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Saturday, 23 February 2008 |
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 HARDTOP. The code name used by U.S. Army Sergeant Nicholas D. Klas. Hardtop was born in Chicago, where he later became a heavy equipment operator. After he joined the Army, Hardtop also studied electronics and later worked with the G.I. Joe team driving the immense crawler vehicle that served as the mobile launch base for the Joe team's space shuttle Defiant. Hardtop worked closely with the shuttle's commander, Payload, who learned that Hardtop was a perfect example of the strong silent type. He focused primarily on doing his job and wasn't a talkative person. Hardtop and Payload began working with the Joes as their headquarters in Utah was being constructed. The Defiant's first mission came shortly after that. Over the next several years, Hardtop worked with the Joe team on and off, helping in launching various shuttle missions. He last worked for the team shortly before they were shut down in 1994, sending the Joes' Star Brigade on their first joint mission with former members of the October Guard.
(GI 64, 65, 109, 145; SM 28; Figures: 1, 2)
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Classic G.I. Joe Guide 
