb’s ancestry hailing from the north while the rest of his crew would be southern born and bred. As they made their way through the struggles all would come to learn an appreciation and love for each other.

Haunted Tank became a fixture of G.I. Combat’s covers and remained on the stands almost as long as companion WWII comic book Our Army at War/Sgt. Rock.

G.I. Combat (1952) 87

In the year following the end of the War Between the States, the Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus, Ga., passed a resolution to set aside one day each year to memorialize the Confederate dead. Secretary Mary Ann Williams penned a letter to each of the associations in the former Confederate states to observe the day.

April 26 was chosen because it mirrored the surrender of Confederate General Johnston to Union General Sherman at Bennett Place. Many believed this to be the official end of the war. It wasn’t until 1874 the first official public celebration was observed following a proclamation by the Georgia legislature. By 1916, 10 states were commemorating the event on June 3, birth date of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Other states would observe in late April or May 10, the date of Davis’ capture.

Unofficially, the first observance was held in Warrenton, VA, the grave site of the first Civil War soldier’s grave, John Quincy Marr who died June, 1, 1861. He was killed at the Battle of Fairfax Courthouse, in Virginia.

Rather than break out the stars and bars, remember the day with General Stuart and his more modern charges.