Gabe

Biodata

Appearance

Gabe is a Black soldier. After becoming separated from the Commandos during the parachute drop, his left calf is severely mangled by a rusted bear trap, leaving him pale, bloodied, and unable to travel independently for much of the mission 10 20.

• Suffers a serious left-leg injury from a serrated bear trap 10.
• Carries an M1 Carbine while traveling with Chu Hang 12.
• Uses a kerosene lamp and iron crowbar while trapped in the cave 10.

Background

Gabe is introduced as one of the specialists recruited into the Howling Commandos. He is the unit's machinery specialist and is known among the group for playing the harmonica. Chu Hang makes an effort to socialize with Gabe and the other Commandos before their Austrian mission, recognizing them as comrades he may need to rely on 4.

During the parachute insertion, Gabe becomes separated from the unit and enters a cave for shelter. He immediately steps into a powerful bear trap, which crushes his left calf. He spends nearly two hours attempting to pry it open with an iron crowbar before Chu finds him 10. Although startled by Chu's abnormal strength, Gabe accepts his help after Chu forcibly opens the trap, tends his wound, and shares food and water 10 11.

Skills

• Machinery knowledge — Identified as the Howling Commandos' machinery specialist 4.
• German and military communications — Understands enough German to monitor Hydra transmissions and operate their captured communicator 13.
• Field resilience — Endures nearly two hours trapped in a bear trap while attempting to free himself with a crowbar 10.
• Deception and radio work — Successfully performs a panicked German radio report that supports Chu Hang's attempt to misdirect the Hydra operative Hound 14.
• Sentry and covering-fire duties — Later serves as a sentry and helps provide covering fire during the Commandos' cliff escape 46 50.

Equipment

• M1 Carbine 12
• Hydra communicator, used jointly with Chu Hang 13 14
• Iron crowbar 10
• Kerosene lamp 10

Story Role / Major Arcs

Stranded in Hydra Territory

Gabe's parachute landing separates him from the other Commandos and leaves him trapped in a cave by a bear trap. Chu Hang discovers him after mistaking the sound of the trap scraping across stone for a hostile creature. Gabe initially believes the trap cannot be opened, but watches in shock as Chu pries it apart by hand 10.

His wound makes him dependent on Chu during their escape through the snowy forest. Chu builds a sled from branches, rope, bandages, and his military coat to transport him, while Gabe is impressed by Chu's improvised medical treatment and survival knowledge 11. When the pair discover that their captured Hydra map is false, Gabe's battlefield experience helps confirm the danger of the deception 12.

Partnership with Chu Hang

Gabe repeatedly offers to remain behind so Chu can move faster, find Captain America, and complete the mission. Chu refuses each time, insisting that the Howling Commandos do not abandon their wounded 11 12 13. This refusal changes Gabe's view of Chu from a capable but mysterious recruit into a dependable leader with the same resolve Gabe associates with Steve Rogers 11.

Rather than remaining only a burden, Gabe becomes essential to Chu's intelligence-gathering plan. He translates Hydra communications, identifies the Hound as an elite tracker, and helps uncover the news that Captain America has been surrounded on the western ridge 13. When Hound closes in, Gabe trusts Chu's diversion plan and broadcasts a false German distress call timed with a C-4 explosion upstream 14.

Escape, Rescue, and Recovery

The deception gives Gabe and Chu only temporary time to flee. They cross a freezing river to break Hound's trail, leaving Gabe close to hypothermic shock 15. Despite his condition, Gabe agrees to Chu's riskier plan to impersonate a Hydra officer and create an opening in Captain America's encirclement 16.

Captain America's shield ultimately redirects Hound into Chu's tripwire explosion, allowing Steve to reach the pair during the ensuing battle 18. Steve immediately recognizes that Gabe's blood loss and hypothermia require professional treatment 20. Gabe's critical condition becomes a major reason the Commandos choose to infiltrate the Hydra factory rather than retreat through the mountains 23.

Gabe survives the factory operation and later remains with the Commandos. While the team shelters in a mountain cabin, he serves as sentry and warns them that Hydra has surrounded the mountains with troops, Tiger Tanks, energy weapons, and sealed escape routes 46. He also provides covering fire during the Commandos' descent to a hidden ledge during their cliff escape 50.

Relationships

• Chu Hang — Comrade, rescuer, and partner. Chu frees Gabe from the bear trap, treats his injuries, refuses to abandon him, and relies on Gabe's German skills to intercept and falsify Hydra communications 10 11 13 14.
• Steve Rogers / Captain America — Fellow Howling Commando. Steve assesses Gabe's injuries and treats his need for urgent medical care as a priority; Gabe's condition helps motivate the assault on the Hydra factory 20 23.
• Dum Dum Dugan — Fellow Commando and unit leader. Dugan helps lead the group that later supports Gabe's evacuation and continued survival 21 23.
• Logan — Fellow Howling Commando. Both are part of the unit that Chu refuses to treat as disposable, reinforcing their shared bond as Commandos 13.

Notable Quotes

“I trust you.” — Gabe, accepting Chu Hang's plan to deceive Hound 14

“Fine. Then let's go!” — Gabe, after Chu refuses to leave him behind 11