Sgt. Joe

Sgt. Joe (ジョー軍曹, Jō Gunsō), real name Jordi (ジョルディ, Jorudi), is a major character in Suikoden III. Sgt. Joe is a veteran soldier of the Duck Clan who supports and guides Hugo's development as a warrior.

Profile
"A veteran soldier who has survived life-or-death crises. His weapon is called a Duck Halbert."

- Sgt. Joe's profile

Appearance
Jordi is a handsome man by duck standards, due to his sharp eyes and fine tail feathers. He was well aware of his attractiveness, boasting about it.

Like most Duck Clan warriors, Sgt. Joe wielded a Duck Halberd in battle. The name of his weapon, Prajuri, comes from the Indonesian word for soldier, being representative of his way of life. His helmet clasps were accented by purple orbs, which matched his coat. He considered him quite fashionable in some regards.

On the battlefield he equipped a green shoulder guard that ran from the left shoulder to the arm as well as a helmet emblazoned with the Duck Clan emblem. Both pieces were designed to mitigate any counterattacks by the enemy after swing his halberd, a heavy weapon.

Personality
Like most Ducks, Jordi was cheerful and open-hearted by nature but it was his battle experience that makes him more military minded than most.

Always keeping his cool no matter what predicament he found himself in, Sgt. Joe always tried to analyze the situation and face the obstacles in front of him. looking at the situation and facing the difficult obstacles in front of him without giving up. Demonstrating this way of life as a warrior with confidence helped Hugo mature and accept his own growing responsibility as a hero.

He was noted as being able to make sly comments about people without them noticing and his surprisingly jovial sense of humor contributed to his popularity. When Hallec insinuated Jordi looked tasty on their first meeting, he would jovially deflect the comment onto Hugo instead.

History
"To die hunting is different than dying at war. If one names an enemy and attacks, as Lulu did, he must expect his own life to be in peril. A warrior accepts this way of death."

- Sgt. Joe

Sgt. Joe was a battle-scarred veteran who fought on many battlefields making him a hero of the Duck Clan. The nickname "Sgt. Joe" came from the respect others have for him as a soldier, it was not a rank of the Duck Clan, who were egalitarian warriors much like the Karaya Clan.

It was during the SY 465 war between the Six Clans and the Zexen Federation that he first met Lucia. The two bonded quickly as fellow warriors, with Joe also falling in love with Lucia's home-cooked meals. It was this bond that meant years later he served as something of a tutor to Hugo, supporting him up to and through the War of the Champions.

Jordi used to live with his beautiful wife and two children until tragedy struck the family when his eldest son suddenly became ill and died. At the time, Sergeant Joe was away fighting for the Grassland in their war against the Zexen. He was informed of his son's illness but was unable to leave the battlefield and so never got to see his son before he died. Torn between his life as a warrior and his inability to protect his family, he left them.

During Joe, Hugo, and Lulu's initial visit to Vinay del Zexay, it was Joe who played the role of elder. When the group were denied entry to the Council, it was Sgt. Joe who urged restraint from the brash youths and negotiated with the Zexen Knight on guard duty, knowing how obstinate they could be.

Soon afterwards, the group would be forced to flee Vinay del Zexay as war broke out between Zexen and the Grassland once more. Confronted by Percival and Leo, Jordi refused to accompany them for questioning and rebuffed their claim that the Grasslanders had launched an unprovoked ambush and the armistice.

Racing back to the Karaya Village, the trio would see the village in flames and the Zexen Knights in force. Lulu would attempt to attack Chris Lightfellow but was struck down by her blade before he could reach her. Furious, Hugo would try to attack also but was held back by Joe, who saw they were at a heavy disadvantage in a battlefield situation, and was not prepared to put Hugo in danger by indulging his desire for revenge.

When Hugo lamented that he was unable to protect Lulu, Sgt. Joe responded harshly. Although filled with anger and grief himself, Jordi knew the reality of battle, and the meaning of wielding a weapon on the battlefield. He saw Hugo's lamentations as a denial of Lulu's warrior spirit. To be a warrior was to be prepared to die in Sgt. Joe's mind.

Reuniting with the remnants of the Karaya Clan at the Great Hollow, Jordi would apologize repeatedly to Luce for failing to protect her son. When Lucia entrusted Hugo to him once more, he vowed not to make the same mistake twice, wanting to redeem himself from the pain and shame he felt for what he saw as his failure.

Later, when the Harmonian Army invaded the Grassland, Joe and Hugo would make their way to Chisha Village and meet Chris once again. There, Hugo tried to draw his blade, but Jordi stopped him. Of course Joe wanted vengeance for Lulu's death but, again, he knew that they had come to protect Chisha Village and his experience as a warrior ensured he could set aside his personal desires for the greater good.

In the aftermath, when the Harmonian army quickly routed the allied forces all the way to Brass Castle, Jordi would be one of the few to stand alone on the castle bridge against the oncoming enemy even as the demoralized troops filed past. He wielded his warrior's pride as one of his greatest weapons on the battlefield, and his determination inspired Hugo further.

Immediately prior to their final battle at the Ceremonial Site, Sgt. Joe would open to Hugo about how proud he was in the boy. Hugo had grown into a great warrior in front of Jordi's eyes and he saw Hugo almost like a son in that regard. By this time, he fought alongside Hugo not merely because Lucia had asked it of him, but because of his own desire to be at Hugo's side, no matter the cost.

Following the war, he would reunite with his wife, dedicating himself to his children.

Trivia

 * In the Suikoden III manga as well as some promotional art, Sgt. Joe is shown to be a heavy smoker, although this is never shown in-game.