More skulls on the cover than the Punisher issue!

We saw the first crossover issue with the Punisher a couple weeks back, but the previous issue almost feels like tanking; like it was intentionally lowballing itself to make the sales swing even more pronounced. It's not a bad issue, but it's not a showy crowd-pleaser, either. From 1991, the 'Nam #51, "Stone Age" Written by Doug Murray, art by Herb Trimpe.

Trimpe wasn't in his editorially mandated, faux-Image style yet; but this issue strongly resembles some of the work he had done for G.I. Joe titles. This storyline had maybe begun in #49, as helicopter pilot Dove finally marries 'donut dolly' Red Cross volunteer Gail. This involved what appeared to be a substantial bribe to one of the title's few recurring characters, a bent top sergeant, since the marriage would've been outside of regulations; but the couple's friends still chipped in to get them a little house!

Dove had maybe been losing his nerve a bit, worried about losing Gail; but seemed his usual self again. His partner Phil had stayed behind an airlift the previous issue, so Gail and some wounded could be saved; but somehow appears to have made it home okay. Still, this time they get shot down over Cambodia, and have to make a long walk back. Luckily, they manage to get back to an area they recognized, from being chewed up by arclight bombing. But by the time Dove gets back to his little house, only Gail's friend is there to greet him: depressed and grieving, believing Dove dead, she had quit and returned to the states. Dove is distraught, unsure how he could get Gail back (for that matter, just contacting her could've been a problem) and still with eight months left in his tour. But the top sergeant is also there, to suggest a lot of problems could be solved with money, and you could make a few bucks selling this house...

You should feel like the top is going to get his before the end of the war/series; but I don't. From here it seems more likely he made it home, went into politics, and served in Congress well into the 90's...