Showing the flag... or not

Remember the Haunted Tank? It was the main feature in the pages of DC Comics' G.I. Combat book for a long time. Basic premise was that Lieutenant Jeb Stuart, a tank commander during World War II, had his own personal ghost: the spirit of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart, his namesake, who was able to give him warnings and advice during battle. Jeb's men thought their looey was a nutcase, but they continued to follow him anyway because nutcase or no, he got them through alive. It was probably my favourite war comic, even over Sgt. Rock or the Unknown Soldier.

DC's just reprinted a volume of Haunted Tank stories under their Showcase imprint, in black and white. It was pointed out to me when I picked it up that one very important feature of the Tank is missing from the pages: that Confederate battle flag Jeb used to fly on his tank. For the reprint, DC have managed to remove every instance of that flag appearing.

I can understand to a certain extent the sensitive nature of flying the Confederate flag. Americans who understand history know that the Civil War has never really gone away, even after 140 years, so I can understand that. But it seems to me that the flying of the Confederate flag on Jeb's tank was never meant to be offensive, but simply appropriate, given the identity of its guardian ghost. I really don't see anyone being offended by it; they certainly weren't when it was being published in the 70s.

I can still enjoy the stories without that flag, I suppose, but something in me still says that's just so wrong, and it sticks in my craw.