I still remember when I got two of my Joe's in 1984/85. At the time, my older brother and his buddies had all of the earliest Joes. I only remember having Gung Ho. Don't remember where I got him from.

Christmas 1984 I remember walking down the stairs to a fully assembled Rattler with Wild Weasel in the cockpit and yes Storm Shadow at the rotating gun. Set up on it's landing gear. I wish someone took a Polaroid. I thought it was for my brother, but it was mine. This was the door opening on my infatuation with Joes. Remember all of the Rattler's missiles? I think I lost them after a few days.

The other story was at Kmart-where many of my toys came from. (Along with Hills and Gold Circle.) One day I walked in and they had a metal grated bin jammed full of figures in the middle of the toy isle. Funny that we didn't care about the condition of the boxes at the time because they all must have been ruined. I had just about anyone to choose from and I selected Shipwreck. I don't know why, I was 7. Afterward, I remember my brother complaining "why didn't you get Quickkick?" He said something like karate fighters were "cooler," and I felt terrible. Shippy didn't have a backpack or many supplies except for Polly I guess. But as I watched the cartoon, many episodes featured Shippy and I remember liking his personality. He became one of my favorite Joes. Now looking back I'm happy I bought him.