I was named after my paternal grandfather, Pietro DiSantis. I was not born with a middle name, which was uncommon. Almost everyone I knew had a middle name, or so I thought. I guess I felt left out. So upon Confirmation, according to Catholic traditions, I got to choose a new name; I assumed the name David as my middle name. I chose David in honor of Davy Crockett, the King of the Wild Frontier. Davy Crockett was a popular Disney character who appeared in movies and on television. I used to sing his theme song all the time. My three-year-old sister, Janet, also tried to sing it, but it came out wrong. She sang, “Davy, Davy ChaCha.” Cute.

So why is this middle name important? I signed legal documents with it, and no one complained. I used my middle name all the time. My military records included my middle name. One employer used the middle initial in email addresses, but for some reason, they inserted an “X” instead of a “D.” So I petitioned for and obtained the “D” as my middle initial in my email address: Peter.D.DiSantis@xcompany.com.

Everything went smoothly from 1957 to 2001. After 9/11, many things changed, particularly air travel. Your identity and the documents to prove it became essential. As I was frequently traveling for business, I found it necessary to apply for TSA PreCheck. This U.S. Government system at airports would grant certain privileges to frequent flyers. One particularly important privilege was keeping your shoes on while walking through the metal detectors and not having to remove your laptop and other items from your carry-on bag. This convenience was greatly appreciated by all frequent travelers.

The TSA application process requires several forms of identification. I had an official copy of a birth certificate, a driver’s license, and a U.S. Passport. I had “my papers,” and I believed they were in order. However, before obtaining TSA PreCheck, I had to present my documents and answer a few questions at the TSA office. When the TSA officer reviewed my credentials, he rejected my application because my name did not match on all the documents. My Washington State Driver’s License included my middle name, whereas the other documents did not. Fortunately, rectifying the issue was simple—I needed to obtain a new license. I applied for a new Washington Driver’s License using my birth certificate as evidence, and a few weeks later, I received the updated license. I then scheduled another appointment with the TSA, and this time, all my papers were in order, leading to my acceptance into the TSA PreCheck program.

Since different branches of the government do not communicate effectively, I had to address my name change with the Veteran’s Administration. I attempted to work with the nearby VA Hospital and submitted an application to change my name, including copies of all my paperwork, which the TSA now approved of. However, I never received any response from the VA, and I was unsure how to follow up. It seemed that all that paperwork disappeared into a vast black hole. Years later, I received helpful advice on how to apply for a government name change, which involved using the same paperwork but a different application process. Thankfully, it was approved. However, the process wasn’t over yet. I had to inform the VA that the government had approved my name as Peter DiSantis, with no middle name (NMN).

Finally, everything has been resolved, and Peter DiSantis is at peace.

“That’s all I have to say about that.” ~ Forrest Gump