Pentagon Report Concludes Too Many Soldiers Have Same Nickname

ARLINGTON, VA—An inquiry into last month’s fatal midair collision of fighter planes piloted by Maj. John “Scorch” Basin and Col. Keith “Scorch” Vitullo has found that a dangerous number of U.S. servicemen use the same nickname. “For commanders on the ground, calling out ’O-Ring’ or ’Stroke’ and having multiple heads turn poses a logistical nightmare and a grave risk to our troops in the field,” chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael “Scorch” Mullen told reporters Tuesday. “How are you supposed to launch a predawn raid on a terrorist safe house when you’ve got 40 different men answering to the name ’Tex’?” In an effort to combat the problem, the Navy has issued a directive ordering 16,000 sailors currently known as “Topside” to henceforth use the nickname “Petty Officer 2nd Class Douglas C. Romero.”