They got killed in their "last mission" to explain how they all died in CoIE (which now due to IC, people probably remember them dying in CoIE instead) but prior to that they had a very good record. They got their name from events prior to them becoming a unit (e.g. - one of them was a sole survivor of an attack and was now handicapped, another was a minority in a unit that left him as an outcast, etc.).

The original Suicide Squad actually had a more dismal casualty and failure rate than the Losers.

Writer Robert Kanigher occasionally would try to inject a "We're still Losers" theme into some issues. For instance, they might stop some Germans from looting industrial-quality diamonds from an African mine, only to loose the diamonds themselves when they were scattered on the ground and scooped up by monkeys.

But since they DID complete their missions and regularly foil the plans of the Axis, this theme was never more than in the background.

Their name came from the very first issue the four of them appeared as a group. It was in an issue of "G.I. Combat," featuring the Haunted Tank. The Tank was supposed to destroy a German radar installation, but had been driven off. While retreating, they ran across Captain Storm, who had washed ashore nearby when his PT Boat was sunk and the rest of the crew killed. They also picked up Johnny Storm, who had been shot down after his wingman was killed, and Gunner and Sarge, who had lost the squad of new recruits they had been training in an enemy ambush.

So this group of "Losers" teamed up to resume the attack on the radar station, which (of course) they managed to destroy.

The Unknown Soldier.

Suddenly, Hitler would come in, shoot the commanding officer in the head, claiming that the CO was an American spy. He'd then commend me for my spy work against the Americans, and lead me out of the prison without a hitch.

After we got out, he'd take his latex mask off, and detonate the TNT he laid throughout the prison camp.

Speaking of whom - I strongly recommend people take advantage of the "Showcase Presents" series to pick up the earliest tales of the Unknown Soldier. Surprisingly dark and serious for the time during which they were written, they're just solid stories and great fun (as contrary as that may sound to the "grim" bits).

As someone who spent way too much on backissues over the years to catch up on great stories like these I really do envy people for the great bargains they're getting now.

Its noteworthy that their "last mission" happened to get interupted by the AntiMoniter's shadow demons, which killed the losers...unless they retconned that, but I don't see why they would bother.

It's been "unretconned". Post-CoIE when everyone basically forgot the parallel earths and multiple-time-crossovers, they came up with another story for how the Losers went off and died. Post-IC when everyone remembers the true story of CoIE, I imagine those who were there now remember the Losers dying at the hands of the Anti-Monitor's shadow demons.

Unfortunately, none of the characters on that list particularly appeal.

If you'd listed Lobster Johnson, Wesley Dodds, and some of the Invaders, then I'd have some tough choices.

I'll take Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, myself. I was born on the forth of July

I concur. When I was a bloodthirsty little tyke, I was reading Sgt. Rock and the Haunted Tank regularly. For some reason, I never got into regularly reading "The Unknown Soldier." The recent Showcase showed me what I was missing--these were very, very well-written stories with great plot twists and fine art, easily matching DC's other war books in quality.

I go with The Unknown Soldier. Cause, simply put, if he finds me and for some reason, there doesn't seem to be a way out if I tag along, I know he'll kill me to make sure the nazi-scum don't get any info.

Now, if you added Captain America to the list, I'd be hard pressed to choose.

And if you can find it out there, DC/Vertigo published a 4 issue mini of the Unknown Soldier about ten years ago (I have all four issues). It's a good read and shows you what he's been up to since WW2 and yeah, he's still alive.

I'd like option 8) The cast of Hogan's heroes. Not only would they get me out of germany they'd probably have a sandwhich waiting for me and take me on a screw you bombing run of germany with one of their own bombers.