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View Full Version : National guardman changed his name to a toy

Anime_girl
03-20-2003, 06:55 AM
National guardman changed his name to a toy
Reported by Vic Gideon
POSTED: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 11:02:13 PM
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 11:12:28 PM


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.
JohnCrichton
03-20-2003, 11:12 AM
This is the coolest thing I've ever heard.

:D
JohnCrichton
03-20-2003, 11:20 AM
Thanks for this bit of news, Anime_girl. My friend sent back a funny reply, cuz I sent this out to all my friends:


That's the coolest thing ever! Now we're guaranteed to win! As long as Saddam doesn't start naming his generals "Megatron", "Starscream", or *gulp*
"Unicron"! :eek:
Scatha_the_Worm
03-20-2003, 11:36 AM
So is the new motto of the National Guard "Transform, and roll out!" .
StarScream64
03-20-2003, 12:41 PM
Originally posted by Anime_girl

"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."

LOL!
I don't know what's funnier; the fact that this guy changed his name into an Autobot, or the fact that a US general knew what an Autobot was!
RZetlin
03-20-2003, 12:53 PM
See an Autobot is on the American side! ;)
Behonkiss
03-20-2003, 02:33 PM
So nobody else finds this ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS? What's next, a guy becoming He Man?
Chris Wood
03-20-2003, 02:34 PM
Well, as much as I dislike this war, I guess the outcome is no longer in doubt if we have Optimus freakin' Prime on our side. Unless Saddam has those Armada kids on his side. The ultimate evil!!
JohnCrichton
03-20-2003, 02:38 PM
Originally posted by Behonkiss
So nobody else finds this ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS? What's next, a guy becoming He Man?

Show a sense of humor... sheesh. World's turning to crap. It's nice that there's something out ther that can turn up the corner of your mouth in a smirk amoung all this.

Not to mention it's sweet, cuz they guy picked the name cuz of a childhood attachment he had to the Big Bot after his father past away.

How many, "ROLL OUT!!!" Jokes do him and his men hear per day? :D
Kal-el
03-20-2003, 02:45 PM
I agree with you JC, this is so cool. A bit extreme, but cool nonetheless.
I wonder...is Optimus his first name and Prime his last name? Or Is it all his first name? Also, based on the story, I assume the decision was based on G1 Optimus Prime.

Now, if Saddam Hussein would change his name to Megatron...

"One shall stand, one...shall fall."
Chris Wood
03-20-2003, 02:49 PM
Originally posted by Kal-el
Now, if Saddam Hussein would change his name to Megatron...


Holy crap! Why would you want that to happen?? Kiss Israel goodbye if Iraq gets Megatron on their side.
Nightflower
03-20-2003, 02:55 PM
That's really cool :)
Kal-el
03-20-2003, 02:59 PM
Originally posted by Desslar
Holy crap! Why would you want that to happen?? Kiss Israel goodbye if Iraq gets Megatron on their side.
Knowing Megatron, he'd stick around in Iraq filling up energon cubes with the oil there, build a space bridge, and go back to Cybertron.
If all else fails, Prime could always use the matrix on him I guess...
Bakasama
03-20-2003, 03:18 PM
Originally posted by Kal-el
Now, if Saddam Hussein would change his name to Megatron...

It makes more sense if he renamed himself, "Fred".
Pilmedium
03-20-2003, 04:14 PM
That is kind of ridiculous. The reasoning makes it sound like he will not regret it later.

Originally posted by Kal-el
is Optimus his first name and Prime his last name?

The news article makes it sound that way.
Matt Hazuda
03-20-2003, 04:15 PM
Originally posted by Bakasama
It makes more sense if he renamed himself, "Fred". It would make much more sense to changed his name to f***ed :D
zmanjz
03-20-2003, 04:35 PM
OMG!! that's great!

I gotta tell my little Sister and brother...

heh heh...

Wow.

I wonder if there are any soldiers who want Gi Joe Names :D

Sorry, I had to verify this one... but it's true

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=3828
JohnCrichton
03-20-2003, 04:41 PM
God I wish this would start a trend of name changes to G.I. Joes and Transformers.
Kal-el
03-20-2003, 04:43 PM
Originally posted by JohnCrichton
God I wish this would start a trend of name changes to G.I. Joes and Transformers.
You know, since I read this I've been wondering what TF name I'd choose.
JohnCrichton
03-20-2003, 05:03 PM
Same here! :D

"Keith Prime" does have a pretty nice ring to it.....
Chris Wood
03-20-2003, 05:16 PM
Originally posted by JohnCrichton
God I wish this would start a trend of name changes to G.I. Joes and Transformers.

Dibs on Cobra Commander!!

"Excuse me, Commander..."

"That's MR. Commander to you, bub."
j32885
03-20-2003, 05:27 PM
:D That's so cool! Good luck to you Optimus Prime ! Peter Cullen and the rest of the TF and Toonami fandom will be proud of you.

Here's a cool link to learn more about his Bio:
http://www.botcollector.com/ComShowCase.htm

*Salutes to him, has he is driving off to front line* :cool:
Brainatra
03-21-2003, 01:54 PM
Bizarre...not as bizarre as, say, the guy making himself look like Michael Jackson through surgery, but still weird... (shrug)

-B.
EinBebop
03-21-2003, 02:07 PM
Originally posted by j32885
:D That's so cool! Good luck to you Optimus Prime ! Wow! Even the Decepticons are supporting Optimus's support of the US military. :D
James
03-21-2003, 03:10 PM
That is cool. Shame someone of higher authority didn't do it so he command the troops to transform and roll out (well, they could do the roll out part...)

That's the best bit of war news I've heard all day! Uplifting!
Lucky Bob
03-21-2003, 03:40 PM
That's just prime!
Hades
03-22-2003, 09:56 AM
yeah, Prime is pretty cool. i know him from Bottalk (www.bottalk.com/board) he writes some pretty cool TF fan fics. good luck Optimus.
Supernovametalstar
03-22-2003, 03:56 PM
I certainly don't feel as weird any more. I always had a "father" figure sense with Optimus Prime when I was a kid, but I never said anything in public for fear of teasing. Now that this brave man has legally changed his name to Optimus Prime, I guess I can come clean as well.

Coincidentally, when I was at the pro war rally in downtown Chicago this afternoon, I saw a sign that said "Roll out" on it and immediately thought of Transformers (even though I knew the person who made the sign was referring to something else). I guess this shows how much of an impact one little robot show from 20 years ago has had on many people.