Superman and Sgt. Rock! World War II…and Easy Company gets a new recruit--a soldier of steel!
Superman is presented an award by the President of France. The weight of the award feels off to Superman, prompting him to scan it with his x-ray vision. The scan reveals that the award is packed with explosives. Superman tries to hurl the award into orbit, but finds it to be coated in an adhesive that holds it to his hand. Superman launches himself into the sky. The explosive detonates. The power of the blast renders Superman unconscious, while also sending him hurtling through time. Superman awakens with no memory of his identity. He discovers two pairs of army fatigues laying on the ground. Over the next rise, he spies a a company of American soldiers heading his way. Superman hastily puts on one of the uniforms. Spotted by one of the soldiers, the eagle-eyed Little Sure Shot, Superman steps forward. Asked for name, rank, and serial number, Superman finds he has no response. The company's leader, Sergeant Rock, notices that Superman is not wearing dog tags. Again Superman has no response for their absence. Believing Superman to be a German soldier wearing an American's uniform, Rock prepares to execute Superman. Suddenly, Rock spots a nest of German snipers in the bushes. A fire fight breaks out between Rock's unit, Easy Company, and the Germans. With the Germans defeated, Rock takes a different stance with Superman. Rock, and the men of Easy Company, grill Superman on all things American. Though his own identity is lost to him, Superman's memory of history is as sharp as ever. By the time Easy Company finds a safe spot to bivouac, they are convinced that Superman is what he says he is, an American G.I. with amnesia. Rock introduces Superman to the men of Easy Company-Wild Man, Ice Cream Soldier, Little Sure Shot, Jackie Johnson, and Bulldozer. As Superman will be joining their unit until they reach their headquarters, the men dub him "Tag-Along".
The men move out at dawn, running headlong into a German tank. As Superman is carrying the bazooka, Rock orders him to take out the tank. Despite his memory loss, Superman's deep seated moral code against killing keeps him from pulling the trigger. Easy Company scrambles for cover. In frustration over his inability to act, Superman pounds his fist against the ground, opening a fissure that swallows the tank. Rock throws a grenade into the tank's cockpit, disabling it. The revelation of his super-human strength, clears Superman's mind, just as Easy Company comes under attack from a German Stuka. The bomber drops it's deadly cargo. Flying at super-speed, so fast as to render himself invisible to the naked eye, Superman catches the bomb, then guides the Stuka to the ground. Using his super cold breath, Superman encases the Stuka, and it's pilot in ice. Inspecting his discarded uniform, and gear, Superman discovers a homing device inside his canteen, and realizes that this is how the Germans have been able to target Easy Company. Superman allows himself to be captured by German soldiers. During his interrogation, Superman weaves a tale of super-soldiers, specifically to enhance Rock's legend. Then Superman takes out all the Germans. Easy Company arrives on the scene to find "Tag-Along" sprawled on the ground, dead. The belief that "Tag-Along" sacrificed his life to keep Easy Company from walking into an ambush changes the men's perception of him as a coward. Easy Company buries "Tag-Along" on the field of battle, then resumes their march towards headquarters. Behind them, Superman erupts from "Tag-Along's" grave, and flies back to the present.
Notes
- While Clark Kent/Superman had amnesia, he was given the name Tag Along by Sgt. Rock and Easy Company.
- This issue contains the Hostess Superhero Ad, Batman and Commissioner Gordon in "Someone is Kidnapping the Great Chefs of Gotham City".
- "Daily Planet" Volume 79 Issue 9 week of March 5, 1979 edited by Bob Rozakis, production by Anthony Tollin and lettered by Typeset. Featuring Superman and the Thorn teaming up in Superman #336, what is in store for an African dictator and a warlock turned rock star in House of Mystery #269 plus "Ask the Answer Man!" and "Direct Currents".
- "Hembeck" by Fred Hembeck.
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