HOWARD SHIGETA

Real Name: Prviate Howard Shigeta

Identity/Class: Human (Japanese-American, World War II era)

Occupation: Soldier

Group Membership: Deadly Dozen

Affiliations: Howling Commandos (Isadore "Izzy" Cohen, Nick Fury, Gabe Jones, Eric Koenig, Robert "Reb" Ralston), Sam Sawyer

Enemies: Captain Conner, Nazis, Sgt. Schoen, Dr. Lola Steimle, Dr. Steinem, Major Strasser, Dr. Sweikert

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Able Company base, England
formerly, San Francisco, California

First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#98 (May, 1972)

Powers/Abilities: Howard Shigeta was skilled in judo, and wielded a rifle in combat.

History: (Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#5 (fb)) - During World War II, Howard Shigeta was captured by Nazi spies, and transported to Devil's Island to be held as a prisoner. On the way there, he met Laurie Livingston and Doc Watson, and befriended them. At Devil's Island, Shigeta was tormented by the brutal Sgt. Schoen, who beat him. When Watson spat at Schoen in retaliation, the two men were put through ordeals by Schoen, including sweatboxes, obstacle courses, and whippings. Laurie had been sent to the commander, Major Strasser, but was sent to the other prisoners' cells after an attempt on his life. The other prisoners thought she was a collaborator, but Shigeta and Watson were certain of her motives, and they planned an escape. As she seemingly gave in to Strasser at a romantic dinner with him, Watson and Shigeta broke out of the cells with the other prisoners, and took the guards' weapons. Shigeta brought Laurie a gun, and she took Strasser hostage so that they could get off of the island, but Sgt. Schoen refused to let them, and shot Strasser dead so that they couldn't exploit him. Laurie, Watson and Shigeta managed to lead the other prisoners through Devil's Island and to a boat which they commandeered. As they set for England, they found Sgt. Schoen aboard, and Laurie shot him dead.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#98 (fb) - BTS) - Howard Shigeta served as a sergeant in the armed forces during World War II, but was busted to private and imprisoned for illegal possession and distribution of drugs. Captain Sam Sawyer decided to recruit him for the Deadly Dozen squadron.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#98) - Shigeta was introduced to Timothy "Dum-Dum" Dugan, who was to be the leader of the Deadly Dozen. After completing training alongside the squad, Shigeta joined them for their first mission: to capture a band of German spies who had landed on English soil. Instructed not to kill with their weapons, Shigeta used martial arts moves instead.

(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#1 (fb)) - Shigeta was introduced to Combat Kelly, newly assigned as Dugan's replacement as leader of the Deadly Dozen. He joined the Deadly Dozen on a mission to Germany to destroy a new German jet plane created by Dr. Steinem. The Deadly Dozen successfully raided the Luftwaffe complex where the jet was stored.

(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#1) - Kelly had Shigeta and the others destroy the jet plane using grenades. The destruction of the jet threatened to set off all of the jet fuel in the complex, and the Dozen escaped before the explosion destroyed the entire complex. They then met up with their rendezvous plane, and returned to England.

(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#3 - BTS) - In January, 1945, the Deadly Dozen entered the frontlines of the war during the push into Germany following the Battle of the Bulge. During a lull in the action, Kelly narrated to them the story of how he became a convict. Not long after he finished his tale, the fighting resumed.

(Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#104) - The Deadly Dozen were commanded by Captain Conner, and the squad began to realize that Conner was unrealistic about the battlefield conditions. Sgt. Fury's Howling Commandos came to assist the Deadly Dozen, reuniting Shigeta with Dum-Dum Dugan, but Captain Conner cracked-up when he learned that thousands of German soldiers were headed for their position.

(Combat Kelly and the Deadly Dozen#4) - Sgt. Fury beat up Conner in anger, then assumed command the situation, ordering Miller and Wagner to bring Conner back to headquarters. Fury led his and Kelly's squads into battle against the Germans, and they succeeded against enormous odds, driving off the Germans. When Conner returned, he tried to kill Fury and Kelly for commiting mutiny, but Miller caught up to Conner and killed him for abandoning him and Wagner after an attack. The Deadly Dozen brought Miller and Wagner's bodies back with them, but left Conner's.

(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#5) - After completing an obstacle course run, Shigeta met up with Livingston and Watson, and they reminisced about their first meeting over drinks.

(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#8 - BTS) - The Deadly Dozen performed an underwater obstacle course run in preparation of their next mission, to confront Dr. Sweikert, a sadistic Nazi surgeon. The Deadly Dozen captured Dr. Lola Steimle, and Laurie Livingston impersonated her in order to enter Sweikert's facility, with Kelly disguised as her driver.

(Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen#9) - After 24 hours, the Deadly Dozen went to rescue Kelly and Laurie, and quickly lost Doc Watson, Jake Jensen and Donald Sample while fighting their way into the facility. As they searched through the hospital to find Laurie and Kelly, Shigeta was shot in the back by a German and died.

Comments: Created by Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers and Mike Esposito.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Howard Shigeta should not be confused with:

Heiji Shigematsu, Yakuza, allied with Ogun, @ Kitty Pryde and Wolverine#1
• Anjiro Shigeta, of the Five Rings Corporation, @ Iron Man III#51
• Shigeru, Yakuza, killed by Widdle Wade, @ Deadpool Team-Up#1

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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