My girlfriend (who’s now my wife) and my daughter made me a cake for my 32nd birthday in 2004; they topped the cake with set of little plastic Micro Machine-sized generic airplanes and tanks, and posed on the edges of the cake were a Valor vs Venom Dr. Mindbender and High-Tech with guns pointed at each other. My wife’s not what you’d call a supporter of my collecting hobby; this is one of exactly two times she’s ever spent money on action figures as a gift for me, so it was pretty much the greatest birthday cake of all time as far as I was concerned.

My favorite memory is my 13th Birthday, in 1993. In November 1992, my house burned down. I was alble to salvage Shockwave and Ninja Force Storm Shadow from my collection. All the rest melted together, I figured I would never replace all the Joes I lost. I had about 75 or so between me and my little brother. We were pretty bummed. Christmas was light that year obviously so we kind of wrote off getting any more Joes. I would spend money I earned on Joes sometimes but not that much. Then on my birthday (Juy 1993), my mom brought out a box that she got at a garage sale. It had about 50 Joes and a Dragonfly, Water Moccasin and most of the Bomb Disposal Unit in it. It had some of my favorite figures, Firefly v1, Outback, Falcon, Destro v1, Crystal Ball, Sneak Peek just to name a few. It wasn’t supposed to be my main present, just something she thought I would like. I don’t even remember my other presents though. Awesome day that got me back into collecting.

I remember getting the skystriker in 83 from my grandpa It’s my all time favorite not only because it is awesome but it was one of my last memories of him before he died in 84. My grandfather was great I miss him.

My favorite GI Joe birthday memory was in 1988, my eighth birthday. Every year my school had our annual “field day” where we would walk down to the park near the school for a day of fun and competition. Well this year it fell on my birthday. So I remember running around all day, then finally going home and walking up the stairs to the living room where my father was sitting, with one small box and one big box wrapped up waiting for me. Inside the packages: the AGP and DEMON!

Now, I was hard into the Iron Grenadiers. I already had Destro and the Iron Grenadier, so getting these two was INSANE. I ran to my room to grab Destro, the Despoiler, and the IG, and spent the rest of the day (after Dad put them together) rolling around the living room with the DEMON and swooping around the AGP and Despoiler.

I eventually had to part ways with both the AGP and DEMON, but I will always remember that birthday. (The Despoiler, which was always one of my absolute favorites, is still in my possession.)

Hi all! James here, I wanted to stop by and not only say thanks for your interest in the Guide but thank you for posting all your awesome stories! I remember every year strategically maneuvering my purchases throughout the year to make sure Christmas and my birthday really packed a punch. G.I. Joe continued to be a part of my birthday as I received a lot of my orders and deals with friends my birthday weekend so it really felt like old times.

Remember, to hear the winner, listen to the newest Episode of What’s On JOE Mind. I don’t even know the winner and I can’t wait to tune it. Post it already WOJM!!!!!