"THE PUNISHMENT DUE"

Before the war, Frank Castle had a loving wife, and would have a family of his own soon enough. But they couldn't afford their dream home. To provide a future for his family, Frank would enlist himself in the United States Marine Corps, and serve in the Vietnam war.

Frank took to military service rather well, having no trouble adjusting to the rigor and discipline of it all. And he seemingly had no trouble with killing, either, eliminating the enemy while wearing a cold, unmoving expression on his face. It's clear that war changed something in Frank Castle.

Eventually, Castle would be promoted to Captain, and given command of his own platoon. His platoons were notable, in that each member of his platoon would make it home safe and sound. He would find himself doing Force Recon work as well, rendering his second tour of duty in Vietnam covered in black ink. But Frank's life would change in 1973, when stationed at Valley Forge Firebase.

The men of Valley Forge were poor excuses for soldiers, and with American involvement in Vietnam scheduled to end soon, morale was low. Castle was among the few in the base who still cared about doing his job, and doing it right. But while at Valley Forge... something communed with Frank, promising him an eternal war. It wasn't until the North Vietnamese Army attacked the firebase, and Frank stood alone, knee deep in the corpses of friend and foe alike, that he would finally answer this voice. Hours later, after the fighting stopped and American reinforcements came, Frank Castle was the only survivor.

Discharged from the Marines, Frank would return to his family, the life he fought so hard to provide after the war. And while he made an effort to be a part of the lives of his wife and kids, loving them and loving the moments he spent with them, something didn't feel right. But Frank's life would change once again.

It was a warm Summer's day when the roar and lead of a Thompson machine gun echoed in Central Park. The Castle family had unwittingly become witness to a mob execution, and they were to be dealt with accordingly. When the smoke cleared, Frank Castle was the only survivor. He went to the law, but their killers had bought their way to justice. He tried to accept it, but he couldn't. He tried everyone's way... except for his. Using his military training from Vietnam, Frank Castle donned a black shirt with a white skull on it, and hunted down the Costa Crime Family, gunning each member down ruthlessly. There was a peace Frank hadn't felt in ages... but he knew that this wasn't going to be the end. Frank Castle? That man didn't matter anymore. Now there was only the Punisher.