Joe Kubert GI Joe cover

Another oddball cover. When I got this I freaked out as the figures and logo are on separate layers, worrying that the bulk of the image was a PMT/production stat. Thankfully, even a cursory examination proved the figures are hand drawn on a separate board of bristol, but were too narrow for the DC cover format of the day. The art was trimmed and glued to the larger board, then the background elements were extended to meet the dimensions of the preprinted cover stock. The very Sgt. Rock-like lead soldier's face is also drawn on a separate layer which is also original art.

I'm guessing this was done around the time of DC's 1964-1965 foray into GI Joe comics (Showcase #53-54), but was rejected in favor of the triptych format used in the printed comics. My sleuthing is based on the 1964-1970 window in which both DC's and GI Joe's logos matched what is featured here. I welcome any information. The DC and CCA logos are preprinted, the GI Joe logo, sans missing cameo paste-up, is hand drawn.