On this day 55 years ago, G.I. Joe was introduced by Hasbro toy company.

In 1999, the Hasbro International Toy Collectors Convention held its meeting in Washington, DC. The exclusive collectible that year was a two-figure set based on the Old Guard’s Continental Color Guard. Just a year later, another 12-inch figure would honor another specialty platoon of the Old Guard, when a Tomb Sentinel figure was released.