Beachhead (G.I. Joe)
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Beachhead (sometimes spelled Beach Head or Beach-Head) is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He first appeared in the 1986 edition of the toyline and made appearances in both the G.I. Joe animated series and comics, where he serves as the G.I. Joe Team's sergeant major.
[edit] Character Biography
Beachhead's real name is Wayne R. Sneeden. He was born and raised in Auburn, Alabama, living in abject poverty; this led to him being bullied and tormented by his classmates and peers throughout his growing years. In hopes of becoming more then what those taunted him believed he could be, Sneeden became an overachiever and ended up the Valedictorian of his high school through hard work, unwavering discipline, and his keen mind.
Seeking the next challenge, he enlisted in the US Army, where he went through Airborne and Ranger school Ft. Benning, Georgia. After he completed training there, he went onto join Central America's Covert Ops as an Observer/Advisor. After his training in Central America, he returned to Ft. Benning as a lane instructor.
He was offered a spot in the G.I. Joe team as a Ranger and after he decided on the codename BEACHHEAD, he joined, eager for the challenge being a member of the most elite force in the US Military would bring.
His unwavering patience on and off the battlefield made him a legend -- as did his intolerance of anyone not willing to live up to their full potential, something he makes quite clear to anyone he feels is a slacker and not working up to their potential. The consummate professional, he is determined and ruthless when needed to get the job done. Beachhead is the first off the copter laying down suppressive fire for the others and is the last back on the copter to protect the backs of his comrades.
Sneeden's habits include getting up hours before his teammates and going on a ten-mile run, then undergoing rigorous physical training that make the most gung-ho of his comrades weary -- and all before breakfast.
[edit] The "Deodorant" Issue
In the G.I. Joe Sunbow cartoon 5-part mini series "Arise Serpentor, Arise!", Beachhead and Mainframe are trapped in the coffin of Vlad Tepes. Later when they escape, Mainframe tells Beachhead he wants to talk to him about his deodorant, in which Beachhead replies: "I don't use deodorant."
Although this was a seemingly insignificant bit of comedy, it become a running joke of his character, and many fans have adopted this attribute to Beachhead even though it was never mentioned as flavor text on his filecard or mentioned by writer Larry Hama; whose filecards and comic writings are considered to be canon of the G.I. Joe mythos by Hasbro Toys.
It was, however, mentioned in the G.I. Joe: Battlefiles Sourcebook published in a joint venture by Image Comics and Devil's Due Publishing, as explaining the comment made in the cartoon with a logical explanation for his less then admirable personal hygiene habits as being a tactical preventative measure, since scented deodorant could literally be a dead give away if he were dropped into a close combat war-zone without any prior notice; the fact it was not written by Larry Hama makes its validity into canon a heated debate among fans.
Fanon suggests his disdain for scented and unscented types of deodorant as stemming from a skin allergy caused by a compound that is common in most brands.
[edit] Hasbro Toy Line
[edit] Cartoons
[edit] Comic books
[edit] G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (Marvel)
Beachhead's first appearance in the comic was in issue 47, published May 1986 alongside of Wet-Suit. Beachhead's first mission on the Joe team was assisting Hawk during the rescue of Snake-Eyes from Cobra Island. The rescue was successful after an off-shore battle with Cobra attack boats and Cobra Eels. He was part of the first team of Joes to enter Springfield before the invasion of that Cobra-controlled town, whose job was to knock out the enemy's power and communications. Later Beachhead was part of a group advising Sierra Gordo's counter-revolutionaries in the fight against Cobra, where he once again found himself involved in rescuing Snake-Eyes from Cobra's Terror-Drome. He was also one of the many Joes to be involved in the construction of the third Pit headquarters in Utah. Some time later, with a large force of Joes, Beachhead participated in the Cobra Island civil war. He served on the team until it was disbanded in 1994.
[edit] G.I. Joe: Special Missions (Marvel)
His first appearance was in the sneak preview of Special Missions, published in issue 50 of 'A Real American Hero' in August 1986, taking place right after his first appearance in the regular comic series, where he snuck onto a Russian airliner to foil hijackers alongside Flint and Lady Jaye. In Special Missions issue #8, Beachhead and a small team of Joes took part in a near-disastrous mission in the jungles of Southeast Asia, which nearly cost them their lives due to a treacherous CIA agent.
[edit] G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero -- Reinstated (Image Comics/Devil's Due Publishing)
Beachhead became part of the reinstated Joe team in 2002, where he acted as a drill sergeant for new recruits in addition to his usual duties as a Joe. After he rejoined the team, he helped stop Storm Shadow in his attempt to assassinate Hawk. Beachhead was later part of a convoy of vehicles escorting a group of young children who turned out to be clones of the original Serpentor. When the revived Serpentor arrived to claim them with the forces of The Coil to back him, Beachhead and several others were captured, and some of the team's new recruits were killed. Imprisoned on Cobra Island, the Joes eventually escaped and joined the battle against Serpentor's forces as the Joe team invaded the island. He later fought Destro's new recruit, Wraith as the mercenary freed Major Bludd and Scrap-Iron from Blackwater Prison. A short time later, members of the Joe team fought Cobra forces that were drawn into an attack on a train guarded by the Joes, believing that Destro was being held prisoner onboard. At the battle's end, Hawk was shot in the back by Cobra Commander and paralyzed. In Hawk's absence, the Jugglers began to take control of the team to reign it in, if not disband it altogether. Eventually, the team's roster was cut down to only a dozen Joes, and Beachhead was one of many reassigned to other units. After the remaining Joes stopped a plot by Cobra to unleash the weapon known as the Tempest, and defeated a new threat, the Red Shadows, the military again disbanded the team.
[edit] G.I. Joe: Frontlines (Image Comics/Devil's Due Publishing)
Beachhead made his Frontlines appearance alongside Flash, Trip-Wire, Airtight and Chuckles, where they fought against terrorist Tyler Wingfield, the son of Vance Wingfield.
