It was this following piece in the article that made me think it was a joke, otherwise, I don’t think I normally make fun of names:
“. . . The United States initially nominated Jack D. Ripper commander of Burpelson Air Force Base, to the job. But his nomination had . . .”
Imagine how I feel, Dmitri.
My good friend, COL Bat Guano, called me to confirm that this is correct. The guy’s name is Strangelove. Bat and I went to the Basic Course and Airborne School together, he would never steer me wrong.