Cross Country (G.I. Joe)

Cross-Country
G.I. Joe character
Illustration of Cross-Country from G.I. Joe: Order of Battle. Art by Herb Trimpe.
First appearance	1986
Voiced by	Michael McConnohie (Sunbow/Marvel)
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	H.A.V.O.C. Driver
File name	Blais, Robert M.
Birth place	Greensboro, North Carolina
SN	532-90-0153
Rank	E-5 (Sergeant)
Primary MOS	Armor
Secondary MOS	Heavy Equipment Operator

Cross-Country is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's H.A.V.O.C. driver and debuted in 1986.

His real name is Robert M. Blais, and his rank is that of sergeant E-5. Cross-Country was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Cross-Country's primary military specialty is armor, and his secondary military specialty is heavy equipment operator. His father was a bulldozer operator, and his mother drove a grader, therefore he had a natural affinity for heavy machinery, coupled with an uncanny sense of direction and fearlessness under fire. He is a qualified expert with the heavy laser cannon, M-16A2, M-2 50 cal. MG, and .45 auto-pistol.

Cross-Country was first released as an action figure in 1986, packaged with the H.A.V.O.C. (Heavy Articulated Vehicle Ordnance Carrier). A new version of Cross-Country was released in 1993, as part of the Battle Corps line.

A new figure of Cross Country based on his cartoon likeness will be released in 2014 by the G.I. Joe Collectors' Club's Membership Incentive Figure.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared, driving the HAVOC vehicle, in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #51 (September 1986). He is mocked by Zarana as being a hillbilly, he proudly argues that instead he is a redneck. He and Sgt. Slaughter man the HAVOC and pursue the escaping Joe prisoner Zartan and his Dreadnoks, they in the Thunder Machine. Cross Country and the Dreadnok driver Thrasher shoot up each other's vehicles and play chicken, which is only won when the Dreadnoks go on their two right wheels. Thrasher escapes via suicidal moves and despite Sgt. Slaughter later finding the group, they avoid notice via Zartan's disguise expertise. Later, Cross Country is one of the first three Joes to discover that Cobra soldiers had infiltrated the now empty Joe headquarters. He takes part in the overland defense.