- "I hear you're uh, kinda attached?"
"It's handier than you might think." - ―Howard Stark and Steve Rogers[src]
Captain America's USO Shield is a prop shield that was used by Steve Rogers during his promotional tour as Captain America, which he took into battle against HYDRA on his mission to save Bucky Barnes and other Allied POWs. Though the shield would be damaged in combat against Red Skull, it would inspire him to use another shield, made out of vibranium, as his primary weapon.
History[]
USO Shield[]
Captain America's USO Show[]
The first shield being used by Steve Rogers
Steve Rogers, who was given a new reason to fight with the death of Abraham Erskine, was denied active duty in World War II, but was instead sent to tour around the United States in a colorful, patriotic costume as "Captain America" to promote War Bonds rather than be confined to a lab while scientists attempted to rediscover Erskine's formula. During the tours, he carried a heater-shaped shield that was painted to resemble the American flag as part of his propaganda costume.[1]
Liberation of Allied Prisoners of War[]
In 1943, while touring to active servicemen in Italy, Rogers learned that Bucky Barnes' unit was lost in the battle against HYDRA. Refusing to believe that Barnes, his closest friend, was dead, Rogers mounted a solo-rescue attempt with Peggy Carter and Howard Stark flying him to Austria, several miles behind enemy lines. During the mission, Rogers carried the shield from his stage show as a makeshift weapon.
Captain America inside the HYDRA Fortress
Rogers infiltrated the factory belonging to HYDRA, freeing Barnes and the other captured Allied soldiers. Rogers confronted HYDRA's commander, Johann Schmidt, who attacked him with a punch that left a dent in the shield.[1]
Upgraded by Howard Stark[]
Upon returning from the HYDRA factory, Rogers met with Howard Stark to talk about re-equipping Rogers with an updated uniform and weaponry. When Stark mentioned that Rogers had become "attached" to the USO shield, Rogers replied that the prop was "handier than you'd think". Stark had already recognized that Rogers knew how to use such an implement very skillfully in combat and presented him with several new, more advanced designs with various features intended to make the shield a more effective weapon. However, when Rogers found a simple, circular shield on a shelf below the display table, Stark actually tried to talk him out of the choice, saying that it was merely a rejected design. The seemingly innocuous shield, which had no enhancements like the other prototypes, was lighter and made of an indestructible metal, but was the only quantity then known to exist.
| This section requires expansion |
Capabilities[]
| This section requires expansion |
Steve Rogers on his tour as Captain America
- Mild Ballistic Protection: Despite its intended purpose as a prop, the metal composition manages to deflect what are presumably pistol caliber rounds hitting the shield.
- Improvised Melee Weapon: In multiple instances, Steve Rogers used it to bash a target as a melee weapon, usually combining it with his strength to cause enough damage to knock out HYDRA soldiers.
