HAUNTED TANK | BIOGRAPHY |
Created by Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath |
TEAM DATA
Former Members: Jeb Stuart, Cpl. Arch Asher, Sgt. Bill Craig, Pvt. Eddie Craig, Cpl. Gus Gray, Pvt. Rick Rawlins, Cpl. Slim Stryker,
First Appearance: G.I. Combat #87 (April-May 1961): "Introducing -- the Haunted Tank"
Creators: Robert Kanigher and Russ Heath
MEMBERSHIP
Member | First Appearance | Joined | Status | Specialty |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jeb Stuart | G.I. Combat #87 | G.I. Combat #87 | Active | Tank commander |
Cpl. Arch Asher | G.I. Combat #87 | G.I. Combat #87 | Deceased | Loader |
Sgt. Bill Craig | G.I. Combat #244 | G.I. Combat #244 | Deceased | Driver |
Pvt. Eddie Craig | G.I. Combat #251 | G.I. Combat #251 | Loader | |
Cpl. Gus Gray | G.I. Combat #160 | Loader, Second gunner | ||
Pvt. Rick Rawlins | G.I. Combat #87 | G.I. Combat #87 | Gunner | |
Cpl. Slim Stryker | G.I. Combat #87 | G.I. Combat #87 | Deceased | Driver |
HISTORY
The World War II "Haunted Tank" gained its nickname thanks to its commander, Jeb Stuart, who openly communicated with the spirit of his namesake, Civil War General J.E.B. Stuart. Though gunner Rick Rawlins, driver Slim Stryker, and loader Arch Asher were unable to see the ghost, they humored their commander's eccentricities. Indeed, the spirit seemed to be the tank's guardian angel. Eventually, though, their luck ran out. In 1943, Arch was killed as he saved his friends from a German tank that was about to explode. His replacement was Gus Gray, a soldier that the crew had first met only days earlier. Early in 1945, Slim Stryker also perished and was succeeded by Bill Craig. Soon after, Craig's son, Eddie, joined the crew, relieving Gus as loader so that could join Rick as a second gunner.
In recent years, the Haunted Tank crew has been reunited in encounters with the Demon Etrigan and Anarky (although these odd reunions may have been caused by supernatural resurrections or temporal fluxes). Jeb Stuart, now an old man, is still alive. Recently, he hovered between life and death and became a spirit guide to his granddaughter, Lieutenant Jennifer Stuart, who steered a modern-day equivalent of the Haunted Tank, the Cyber-Command Assault Vehicle, while helping out the Power Company in the world of Ashalanti. Jeb Stuart recovered later, now aware of what his fate will be after death.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Haunted Tank in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10 (December 1985)