National guardman changed his name to a toy

WKCY TV Ohio ^ | 18 March 2003 | Vic Gideon

[homeagain balkansvet]

CUYAHOGA FALLS -- A member of Ohio's 5694th National Guard Unit in Mansfield legally changed his name to a Transformers toy.

Optimus Prime is heading out to the Middle East with his guard unit on Wednesday to provide fire protection for airfields under combat.

"On Sunday, we were awarded as the best firefighting unit in the Army National Guard in the entire country," said Prime. "That was a big moment for us."

Prime took his name from the leader of the Autobots Transformers, which were popular toys and a children's cartoon in the 1980s.

He legally changed his name on his 30th birthday and now it's on everything from his driver's licence, to his military ID, to his uniform.

"They razzed me for three months to no end," said Prime. "They really dug into me about it."

"I got a letter from a general at the Pentagon when the name change went through and he says it was great to have the employ of the commander of the Autobots in the National Guard."

Prime says the toy actually filled a void in his life when it came out.

"My dad passed away the year before and I didn't have anybody really around, so I really latched onto him when i was a kid," he said.

[homeagain balkansvet]

Imagine! Naming yourself after a toy.....

[proust]

I wish I thought of it first!

[dead]

He should have went with Silly Putty.

[Zavien Doombringer]

My wife calls me He-Man :)

[martin_fierro]

"OK, PRIVATE Optimus Prime, I have some latrines for you to wash."

[adamyoshida]

Well, if it makes him feel better, it's fine by me. I mean, it's no weirder than people taking African or Islamic names.

Becides, if he serves long enough, maybe he can become General Optimus Prime and lead CENTCOM against the future dictator of Iraq... Megatron.

[Poohbah]

Actually...

If it makes the guy happy, why give him a hard time over it?

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Just call me Slinky :)

[Sloth]

I would have gone for "Starscream."

[LeftIsSinister]

At least it's more respectable than Shrinky Dink or Betsy Wetsy. I think.

[amused]

LOL....

[Cable225]

Optimus Prime-

Would you argue with this guy?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Better than Ken or Barbie or Mr. Potato Head.

[areafiftyone]

LOL - Reminds me of the He-Man Woman Hater's Club from the Little Rascles!!

[new cruelty]

what ever gets you through the night...

[Angelus Errare]

Ping

[Green Knight]

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

[Tribune7]

Maybe it makes people happy to give him a hard time over it. :-)

[dead]

"My dad passed away the year before and I didn't have anybody really around, so I really latched onto him when i was a kid," he said.

I know a kid who went through exactly the same thing, but when he grew up he renamed himself “Lispy Priest.”

[new cruelty]

yeah, starscream was cool!

[Green Knight]

LMAO! I was just about to ping you!

[TonyInOhio]

I used to be Mr.PotatoHeadInOhio. Thank god JimRob helped me out. :-)

JimRob, kudos on handling the volume today. We'd be lost without this little slice of heaven on the net.

Tony

[KineticKitty]

Yes, we knew a female soldier that changed her last name to whatever post she was assigned to at the time. PVT. Carson, PV2 Campbell, SPC Wainright.. and so on. She seemed to really gain some kind of happiness out of it, at least we assumed so with all the paperwork she must have had to go thru every few years, lol.

[akorahil]

Well, I'd make fun of him for it, but I won't...

Seeing as how his unit was awarded best firefighting unit in the Army National Guard in the entire country he's probably more than meets the eye (Doh! I couldn't resist!)

[baseballmom]

Check this out !!

[new cruelty]

Clearly there is more than meets the eye here.

:)

[Green Knight]

What unit WOULDN'T be the best in the country with Optimus Prime in command, I ask you that?

What surprises me is that there's a general who mentioned this who actually knows who Optimus Prime is. Hehehe. Guess he must have a child or grandchild who loves Transformers.

[new cruelty]

I wonder if he makes that transforming sound too.

[SENTINEL]

What an idiot. I grew up fatherless as well, and adopted Charles Ingalls (little house on the prairie) as my father figure, but I'd never change my name....and to a cartoon character ?

[Paul C. Jesup]

I that does not worry. I would be REALLY WORRIED if he changed his name to either Conrad Hauser or Dashiell Fairborne. If you realize what characters I am talking about, you would understand why I would be worried about that.

[B-Chan]

James T. Kirk was my father figure -- which explains quite a bit, actually...

[SENTINEL]

Nothing wrong with Captain Kirk !

[LibertyGirl77]

The fact that a general at the Pentagon had enough of a sense of humor to write "Optimus Prime" a letter makes me love this country. :)

[homeagain balkansvet]

It's just rather hard to take someone who would rename themselves after a toy at all seriously.

[Alberta's Child]

Prime says the toy actually filled a void in his life when it came out . . . "My dad passed away the year before and I didn't have anybody really around, so I really latched onto him when i was a kid," he said.

Gosh, I wouldn't want to know what drove THIS guy to change his name . . .

[Cogadh na Sith]

"My dad passed away the year before and I didn't have anybody really around, so I really latched onto him when i was a kid," he said.

I know just how he feels.

My dad died while I was on active duty in the Army and I didn't have any other family....

However, I don't think I could change my name to:
"Beer, Cigars and Korean Hookers"

[HamiltonJay]

hahah maybe you should have gone for "Love you long time"...

[Destro]

Transformers! More than meets the eyes!

COOOOOOOOBRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Corin Stormhands]

Just call me "Magna Doodle"

[xsmommy]

why did this thread make me think of you?

[tacticalogic]

Yes, we knew a female soldier that changed her last name to whatever post she was assigned to at the time.

I've always wondered what would happen if I changed my name to "deleted", or "deceased".

[homeagain balkansvet]

I DO know of a guy who named his favorite toy after himself.... his name was Richard....

[Destro]

However, I don't think I could change my name to: "Beer, Cigars and Korean Hookers"

Those were your toys???? You had the best childhood!!

[Corin Stormhands]

Is he the guy with the seeing eye dog?

[homeagain balkansvet]

I've always wondered what would happen if I changed my name to "deleted", or "deceased".

I hope Saddam has already taken that change in name for himself...

[Cogadh na Sith]

2nd childhood really...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Megatron is the ultimate power, Prime! Your circuits will be fried when I'm done with you!"

[Sir Gawain]

You down with O.P.?

[Hegewisch Dupa]

because you wish I would transform into less of a geek?

[tacticalogic]

I hope Saddam has already taken that change in name for himself...

He's welcome to it.