AK-47

COMMUNIST RIFLE

ALPHABET

A=ALPHA
B=BRAVO
C=CHARLIE
D=DELTA
E=ECHO
F=FOXTROT
G=GOLF
H=HOTEL
I=INDIA
J=JULIET
K=KILO
L=LIMA
M=MICHAEL
N=NOVEMBER
O=OSCAR
P=PAPA
Q=QUÉBEC
R=ROMEO
S=SIERRA
T=TANGO
U=UNIFORM
V=VICTOR
W=WHISKEY
X=X-RAY
Y=YANKEE
Z=ZULU

AMBUSH

SURPRISE ATTACK

ARMY WAY

THERE WAS ALWAYS THREE WAYS TO DO THINGS, THE RIGHT WAY, THE WRONG WAY AND THE ARMY WAY

ASAP

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

BASE CAMP

MAIN BASE OF OPERATIONS

BOOM-BOOM GIRL

YOUNG LADY WITH HORIZONTAL TENDENCIES

C’S OR C-RATIONS

CANNED MEALS

CHARLIE

VIET CONG

CHICOM

CHINESE COMMUNIST

CHLOROQUINE

LARGE, ANTI-MALARIA PILL TAKEN EVERY WEEK

CORP

ANY GROUP OF MILITARY PERSONNEL PERFORMING A SIMILAR FUNCTION SUCH AS THE CORP OF ENGINEERS, SIGNAL CORPS, ETC.

CORP

AT LEAST TWO DIVISIONS

CP

COMMAND POST

CYA

COVER YOUR ASS

DAPSONE

SMALL PILL TAKEN PERIODICALLY BY U.S. TROOPS, OSTENSIBLY TO PREVENT MALARIA BUT ACTUALLY TO PREVENT LEPROSY

DEEP SHIT

THE WORST POSSIBLE POSITION, SUCH AS BEING NEARLY OVERRUN

DEROS

DATE, ESTABLISHED RETURN (FROM) OVERSEAS SERVICE
THE DATE A PERSON'S TOUR IN VIETNAM WAS ESTIMATED TO END

DET CORD

DETONATING CORD. AN 'INSTANTANEOUS FUSE' IN THE FORM OF A LONG THIN FLEXIBLE TUBE LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVE (PETN).

DEUCE AND A HALF

2.5 TON TRUCK

DI DI OR DI DI MAU

MOVE QUICKLY

DINKY DAU

TERM FOR "CRAZY" OR "YOU'RE CRAZY."

DIVISION

APPROXIMATELY THREE BRIGADES AND APPROXIMATELY 20,000 SOLDIERS

DMZ

DEMILITARIZED ZONE (17TH PARALLEL)

DOD

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DONUT DOLLY

FEMALE, AMERICAN RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS

DUFFLEBAG

THE OBLONG, UNWIELDY BAG IN WHICH TROOPS STORED ALL THEIR GEAR

DUNG LAI

VIETNAMESE FOR "STOP!" OR "HALT!"

DUSTOFF

A NICKNAME FOR A MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER "MEDEVAC."

EGG BEATER

ANY HELICOPTER

ELEPHANT GRASS

TALL, SHARP-EDGED GRASS

EM

ENLISTED MAN

EOD

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL

ER
(PREFIX TO SERIAL NUMBER)

INDICATED THAT PERSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY RESERVES

ETS

ESTABLISHED TERMINATION (OF) SERVICE

EVAC

SEE "MEDEVAC."

FATIGUES

STANDARD COMBAT UNIFORM, OD GREEN IN COLOR

FIELD OF FIRE

AREA THAT A WEAPON OR GROUP OF WEAPONS CAN COVER EFFECTIVELY WITH FIRE FROM A GIVEN POSITION

FIGHTING HOLE

A FOXHOLE WITH SANDBAG PROTECTION AND SOMETIMES AN ELEVATED ROOF OF SHEETMETAL, REINFORCED WITH SANDBAGS

FIRE BASE OR FB

BASE OF OPERATIONS WHEN OUT IN THE FIELD AWAY FROM THE BASE CAMP

FIREFIGHT

EXCHANGE OF SMALL ARMS FIRE BETWEEN OPPOSING UNITS

FIRST SHIRT

1ST SGT

FLACK JACKET

HEAVY FIBERGLASS-FILLED VEST WORN FOR PROTECTION FROM SHRAPNEL LATER, 1969-70, INCORPORATED PYROCERAMIC PLATES TO PROTECT BACK AND CHEST FROM RIFLE-FIRE

