.I.

is a noun used to describe the soldiers of the United States Army

and airmen of the United States Army Air Forces and occasionally
for U.S. Marines and shorebound sailors and also for general
items of their equipment.[1] The term G.I. has been used for a long
time as an initialism of "Government Issue" or "General Issue", but it
originally referred to "galvanized iron", as used by the logistics
services of the United States Armed Forces.[2] The letters "G.I." were
used to denote equipment made from galvanized iron, such as metal
trash cans, in U.S. Army inventories and supply records.[2][3]
During World War I, American soldiers sardonically referred to
incoming German artillery shells as "G.I. cans". Also during that war,
"G.I." started being interpreted as "Government Issue" or "General
Issue" for the general items of equipment of soldiers and airmen. The
term "G.I." came into widespread use in the United States beginning
with the start of selective service ("the draft") in the peacetime year of
1940 and extending into 1941, when the draft was much resented
because the United States was at peace until the Attack on Pearl
Harbor (7 December 1941). Next, the use of "G.I." exploded during
the war years of 1942 through 1945. The American Five-star General
Dwight D. Eisenhower said in 1945 that "the truly heroic figure of this
war [is] G.I. Joe and his counterpart in the air, the navy, and the
Merchant Marine of every one of the United Nations."[4]
"G.I." was also used as an adjective for anything having to do with the
Army or the Air Force.[2] During World War II, "G.I. Joe" became the
general nickname for all American soldiers, no matter what branch of
the Army or Army Air Forces they were in: infantry, artillery, armor,
Rangers, paratroopers, logistics, combat support, or the other
support wings of the Army. Soldiers and airmen sardonically referred
to themselves as "G.I." = "General Issue" items, all equally as
disposable as helmets, boots, tents, canteens, rifles, jeeps, trucks,
tanks, and combat aircraft. They viewed themselves as being
"General Issue" items of "Uncle Sam" while they were in military

service. "G.I." has also been used as a verb in military circles, and it
describes a deep-cleaning process of an area or item to achieve
higher-than-normal standards. Armed Services trainees, for example,
could be ordered to "G.I." a garbage can to the point that anyone
could safely eat from its surface.[citation needed]