Leatherneck (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Leatherneck is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is a Marine
with the G.I. Joe Team and debuted in 1986.
(E-7). Leatherneck was born in Stromsburg, Nebraska
.
Leatherneck's primary military specialty is infantry
, and his secondary military specialty is drill sergeant
. Before joining the G.I. Joe Team, Leatherneck was a corporal in Gitmo
, a tech sergeant in the 1st Recon Bn
in Viet Nam, a drill sergeant on Parris Island
, and a gunny
at Camp Lejeune
. He earned a reputation for toughness in all of these places, and while he may not come off as likeable, he has proven himself trustworthy.
A new version of Leatherneck was released in 1993 as part of the Battle Corps line.
. Leatherneck is one of the ground troops storming Cobra Island
beaches in the second Cobra civil war.
.
Leatherneck was featured in a PSA, where he explains to two girls the horrors of not applying suntan lotion when at the beach.
.
, Leatherneck, Wet Suit
, and Sci-Fi
"stood in procession, weapons raised, adrenaline pumping feverishly. Anxious for another victory over the dreaded Cobra." He described how Leatherneck, "always the traditional soldier, stood just behind Hawk, his gray rifle at his side".
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is a Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
with the G.I. Joe Team and debuted in 1986.
Profile
His real name is Wendell A. Metzger, and his rank is that of gunnery sergeant, USMCGunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer...
(E-7). Leatherneck was born in Stromsburg, Nebraska
Stromsburg, Nebraska
Stromsburg is a city in Polk County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,232 at the 2000 census.- History :Stromsburg was settled early in Nebraska history. A group of Swedish settlers coming from the town of Ockelbo arrived in the 1860s after several years in Illinois. This group had a...
.
Leatherneck's primary military specialty is infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, and his secondary military specialty is drill sergeant
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
. Before joining the G.I. Joe Team, Leatherneck was a corporal in Gitmo
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
, a tech sergeant in the 1st Recon Bn
1st Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Reconnaissance Battalion is a reconnaissance battalion in the United States Marine Corps. It falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force ....
in Viet Nam, a drill sergeant on Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
, and a gunny
Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer...
at Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
. He earned a reputation for toughness in all of these places, and while he may not come off as likeable, he has proven himself trustworthy.
Toys
Leatherneck was first released as an action figure in 1986.A new version of Leatherneck was released in 1993 as part of the Battle Corps line.
Comics
In the Marvel comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in issue #49. He is a featured supporting character in the next issue, as the focus of an assault team going through the Cobra held-town of Springfield. His squad battles holding-forces led by the newly created SerpentorSerpentor
Serpentor is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character was introduced in 1986 as a toy with an air chariot and included in the animated series that same year.-Toys:...
. Leatherneck is one of the ground troops storming Cobra Island
Cobra Island
Cobra Island is a fictional country located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the main base of operations for the fictional Cobra Organization featured in the G.I. Joe toyline from the 1980s. It is featured in the G.I. Joe cartoon and the comic book series created by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due...
beaches in the second Cobra civil war.
Sunbow
He first appeared in the Sunbow G.I. Joe second season episode "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!: Part I". He was often arguing with fellow Joe Wet-Suit who was a Navy Seal. He was known for being uncouth loud, and hot headed. Leatherneck was voiced by Chuck McCannChuck McCann
Chuck McCann is a film actor, television actor, stage actor, and a voice actor from Brooklyn, New York.-Early career:...
.
Leatherneck was featured in a PSA, where he explains to two girls the horrors of not applying suntan lotion when at the beach.
G.I. Joe: The Movie
Leatherneck also appeared briefly in the 1987 animated film G.I. Joe: The MovieG.I. Joe: The Movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie is a 1987 animated film spun off from the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, based on the original Hasbro toyline. It was produced by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions and was animated in Japan by Toei Animation.Created at the height of the G.I. Joe craze in...
.
Other works
Leatherneck's figure is briefly featured in the fiction novel 6 Sick Hipsters. In the story, the character Paul Achting spent four years collecting G.I. Joe figures to set up a battle scene between the Joes and Cobra. As he imagined the characters in his head, he described four of the Joes on front lines of the battle: HawkHawk (G.I. Joe)
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
, Leatherneck, Wet Suit
Wet Suit (G.I. Joe)
Wet Suit is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is one of the G.I. Joe team's two Navy SEALs, the other being Torpedo. Wet Suit debuted in 1986.-Profile:...
, and Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi (G.I. Joe)
Sci-Fi is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's laser trooper and debuted in 1986.-Profile:His real name is Seymour P. Fine, and his rank is that of corporal E-4...
"stood in procession, weapons raised, adrenaline pumping feverishly. Anxious for another victory over the dreaded Cobra." He described how Leatherneck, "always the traditional soldier, stood just behind Hawk, his gray rifle at his side".
External links
- Leatherneck at JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page