FLARE

ILLUMINATION PROJECTILE

FNG

"EFFING" NEW GUY

FRAG

COMMON TERM FOR ANY GRENADE

FREEDOM BIRD

ANY AIRCRAFT THAT TOOK YOU BACK TO THE "WORLD"

FREQ OR PUSH

RADIO FREQUENCY

FRIENDLIES

ALLIES, OR ANYONE NOT ON THE OTHER SIDE

FRIENDLY FIRE

AIR, ARTILLERY OR SMALL-ARMS FIRE FROM AMERICAN FORCES MISTAKENLY DIRECTED AT AMERICAN POSITIONS

FUBAR

FOULED UP BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION

FUSE

CORD FILLED WITH PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITION, BURNED AT A PRECISE RATE AFTER IGNITION

G.I.

GOVERNMENT ISSUE

GOOKS

SLANG EXPRESSION BROUGHT TO VIETNAM BY KOREAN WAR VETERANS. THE TERM REFERS TO ANYONE OF ASIAN ORIGIN

GP

GENERAL PURPOSE

GREASE GUN

M2-A1 SUB-MACHINEGUN, .45CAL AUTOMATIC WEAPON

GREEN BERETS

MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL FORCES OF THE U.S. ARMY

GROUND POUNDER OR GRUNT

AN INFANTRYMAN

GUERRILLA

SOLDIERS OF A RESISTANCE MOVEMENT WHO ARE ORGANIZED ON A MILITARY OR PARAMILITARY BASIS

GUERRILLA WARFARE

MILITARY OPERATIONS CONDUCTED IN ENEMY-HELD OR HOSTILE TERRITORY BY IRREGULAR, PREDOMINANTLY INDIGENOUS FORCES

GUN TRUCKS

A TRUCK WITH MOUNTED AUTOMATIC WEAPONS

GUNG HO

VERY ENTHUSIASTIC

GUNSHIP

AN ARMED HELICOPTER OR FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT

GVN

GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH VIETNAM

HANOI HILTON

NICKNAME AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR USED TO DESCRIBE THE HOA LOA PRISON IN HANOI

HE

HIGH EXPLOSIVE

HEAT TABS

FUEL PELLETS USED FOR HEATING C-RATIONS

HOOTCH

HOUSE OR LIVING QUARTERS OR A NATIVE HUT

HOOTCH

THE TERM USED FOR WEED, OR BOOZE

HORN

RADIO

HQ

HEADQUARTERS

HUEY

NICKNAME FOR THE UH-SERIES HELICOPTERS

HUMP

TO SLOG AROUND ON FOOT

HUN

F-100 SUPER SABRE FIGHTER BOMBER

I CORPS

NORTHERNMOST MILITARY REGION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

II CORPS

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS MILITARY REGION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

III CORPS

MILITARY REGION BETWEEN SAIGON AND THE HIGHLANDS

IV CORPS

THE SOUTHERNMOST MILITARY REGION IN SOUTH VIETNAM, LOCATED IN THE MEKONG DELTA

IN COUNTRY

IN VIETNAM

IN THE FIELD

ANY AREA OUTSIDE OF A BASE CAMP

INCOMING

RECEIVING ENEMY SMALL ARM, MORTAR OR ROCKET FIRE

INTEL

INTELLIGENCE

JOLLY GREEN GIANT

HEAVILY ARMED C-47 AIRCRAFT OR AN HH-53 HEAVY RESCUE HELICOPTER

KIA

KILLED IN ACTION

KLICK OR K

KILOMETER (.62 MILES)

KP

KITCHEN POLICE

LAW

M72 LIGHT ANTITANK WEAPON. A SHOULDER-FIRED, 66MM ROCKET WITH A ONE-TIME DISPOSABLE FIBERGLASS LAUNCHER

LBJ RANCH

THE LONG BINH JAIL (STOCKADE)

LEATHERNECK

A MARINE

LIFER

CAREER SOLDIER

LOCK AND LOAD

MEANING TO CHAMBER A ROUND IN YOUR WEAPON

LURPS

LIGHTWEIGHT FOOD PACKET CONSISTING OF A DEHYDRATED MEAL

M-1

WORLD WAR II VINTAGE AMERICAN RIFLE/CARBINE

M11

LARGE, ANTI-MALARIA PILL TAKEN EVERY WEEK

M-14

7.62 MM AMERICAN RIFLE

M-16

STANDARD AMERICAN RIFLE USED AFTER 1966.

