The Missouri Marauders (Sgt. Fury/Howling Commandos allies)

THE MISSOURI MARAUDERS

Membership: Leroy Davis, Bob Jenkins, Ron Mawson, Eddie Robinson, Paul Schade, Dwight Smith, David Wood

Purpose: Commando unit serving in World War 2

Affiliations: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, Captain Sam Sawyer

Enemies: Captain Von Stuerer and other Nazis

Aliases: "Ozark Oddballs" (Sgt. Fury's name for them)

Base of Operations: England, World War 2 Era

First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#70 (September, 1969)

History: (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#70)- The members of the Missouri Marauders were originally members of the National Guard in Missouri, and were specially selected to receive training as commandos to serve in World War 2.

In May, 1944, for an important mission to destroy a bridge the Nazis were using to bring supplies to the French coast, Captain Sam Sawyer, commander of the Howling Commandos, brought in the Missouri Marauders to assist them because of the severity of the mission, and because another of his squads, the Maulers, were unavailable. This despite the fact that none of the Missouri Marauders had any live combat experience.

Nick Fury and Dum-Dum Dugan caught up with the Marauders at a pub in London, where they were celebrating the news of their first combat mission. Sgt. Jenkins and Pvt. Mawson were interrupted in the midst of a date by a couple of sailors, and Jenkins started a fight with them, which all of the Marauders participated in. To escape the wrath of the pub's owner, Jenkins ordered the rest of his men out, while he went after Schade, who was in the back booth with two women. As they attempted to flee the scene before MPs arrived, they bumped into Fury and Dugan, and Jenkins picked a fight with him. The fight ended when Fury explained that their mission would begin that very evening, and they set off to join the Howlers.

The two teams landed in France, but were immediately picked up by Nazis, and Jenkins encouraged the others to lay down their arms. He happily turned himself over to the Nazis' leader, Captain Von Stuerer, but only so that he could get close enough to steal his pistol! With the pistol to the captain's head, Jenkins had the other squad members re-arm, just as one of the Nazis opened fire on Jenkins. The scene erupted into gunfire, and the two squads ran back for cover in the trees.

Reeling from his injury, Jenkins nearly collapsed, but Reb Ralson and Leroy Davis helped carry him to safety, while Mawson and Schade gave them cover. The squads seemed doomed when a Nazi plane appeared-- only to witness it open fire upon the Nazi forces (unknown to either squad at the time, Eric Koenig of the Howlers was piloting the plane). This gave the squads the opportunity they needed to mop up the Nazis, but Jenkins was forced to sit out the fight due to his injuries. After a ferocious battle, the Nazis fled, and the squads continued on their mission.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#71)- Upon reaching the bridge, the Howlers set off to take the bridge, while the Marauders' job was to hold the bridge while the Howlers set explosives. Unfortunately, before the explosives could detonate, a division of tanks appeared. With ten minutes to go until the explosives went off, the Howlers tried to hold off the tanks long enough for the explosives to detonate, but ultimately, the bridge was destroyed by Eric Koenig, still operating a Nazi craft.

Back in London, the Howlers and Marauders shared drinks together at a pub, and Fury admitted that the Marauders had been helpful, and that if they ever needed help again, they'd give them a call.

Comments: Created by Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers and John Severin.

All of the Missouri Marauders were named after friends of Gary Friedrich (who grew up in Missouri).

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Missouri Marauders should not be confused with:

The Marauder, embodiment of the collective abilities of Team America/Thunderiders, @ Captain America I#269
The Marauder, pirate, fought Silver Surfer, @ Marvel Comics Presents#50/4
The Marauders of the 19th Century, agents of Mr. Sinister, @ Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix#1
Marauders, Mr. Sinister's more recent mutant agents, @ Uncanny X-Men#210
The Marauders of Earth-Mutant X, mutant mercenaries, @ Mutant X#26
...Or any other Marauders
The Missouri Kid, outlaw, set free by Rawhide Kid, @ Rawhide Kid I#96

Private Ron Mawson most defining feature was his pipe, which he was nearly always smoking. He went on a date with an English woman with Sgt. Jenkins, and backed him up when the sergeant picked a fight with two sailors. On the mission to destroy the German bridge, Mawson and Schade provided cover fire for Reb Ralston and Jenkins after Jenkins had been shot, and helped carry Ralston to safety after he hurt his ankle.