PBS39 News Reports
ARMY GUYS
Clip: Season 2019 | 6m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
The Scranton company that makes those iconic toy Army men will soon have Army women
The Scranton company that makes those iconic toy Army men will soon have Army women
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
PBS39 News Reports is a local public television program presented by PBS39
PBS39 News Reports
ARMY GUYS
Clip: Season 2019 | 6m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
The Scranton company that makes those iconic toy Army men will soon have Army women
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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>>> I GOT OUT AND 01.
I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER.
I SERVED ONE YEAR IN SOUTH KOREA.
I ALSO SERVED IN FORT DRUM NEW YORK.
>> NO HOLIDAY THE PENNSYLVANIA MECHANIC FOR THE U.S.
ARMY IS WORKING ON A NEW MISSION HELPING BRING A YOUNG GIRL'S DREAM TO LIFE.
>> I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME.
I AM GLAD I GET TO BE A PART OF IT.
I THINK IT WILL PUT MORE EXPOSURE FOR YOUNG GIRLS.
AND EVEN BOYS WHO WANT TO PLAY I WANT LITTLE BOYS TO BE AWARE THAT FEMALES ARE TAKING OVER AND A LOT OF HISTORICALLY MALE- DOMINATED POSITIONS.
THERE ARE A LOT MORE GIRLS IN COMBAT NOW.
I HAVE WANTED TO BE A SOLDIER SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.
THERE ARE LITTLE GIRLS WHO ACTUALLY WANT TO BE SOLDIERS.
IT WILL BE NEAT.
I'M EXCITED.
>> Reporter: WILDMAN IS A QUALITY CONTROL OFFICER AT BMC TOYS.
THE NATIONS LARGEST PRODUCERS OF THE TINY GREEN ARMY MEN.
NOW THE ONLY MAKER OF ARMY WOMEN.
THE COMPANY BEGAN PRODUCING FEMALE FIGURINES.
THIS FALL WITH THE HELP OF NORTHEASTERN PLASTICS INC.
>> IT IS EXCITING TO BE A PART OF THIS WE HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURING INJECTIONS SINCE 1982.
IPA PRODUCT I WANT TO MAKE HER A MOLD I WANT TO MAKE.
WE GET THE WORK TOGETHER.
WE MAKE THE PRODUCTS.
WE HAD ALL THE MOLDS EXCEPT FOR THE FEMALE.
>> Reporter: IT'S A CONCEPT OVER 80 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
WHEN TRUCK TINY TROOPERS FIRST BECAME PLASTIC TOYS THE U.S.
WAS EMBATTLED IN WORLD WAR II.
WITH MORE THAN 60,000 ARMY NURSES SERVING.
OVER ONE WOMEN WHO FLEW AIRCRAFT FOR THE WOMEN'S AIR FORCE SERVICE PILOTS.
TODAY WOMEN MAKE UP 20% OF THE AIR FORCE.
19% OF THE NAVY.
15% OF THE ARMY AND 9% OF THE MARINE CORPS.
>> SINCE THE 1930S TINY PLASTIC SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN A STAPLE IN AMERICAN HOMES.
THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND LURKING INSIDE OF CHILDREN'S TOY CHESTS.
WOMEN HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF IT.
>> I SAW THE PINK ONE.
PEOPLE IN ARMY DON'T WEAR PINK.
SOME GIRLS DON'T LIKE PINK.
PLEASE CAN YOU MAKE ARMY CLOTHES THAT LOOK LIKE WOMEN?
I WILL PLAY WITH THEM EVERY DAY.
MY FRIENDS WILL TOO.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT SIX-YEAR-OLD LETTER WAS SENT TO MULTIPLE TOY COMPANIES.
ONLY ONE REPLIED.
>> I HAVE BEEN OFFERING PLASTIC ARMY MEN AS AN INTERNET RETAILER SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S.
EVERY NOW AND THEN SOMEONE WOULD ASK ME TO HAVE ANY WOMEN TOY SOLDIERS?
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY AM SORRY, I DON'T.
I EVEN TRIED TO SEE IF ANYONE MADE THEM.
OF CUSTOMERS ARE ASKING IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO SEE IF YOU CAN GIVE IT TO THEM.
I DID RESEARCH.
NOBODY MADE ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT OF BMC TOYS AT VICTORY BY INC.
SAYS VIVIAN'S NOTE CONFIRMED WHAT HE HAD BEEN THINKING FOR SOME TIME.
THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR FEMALE FIGURINES.
WHAT WAS INITIALLY GOING TO BE JUST FOUR WOMEN WORKING BESIDE HER MALE COMRADES BECAME SIX AND THEN 12.
LATER 14.
NOW IT INCLUDES 15 FEMALE FIGHTERS.
THANKS TO 1200 BACKERS ON KICK STARTER WHO PLEDGED OVER $55,000.
IN A MONTHS TIME.
>> WE DID A KNEELING RIFLEMAN AND WE DID A PRONGED RIFLEMAN WITH THE BAZOOKA OPERATOR.
THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THEN WE HAD A LOW CRAWLING SOLDIER.
WITH THE RUNNING ONE I CHEATED A LITTLE BIT I GAVE HER I WANT A LITTLE GIRLS TO SAY SEE THAT LONG GIRL.
I HEARD STORIES ABOUT WOMEN SHOULDERS SOLDIERS WHOSE BUN CAME UNDONE.
ONE SOLDIER THOUGHT IT WAS A SNAKE AND FREAK OUT.
>> IS THAT A FEMALE OR A MALE DOG?
>> I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
I THOUGHT SHE SHOULD PROBABLY BE A FEMALE DOG.
I AM SEEING 15 DIFFERENT SOLDIERS AND A MILITARY WORKING DOG.
THAT IS THE WAY I HAVE PHRASED IT.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
IT IS A ETC.
NOW >> Reporter: THE COMPANY HAS RESONATED WITH SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TODAY VIVIAN'S LETTER HAS COMPANY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP INHUMANITY AND FINALLY WORKING TOWARDS CREATING WOMEN TOY SOLDIERS AFTER VIVIAN'S LETTER.
SHOWING GENDER DIVERSITY AND TOY PRODUCTION AND FEEDING CHILDREN'S IMAGINATIONS WITH TOYS THAT REFLECT THEIR LIVES AND BODIES IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I'M GRATEFUL YOU FIGURED OUT A WAY FOR BMC TOYS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SINCERELY LAURA.
>> I'M A FEMALE VETERAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW TOY.
I ALMOST CRIED WHEN I SAW THE REPORT.
THE IDEA THAT WOMEN CAN BE HEROES AND DEFENDERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
OUR DAUGHTERS THANK YOU AS WELL.
SINCERELY AND THAT.
>> BMC TOYS RESPONDING MESSAGE, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
>> JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC.
FOR MILITARY WOMEN IT MAKES THEM FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF RECOGNITION.
>> Reporter: KC LOPEZ, PBS 39, NEWS TONIGHT.
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