PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- February 1, 2005 -- Collectible G.I. JOE Figure Joins Other World War II Heroes as Part of Medal of Honor Series

In honor of his selfless efforts during World War II, First Lieutenant John R. Fox will be recognized this month by Hasbro, Inc.'s G.I. JOE brand with the release of a 12" G.I. JOE action figure in his likeness. Fox was among the first group of African-Americans posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton in 1997 for sacrificing his own life to save the lives of his fellow infantrymen. Caught in a surprise attack, Fox radioed to his comrades to have the artillery fire aimed toward his position so that his division could escape.

The John Fox G.I. JOE figure, available in-store this month, is the latest in a series that commemorates Medal of Honor recipients including Audie Murphy, Douglas MacArthur and Jimmy Doolittle.

"Lieutenant John Fox was a soldier who put the lives of his own infantry before his own, epitomizing the word 'hero', said Todd Rywolt, Vice President of Marketing for Hasbro's G.I. JOE brand. "The G.I. JOE brand honors both the famous and lesser-known heroes in our Medal of Honor collection and we are proud to commemorate Lieutenant Fox's courage and exemplary commitment to his fellow man and country."

The Lieutenant John R. Fox action figure is outfitted with his combat uniform, carbine, carbine clip, binoculars, radio with antenna, radio carrying pack, and more, and will retail for approximately $19.99. The Lieutenant John Fox figure is recommended for ages 5 and up.

First Lieutenant John R. Fox

The 92nd Infantry Division, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, was an African-American division that fought in World War II. One of the division's soldiers, First Lieutenant John R. Fox of the 366th U.S. Infantry Regiment, made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defeat the enemy and save the lives of his fellow soldiers. In December 1944, Fox was part of a small forward observer party that volunteered to stay behind in the Italian village of Sommocolonia. American forces had been forced to withdraw from the village after the enemy had overrun it. From his position on the second floor of a house, Fox radioed in to have the artillery fire adjusted closer to his position, then radioed again to have the shelling moved even closer. The soldier receiving the message was stunned, for that would bring the deadly fire right on top of Fox's position; there was no way he would survive. After the units had retaken the village, they found Fox's body along with the bodies of about one hundred enemy soldiers. For this extraordinary act of great heroism and selfless disregard for his own safety, John R. Fox was awarded the distinguished Medal of Honor.

Introduced in 1964, G.I. JOE was America's first action figure, and remains synonymous with American heroism. For more information about G.I. JOE, visit www.gijoe.com. For additional information about the Official G.I. JOE Collector's Club, call (817) 448-9863, or visit www.gijoeclub.com.

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.