Has anyone else ever caught hell simply because of their names? As you can see by mine I was wide open to it

CPL Brown,

You bet! As a kid, I heard every weather-related joke under the sun (no pun intended). I used to respond by punching the boy in the face and half the time I ended up losing, but I was too proud to let our family name go undefended.

Nowadays it doesn't bother me in the least if someone cracks a joke about my name. If it's a good one, I'll laugh along with them and then dish it back. Most people don't intend to be mean; they just want to appear to be witty.

Well I have had the obligatory "Space Balls" references..."May the Schwartz be with you!"; "I see your Schwartz is as big as mine." etc, I've been referred to as GEN Swartzkopf....only time I get annoyed is when people keep adding the "ch" to my name after I have corrected them on the spelling/pronunciation.

Okay, this is one reason I go by my initials almost everywhere....

One day, I was in the middle of DC. It was close to quitting time, and where I needed to go was right across the street from where I was. There were no cars coming, so I just ran across the street. All of a sudden I heard "Hey you in the suit!"

I turn around, and there's a cop getting in my face. He's going to write me a ticket for jaywalking, and asked my name. I said to him: "Officer, I better just show you my license, because if I tell you my name, you're going to think I'm being a smart-ass and just try to take me to jail".

Without missing a beat, he said:" Oh, and I suppose your name is Jay Walker?!?!?".

After viewing my license, he doubled over with laughter, and told me "Get the hell out of here before I change my mind"