Leatherneck

F Ex 20

A Gd 10

S Ty 6

E Ex 20

R Gd 10

I Ex 20

P Ex 20

Res Ex 20

Pop Sh 0

Health: Karma:

56 50

Origin:

Like the vast majority of his fellow Joes (the rest being statistical anomalies), Wendell is nothing but a normal human, if an exceptionally loud one. He lacks ascendant powers of any sort, whether they be a result of genetic mutation, freakish happenstance, a mystic background, or anything else.

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Grenades: most of the time, Wendell is carrying grenades on his person, in the event that he can't just blast a foe with his machine gun. These explosives will inflict Remarkable (30) Edged Attack damage (fragmentary) to whoever Wendell chucks 'em at, as well as everyone else in their target area.

Helmet: a recent addition to his equipment roster, this metal thing helps Wendell to stay alive in heavy combat. When worn, it offers his head Good (10) protection from attack, as long as said attacks don't strike Wendell in the face. Why he decided to wear a helmet now is still unclear.

the Joe-Com: this is a new device given to all Joes since the group's reactivation. This high-tech wristband functions as an audio/video transceiver with various other goodies built in to help a soldier on the go, and is described in greater detail in its own equipment entry.

Knife: you never know when you'll need to cut something in the field, whether it be a rope, parachute strap, or a Cobra operative. Made from Incredible (40) m.s. materials, this serrated blade can be used to cut through materials of like strength, and can also be used to inflict Edged Attack damage in melee.

Machine Gun: though he typically uses more ... intense ordnance, Wendell donned a more conventional weapon upon returning to the Joes. He can fire this weapon to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage in a short, controlled burst, or Excellent (20) Shooting damage in a full-auto hail of leaden doom.

Smith & Wesson Revolver: something of a non-standard military personal piece these days, this weapon is nonetheless one that Wendell feels comfortable with as a back-up for his other gear. In battle, he can fire it to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage per shot (though it's not a semi-automatic piece).

Quirks:

Temper 2: it's common knowledge that Wendell's not that likeable a fellow, but on top of that personality flaw, he's got quite a short temper. He easily gets in shouting matches over the smallest things, and must pass a Psyche FEAT roll at -2 CS in order to keep his cool in stressful situations.

Talents:

Guns: one of those basic skills the Marines instill within their troops, Wendell has the almost innate ability to wield firearms in battle. Whether brandishing a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol at somebody, he can do so as though his Agy were +1 CS in rank.

Marksman: in addition to his skill with guns of all non-advanced stripes, Wendell is also well-versed in the use of heavier weaponry, such as his M-203's grenade launcher. Not only does he receive a +1 CS when firing such weapons, but Wendell suffers no range penalties with this hardware.

Martial Arts type B: a true brawler at heart, Wendell has shown a prowess for hitting things over the years above and beyond that of your regular, garden variety Marine. In unarmed melee, whether punching, kicking, head-butting, or anything else, Wendell may do so as though his Ftg was +1 CS in rank.

Military / United States: having made the Marines his beloved way of life for years and years, Wendell has this talent as a general matter of course. In addition to acting as an 'origin' for his other skills, this talent provides him additional military contacts, as well as an understanding of military protocols.

Teaching: a Marine drill instructor, Wendell knows how to hammer a lesson into somebody's head, no matter how obstinate or otherwise unmotivated they may be. This is because his skill in Marine matters, in addition to his incredibly stubborn attitude, makes him an effective - if loud - educator.

Contacts:

Like the rest of his fellows, Leatherneck can call upon the entire Joe team for assistance in a pinch, really, since the only time he's likely to need assistance is when he's on a mission. He's also got innumerable contacts in the Marines, since he was a drill instructor there for years.

Costume:

Upon rejoining the Joes, Wendell adopted a somewhat new uniform. This one has the same brown leather belts, straps, and holsters that his previous uniform did, adding brown leather gloves, black trousers, and a green T-shirt. Also, Wendell dropped his old hats in place of a much more practical green helmet.

Personality:

The man is an animal. He is uncouth, opinionated and overbearing. He'd just as soon fight than talk. And he has no patience at all with the indecisive, the lazy, and the dishonest. Men that have gone through his training say they'd rather crawl over broken glass than be on his bad side.

Real Name: Wendell A. Metzger, grade E-7 (Gunnery Sergeant)
Occupation: drill sergeant, infantryman
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: Gi Joe

Height: 6'
Hair: black
Eyes: brown
Weight: 180 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Wendell usually wears a thick, bushy moustache whenever active as a Joe.

Story:

Wendell has a long history in the Marines - he's about as intense a 'Jar Head' as you can get. He's been known as the meanest corporal in Gitmo, the roughest tech sergeant in the 1st Recon Battalion in 'Nam, the toughest drill sergeant on Parris Island, and hardest gunny in Camp Lejeune.

The man was born hard, having been downright mean before joining the Corps, and would probably have been almost as nasty had he not become a Marine... almost. The Marine Corps just managed to focus Wendell's meanness into a laser-like intensity of raw, coarse surliness - and how!

While bad-tempered and highly opinionated, Wendell is also highly motivated, and he mastered most infantry functions well before anyone else in his basic training course. Heck, he was usually awake before his drill sergeant, getting ready for the day long before his fellow recruits.

This intense focus on all things Marine got Wendell noticed, and since he was so darn good at what he did, he earned a place on the Gi Joe team in time - they are always on the lookout for the military's best, after all. With his personality, though, it didn't take him too long to get noticed there, either.

Wendell's continual ranting on the superiority of the Marines finds itself constantly challenged by his Navy counterpart, Wet-Suit, who joined the Joes at about the same time. While these two Joes are of totally different specialties and histories, they are far more alike than they will ever admit.

And despite the fact that these two guys are almost always engaging in shouting matches with each other, they're nonetheless friends, and have saved each other's lives on more occasions than they can count. They remained antagonistic friends, in fact, until the Joe team was disbanded in '94.

What Wendell was up to while the team was inactive is as of yet unknown, but the threat of Cobra didn't rest when the Joes were inactive. When the group was reformed years later, Wendell eventually rejoined, though he didn't do it as early as the others; it took him awhile, but he eventually showed up.

And just in time for World War III! A plan years in the making, Cobra had finally attempted its mass invasion of every major world power in an attempt to take over the entire globe in one fell swoop. Thanks to Wendell and his compatriots, however, this plot ultimately failed in the end.

With Cobra broken yet again, Wendell is presumably staying on with the Gi Joe team, helping them to round up all the Cobra operatives who managed to escape in the wake of their latest, greatest failure.

Note:

Personality snippet written by Larry Hama!

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Leatherneck:

1986

1993

2001

2003

2004

* Note: 1986 saw two versions of Leatherneck: His standard figure (Version 1), and his Special Missions: Brazil figure (Version 2).