SURE FIRE. The code name used by U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel David S. Lane, born in Los Angeles, California. Lane grew up in a rough neighborhood, but was determined to make it out. He studied martial arts and eventually received a black belt in Shoto-Kan Karate-Do on his sixteenth birthday. After working as a police officer, Sure Fire joined the FBI's special investigation unit where he investigated a number of Cobra agents. He got the attention of the Army's Criminal Investigation Division, and eventually joined the reinstated G.I Joe team. Today, like many Joes, he is a reserve member of the team. Sure Fire was stationed at the Joes' maximum security arctic prison, The Coffin, during the conflict known as World War III.