Latino Army Sergeant Honored as G.I. Joe Doll
From Times Wire Reports
Toy maker Hasbro Inc. is introducing its first version of G.I. Joe with a Latino surname.
The 12-inch doll honors the late Roy P. Benavidez, an Army sergeant who won the Medal of Honor for saving eight Special Forces soldiers during a jungle battle 33 years ago in Vietnam.
Benavidez, a Texas native of Mexican descent, died in November 1998.
Derryl DePriest, director of marketing for the G.I. Joe brand, said that, while the doll pays tribute to all Latinos’ contributions to the U.S. military, Benavidez was chosen for his battlefield heroism.
