When did the nickname GI joe start?

Answer 1

GI is the 'General Issue' which US enlisted men were provided with.

GI Joe was not in fact an American he was a Filipino Scout named Jose Calugas who joined the United States Army and He received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Bataan. . The Americans used to call him Joe as many of them had a problem pronouncing his name Jose. The name soon become a term used for all Filipino soldiers, but Filipinos confused this term and presumed that's what all soldiers were called, as at the time most soldiers in the Philippines were American the name soon switched from being a term used for Filipinos Soldiers to one that was used for American Soldiers.

The GI Joe doll range recognised the above and made a doll in the likeness of Jose Calugas.

Answer 2

The term GI means 'government issued' for instance a GI Bill. and a 'joe' refers to a person. so a GI Joe basically refers to a grunt soldier. In addition to the toy line there was aslo a GIJOE movie.