Forum Name

[GatorNeck]

Marines have long been known as Leathernecks. This nickname comes from the leather collars that Marines used to wear in the early days of the "Fighting Tops". Legend has it that these high collars were worn to protect the neck and throat from saber slashes. The high collar of the modern Dress Blues pays homage to those Marines of old. I happen to be a Marine, and thus a "Leatherneck."

Furthermore, my specific MOS deals with Assault Amphibian Vehicles, AAVs, or AmTracs (amphibian tractors). The first, designed and manufactured prior to world war II by Donald Roebling to be used as a search and rescue vehicle in the Florida Everglades, was known as the Roebling Alligator. Drafted into service by the Navy and Marine team during WWII the alligator, now known as LVT (landing vehicle, tracked) was instrumental in the Island Hopping campaign leading up to the invasion of mainland japan. LVTs (now known as AAVs) have evolved a great deal since then, but those of us who crew and wrench on them had been known as Alligator Marines since.

Hence GatorNeck.

[McJore]

Well mine comes Jore, wich in my family is short for Jorge, and since my dads name is also Jorge , that where McJore comes from, The son of Jorge

[12stones]

Mine's not as cool as GatorNeck's...it's just the name of one of my fav bands...

[Rex_Tremende]

Mine is after the movement in the Requiem Mass, "Rex Tremendæ."

Years ago, in another forum, my previous online identity was giving off an impression that did not suit me, so I cast about for a new moniker. A friend of mine found hers in liturgical music, so I looked there too and decided "Rex Tremendæ" would make a good name: it came from music - specifically choral music, which I love - and it more or less fit my personality. People of a certain ilk usually recognize it often starts some interesting conversations.

Sometimes people tell me "Rex Tremende" is spelled wrong. Well, yes and no. The first time I tried to set up a profile with this name, I attempted to use the character æ, but it kept changing it to an e. By accident, I committed to the e and not the usual two-letter combination, ae. I decided that "Tremende" looked like a decent enough surname that I should keep it that way.

I have opined as Rex in many forums for so many years that I answer to "Rex" in public as I would to my given name. Indeed, some people only know me that way, and I no longer think of it as just a nom de plume.

Regards,
Rex.