Need help naming an American super-weird-soldier...

[Red Orc]

... and, no, not Captain America thanks!

This is for WWWII really but the concept holds good for any war.

The idea is that this guy turns up in the midst of a frightened unit as lone soldier from another unit who have been in action for some time, acts as a kind of calming avuncular veteran-type, has some useful local knowledge and some superior skills (maybe he's a good shot or good at sneak attacks on sentries or whatever, somewhat in the manner of Sgt Rock I suppose); however he'll disappear before the end of the action and when the unit tries to find out about the unit he's from, they'll be told that no such unit existed or they were wiped out in WWI or that everyone in the unit was killed a month ago in a failed mission to do whatever this unit succeeded in doing or whatever.

So he's kind of a helpful ghost or psychic manifestation of the need for help in a desperate situation.

Any legends of ghost units, ghost veterans, or whatever that I can draw on here? Or a generic kinda template/stereotype I can use to name him (like 'Tommy Atkins' in the British army?). Is 'GI Joe' the term I'm looking for? Or is it Corporal Kowalski (with his little dog)?

Also I have no idea if he's Army or Marine Corps...

And yes, the concept is totally ripped from that Stan Ridgeway song 'Camoflage'.

Thanks for the musings of your collective gargantubrains, chaps and chapesses.

[commissarmoody]

The ghost of freedom or liberty. The Ghost, G. I. Joe. The unknown solder. Or Iron Mike.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Mike

[Red Orc]

Thanks Commissarmoody, I didn't know about 'Iron Mike', that's really intriguing. I think I'll try to use that - he certainly can't introduce himself to the other guys as 'The Ghost', 'Mike' is much more friendly! Though, obviously, 'Joe' also has a certain appeal...

[commissarmoody]

Yeah Joe is supposed to be the ever day us infantry guy. Were as Iron mike is supposed to be the man that gets the job done regardless of rank or training. With the Battle cry "fallow me!"

I am not making that part up, back when I used to run by the airborne mike when I was in the 82nd, it had in bold letters "FALLOW ME!"  the "official" battle cry of the US infantry.

[mpennock]

Both 'The Unknown Soldier' and 'G.I. Joe' would work, but both seem a bit too formal. Somehow I see guys in the field referring to him as they would a buddy. Perhaps 'Quiet Joe' or 'Steady Joe' or simply 'The Dogface'. If his repertoire includes warning his adopted unit of enemy attacks he could be known as 'The Sentry'.

[Hauptgefreiter]

What about going with a rank abbrevation like "Gunny" or "Sarge"?

[Bubbles]

What about the mysterious stranger. He carries a revolver and shoots your enemies in the back in the heat of battle.

[tnjrp]

How about just flat out calling him, well, Camouflage?


Or Camouflage Senior if you prefer

[commissarmoody]

What about going with a rank abbrevation like "Gunny" or "Sarge"?

Just leting you know that the army does not have "Gunnery Sergeant"
Only the USMC.

[Skrapwelder]

How about Big Joe from the 309th?

[Groove51]

The Lone Ranger, he used to be part of a recon squad.

[FATROC]

Young soldier: "What's your name anyway, Buddy?"
 
Mysterious Stranger: "There are those who call me.......Tim?"

 

[Hauptgefreiter]

Just leting you know that the army does not have "Gunnery Sergeant"
Only the USMC.

Thanks for the enlightenment
But who says that he isn't a marine like Camouflage?

[MajorTalon]

This one looks best.

[Amalric]

For a US Army ghost soldier, I would call him 'Joe'.

I don't know what I would name the ghost if he were a Marine. But I do like 'Mike.'

Interesting idea, a bit like Gen. Stuart and the Ghost Tank.