over the last two centuries, America's soldiers have been give several nicknames, among them "yanks," "grunts," " douhtboys," and "Johnny Reb." However, none of those nicknames has had the staying power of the nickname "G.I." Derived from the words "government issue," the term "G.I." emerged in world war ll and gave birth to its own masculine and feminine forms, "G.I. Joe" and "G.I. Jane." it was a badge of honor, and the name was not been about to give up.