"BUGGSIE" BARTEK

Real Name: Bartek (first name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human (Post-World War II Era)

Occupation: Military officer

Group Membership: U.S. infantry, Dog Company

Affiliations: Combat Casey, Percival P. Pennington, Captain Rocke

Enemies: The People's Army of China

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in Korea during the Korean War

First Appearance: Combat Casey I#29 (August, 1956)

Powers/Abilities: "Buggsie" Bartek was an experienced soldier who carried a rifle, grenades and army knife. He had experience in operating tanks but usually froze up when he was behind the controls. He was an excellent mechanic.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black

History:
(Combat Casey I#29/5 (fb) - BTS) - While in training for the U.S. Army to deploy in the Korean War, Bartek went to tank school, as his greatest dream was to become a tank driver. People dubbed him "Buggsie" because he was "bugs about tanks." However, whenever "Buggsie" got behind the controls of a tank, he would freeze up. "Buggsie" failed tank school and joined the infantry, deploying to Korea in Dog Company under the leadership of Captain Rocke. The two most notable members of Dog Company were Combat Casey and Percival "Penny" Pennington, and "Buggsie" told Casey, Penny and other members of Dog Company about his history in tank school but claimed he failed tank school because of one test, neglecting to go into the full details about his experience.

(Combat Casey I#29/5) - One day while on patrol with Casey and "Penny," "Buggsie" spotted a Chinese tank. Wishing to prove himself behind the controls of a tank, "Buggsie" asked Casey and "Penny" to help him capture the vehicle intact. Casey fired a bazooka at the tank's treads, bringing it to a halt. Eager to claim the tank before its crew could destroy it, "Buggsie" charged the vehicle, heedless of danger to himself. One of the crew was about to drop a grenade inside the tank but" Buggsie" shot him in his hand, knocking the grenade away. The tank's captain ordered the rest of the crew to stop "Buggsie" while he prepared another grenade. Casey and "Penny" helped fend off the rest of the crew for" Buggsie" but the captain dropped his grenade inside the tank. Ignoring Casey's warnings, "Buggsie" jumped inside the tank and threw the grenade out before it could explode inside.

    As Casey wondered what they would do with the damaged tank, "Buggsie" noted that Captain Rocke had said they would be waiting in that area for more ammunition. "Buggsie" intended to repair to repair the tank while they waited. The rest of Dog Company soon moved up near to where the tank had been immobilized while "Buggsie" went to work repairing the damage to the vehicle. After two days of work, the tank was repaired and able to move.

    Just after "Buggsie," Casey and "Penny" tested the tank's engine they were fired at by arriving Chinese soldiers, whose approach they had failed to notice due to the noise of the tank's engine. Although the Chinese infantry's rifles couldn't harm the tank, a squad of four Chinese tanks were heading to the location. Casey told "Buggsie" that the time to prove himself in the tank had arrived. "Buggsie" started moving the tank forward but he froze up behind the controls, unable to take any action other than drive forward. Casey assumed "Buggsie" was being brave, charging directly towards the four enemy tanks. When the enemy tanks failed to hit them, Casey assumed "Buggsie" was performing evasive actions. Indeed, two of the tanks wound up destroying each other while trying to hit "Buggsie." The tank drove over a third tank and pushed the fourth over the edge of a cliff. At the sight of this, the infantry fled.

    Casey congratulated "Buggsie" for defeating the four tanks but "Buggsie" admitted he hadn't done anything and that he'd frozen up and been unable to operate the controls. He then admitted to Casey and "Penny" the truth about his time in tank school. He resigned himself that now all of Dog Company would know he was "just a big phony!" However, Dog Company was proud of "Buggsie" and raised a banner reading "Our Hero Buggsie Bartek, Dog Company's One-Man Tank Corps." For his heroic actions, Captain Rocke promoted "Buggsie" from private to corporal.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Bob Powell.

    "Buggsie" was supposed to be a Black soldier and Powell certainly drew him as a Black man but the colorist apparently didn't get the memo as he received pink skin for most of the story.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
"Buggsie" Bartek should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Combat Casey I#29/5, page 1, panel 2 ("Buggsie" Bartek, main)
Combat Casey I#29/5, page 5, panel 5 ("Buggsie" Bartek, face)

Appearances:
Combat Casey I#29/5 (August, 1956) - unidentified writer, Bob Powell (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 07/08/2025
Last updated: 07/08/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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