This issue wasn't mint, but neither were the issues referenced within by the end of it.

I was setting up another sheet of miniature comics and added the cover of today's book, so I was thrilled to find a quarter-bin copy a couple days later at the toy show! From 1978, Sgt. Rock #317, "Hell's Oven" Written by Bob Kanigher, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Romeo Tanghal.

Easy Company has a new crop of "green apples," fresh, untested rookies, and Rock is not too sure about them. Namely, because he catches them reading comic books! After Rock blows up a Nazi armored truck with a hand grenade, the rookies are impressed, but Superman could've tore the sides off of it, or Wonder Woman could've bounced the bullets off her bracelets...man, tough crowd. Still, the rookies have guts, even if they have read too many comics, and Rock is there to set them straight. He finally takes the comics away from them, to prevent any more half-baked ideas, but then a sniper's bullet is deflected, by his ID bracelet!

The Joe Kubert cover makes it seem like this one's going to be more of a downer; it's a relatively cheery little yarn. And all the comic readers make it out OK, out of this one at least.