The story of G.I. Joe started with an American cartoon soldier created in 1942 and spawned a sizable industry over a few decades. GI Joe action figures have inspired many young American to serve the country and defend the nation. The Official G.I. Joe Collectors' Club has held the annual meeting for ten years. The 10th annual convention was in New Orleans 2006 with Sgt. Slaughter in attendance as a special guest. The success of GI Joe story is both a commercial success and the evidence of American heroism. In fact, many recent G.I. Joe action figures are based on both military and civilian real-life heroes - Dwight Eisenhower , Bob Hope, John F. Kennedy, Colin Powell, Ernie Pyle, Theodore Roosevelt and George Washington.

On June 17, 1942, G.I. Joe was debuted as an American cartoon soldier created by David Breger in the military‘s YANK magazine. The name of GI Joe entered into household in America with the release of a movie The Story of G.I. Joe in 1945. Toy industry was the driving force behind the commercialization of GI Joe brand. For instance, The actions figures from Hasbro toy company featured the members from all four branches of the armed forces; Action Soldier, Action Sailor, Action Pilot and Action Marine. With the heavy promotion from toy industry, GI Joe had become a household name toy-line brand, the synonym of military and loved by young boys and male adults by the middle of 1960s.

The story of GI Joe has been influenced by every war that the United States has been involved. Even though in 1970 the Vietnam War, toy company Hasbro had re-branded GI Joe as adventure figures to downplay the initial war theme of G.I. Joe. The name of GI Joe frequently appeared in TV and newspapers when reporters traced war heroes who were fascinated with GI Joe action figures or GI Joe collectables before they served in the military.

A new line of GI Joe toy has been launched every year since the middle of 1970’s - solider GI Joe, adventure GI Joe, Kong Fu GI Joe and Star War GI Joe. The creation of new GI Joe action figures are influenced by both major military and cultural events in the states. GI Joe actions figures have become favorite gifts for boys. Many male adults are passionate about GI Joe collectables. Like engraved gifts, GI Joe action figures are unique and special when it comes to the gift giving.