Short-Fuze (G.I. Joe)

Short Fuze
G.I. Joe character
Illustration of Short-Fuze from G.I. Joe: Order of Battle. Art by Herb Trimpe.
First appearance	1982
Voiced by	Frank Welker (Sunbow/Marvel)
Information
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	Mortar Soldier
File name	Freistadt, Eric W.
Birth place	Chicago, IL
SN	RA380225432
Rank	E-4 (Corporal)
Primary MOS	Artillery
Secondary MOS	Infantry Engineer
Subgroups	Night Force

Short-Fuze (also released as Short-Fuse) 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 original mortar soldier and debuted in 1982.

His real name is Eric W. Friestadt, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Short-Fuze was born in Chicago, Illinois.

His primary military specialty is artillery and his secondary military specialty is infantry engineer. Short-Fuze is logical and sensitive. He also has a noticeable temper, hence his code-name. Short-Fuze comes from a military family (his father and grandfather were both career Top Sergeants). He enjoys abstract mathematics and can plot artillery azimuths and triangulations in his head. Short-Fuze received advanced infantry training, and specialized education in artillery school and engineer school. He is a qualified expert with the M-14, M-16, M79 grenade launcher, M-2 60mm light mortar, M-1 81mm medium mortar, and the M1911A1 Auto Pistol.

Short-Fuze was first released as an action figure in 1982.

Short-Fuze is one of the original members of the team, appearing in the premiere, double-sized issue of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. All the Joes take part in an effort to rescue a peace activist that Cobra forces had kidnapped and taken to one of their many bases, this one an island separate from the more well-known Cobra Island. The activist is safely freed.

Short-Fuze plays a support role in a mission to investigate a Cobra stronghold in the middle of mid-town Manhattan. The Joes soon storm the building with things bad and despite their best efforts, Scarlett, Zap and Snake Eyes are kidnapped. They later free themselves. In this issue, the code-name is spelled with an s, 'Short-Fuse'.

Short-Fuze participates in the unsuccessful pursuit of Cobra Commander through the outskirts of Washington D.C..