Bull's-Eye Bridge

 

cover art by Jerry Grandenetti

The cover story from G.I. Combat #70 (March 1959) is yet another example of how Robert Kanigher could take a simple premise for a story and depend on the artist (in this case, Ross Andru) make it look awesome.

The protagonist of "Bull's-Eye Bridge" is a combat engineer named Vic, who is having nightmares about bridges he builds getting destroyed and American troops being slaughtered because of this. Vic, therefore, vows that he'll never allow this to happen--"no matter what it costs me!"

He gets to put this vow to the test when a bridge (crossing the ominously named Bulls-Eye River) captured from the Germans is destroyed by enemy artillery. But the Americans have to attack in the morning whether they have a bridge or not.

So Vic's determination is indeed put to the test. After his unit quickly rebuilds the bridge, he single-handedly takes out an attacking Panzer.

Other German tanks again damage the bridge, so the engineers race to replace it a second time. But when the infantry is crossing that night, a German dive bomber attacks. It's up to Vic and his blazing tommy gun to protect the bridge and the men on it.

What sells the story is the facial expressions Ross Andru gives Vic at the beginning of the story--the determination in his face is palpable. This is complimented by another set of facial expressions, the fear we see in the infantrymen when the face the possibility of crossing the river without a bridge--sitting ducks for enemy fire.

Andru's art thus elevates the story from a simple war story into something with real emotional weight. 

Next week is my annual anniversary break--there will be no Wednesday and Thursday posts as I am forced by tradition to pay attention to my wife. In two weeks, we'll be saddle partners with Gene Autry.