Don't ever try to figure out how Easy Company is organized. It can't be done. It was never meant to be a realistic portrayal of a real-life unit and the structure can vary from issue to issue. Where real-life companies were commanded by Captains and platoons that make up the company commanded by lieutenants, we usually see Sgt. Rock running the company with nary an officer in sight.
In Our Army At War #250 (October 1972), though, a brand-new inexperienced lieutenant shows up and is said to be the "new platoon leader." His rank makes sense for this role, but does that mean Sgt Rock was usually commanding just one platoon in Easy Company? Once again, don't think about it too hard. It sincerely doesn't affect the quality of the stories. Just as the DC war stories bounced back and forth through the historical timeline, the way Easy Company's structure changes from story to story is meant to suit the needs of each individual tale. It works.
Anyway, Easy Company (or a platoon from Easy?) is going to be taken by glider to a location where some paratroopers are pinned down by the Germans. Most of Easy is concerned with the lieutenant's inexperience and his initial dismissal of Rock's advice. But Rock consistently insists throughout the story that the lieutenant is indeed in charge. He respects the chain of command.
The plane towing the glider is shot down and the glider crashes, killing a few of the soldiers. The lieutenant insists they move out wading through a canal, which takes them into a booby trap. Does this guy know what he's doing?
Rock says he does--that they might have run into trouble crossing open fields and it was the officer's responsibility to pick a route. This is one of the strengths of the story. The lieutenant makes a decision that is apparently wrong, but Rock points out it might have been the best decision with what they knew at that moment.
There's another strong moment when Rock shows the officer the dog tags of the men lost so far and the young lieutenant says "So... many?" It helps humanize him.
Easy Company has several more dangerous situations before getting pinned down. At this point, the lieutenant gives his life to save Easy and allow them to rescue the paratroopers.
The story is a stereotypical one--the young shavetail who needs to listen to the experienced, grizzled sergeant. It's been done many times before. But Russ Heath's art brings it all to life and Bob Kanigher's script does include those humanizing moments. Besides, there have been many, many new officers in real life who had to learn from their sergeants on their way to becoming good commanders. The story deals in a stereotype, but it's a stereotype drawn from real life.
Next week, let's go in a completely different direction and visit with... who the heck is Sappy the Sportman?
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