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What does Joe stand for in GI Joe?

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Answer:

A GI Joe is a doll for boys. They call it an "action figure" because boys don't play with dolls. Apparently Vietnamese prostitutes called soldiers "GI Joe" (I know Korean prostitutes did this--saw lots of them, got called GI Joe by lots of them, never hired one...) because of this toy.

Old war story time: in 1984 and 1985, when I was stationed in Korea, it was legal for soldiers to hire prostitutes because prostitution was completely legal in Korea. (There was even an office in the Ministry of Health to deal with prostitutes.) Every so often, one of them would ask me, "GI Joe you buy me drinkie?" I would tell them no but "when Joe comes in, I'll be sure to send him to you." They didn't like that very much.

But apparently the doll was Joseph someone-or-other until he enlisted, and then he became GI Joe.

First answer by Jmowreader. Last edit by Jmowreader. Contributor trust: 1120 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question].

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