M-60

AMERICAN 7.62 MM MACHINE GUN

M-79

SINGLE-BARRELED 40MM GRENADE LAUNCHER

MACV

MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND, VIETNAM

MAGS

MAGAZINES WHERE AMMUNITION KEPT/STORED THEN PLACED IN A WEAPON

MAMA-SAN

AN ELDERLY VIETNAMESE WOMAN

MEAT WAGON

AMBULANCE (ON GROUND)

MEDEVAC

A NICKNAME FOR A MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER "DUSTOFF."

MIA

MISSING IN ACTION

MIC

MICROPHONE

MOS

MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY--THE JOB DESIGNATOR;
ONE'S JOB TITLE

MPC

MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE; USED INSTEAD OF U.S. DOLLARS

MULE

SMALL 4-WHEELED CARGO VEHICLE

NCO

NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER

NG
(PREFIX TO SERIAL NUMBER)

INDICATED THAT PERSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

NO SWEAT

CAN DO...EASILY DONE OR ACCOMPLISHED

NUMBER ONE

VERY GOOD OR BEST

NUMBER TEN

VERY BAD OR WORST

NVA

NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY, OR REFERRING TO A SOLDIER IN SAME

O
(PREFIX TO SERIAL NUMBER)

INDICATED THAT PERSON WAS AN ARMY OFFICER

OCS

OFFICER'S CANDIDATE SCHOOL

OD

OLIVE DRAB COLOR, STANDARD "ARMY GREEN" COLOR

OD

OFFICER OF THE DAY

P-38

CAN OPENER USED TO OPEN C-RATIONS

PAPA-SAN

AN ELDERLY VIETNAMESE MAN

PAVN

PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM; ALSO KNOWN AS THE NVA

PBR

PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER

PHANTOM

F4 PHANTOM JET, TACTICAL FIGHTER - BOMBER

PIASTER OR P

SOUTH VIETNAMESE MONEY

PLATOON

APPROXIMATELY 45 MEN BELONGING TO A COMPANY COMPOSED OF TWO OR MORE SQUADS

POINT MAN

LEAD SOLDIER

PONCHO LINER

NYLON INSERT TO THE RAIN PONCHO

POP

GENERICALLY, TO 'TRIGGER' OR 'INITIATE', AS IN "...POP A FLARE."

POP SMOKE

TO MARK A TARGET, OR LOCATION WITH A SMOKE GRENADE

POW

PRISONER OF WAR

PRC-25

NICKNAMED PRICK-25. LIGHTWEIGHT FIELD RADIO

PSP

PERFORATED STEEL PLATE

PTSD

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

PUFF (THE MAGIC DRAGON)

AC-47 AIRCRAFT FITTED WITH SIDE-FIRING MINIGUNS AND FLARES

PUSH OR FREQ

RADIO FREQUENCY

PX

POST EXCHANGE

QC

QUA^N CA~NH. VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENT OF AN AMERICAN MP

R & R

REST-AND-RECREATION (VACATION)

RA
(PREFIX TO SERIAL NUMBER)

INDICATED THAT PERSON WAS REGULAR ARMY (ENLISTED)

RECON

RECONNAISSANCE

ROCK 'N' ROLL

MOVE OUT, NOW

ROKS

REPUBLIC OF KOREA GROUND TROOPS

ROME PLOW

BULLDOZER FITTED WITH A LARGER BLADE AND FRAME ON TOP TO PROTECT OPERATOR, USED TO CLEAR JUNGLE

ROUND EYE

AMERICAN WOMEN

RPG

RUSSIAN-MANUFACTURED ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE

RVN

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (SOUTH VIETNAM)

SAME-SAME

SAME AS OR JUST ALIKE

SEA HUTS

SOUTHEAST ASIA HUTS.
STANDARD-DESIGNED BUILDINGS OF CORRUGATED TIN ROOFS; WALLS OF HORIZONTAL-LOUVERED BOARDS FOUR FEET UP FROM THE BOTTOM, AND SCREEN FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE ROOF INSIDE;

SOME WERE ON CONCRETE PADS AND SOME WERE ON BLOCKS; SOME HAD SANDBAGS AROUND THEM ABOUT 30 INCHES FROM THE WALL AND WAIST HIGH; YOU COULD WALK INSIDE THE SANDBAGS FROM DOOR TO DOOR;

WOODEN WALKWAYS BETWEEN BUILDINGS SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WALK IN MUD; A FEW SANDBAGS WERE PLACE ON THE ROOFS TO KEEP THEM FROM BLOWING AWAY IN A HURRICANE

THERE WERE LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE BUILDINGS ALL OVER VIETNAM USED FOR EVERYTHING: FROM OFFICES; TO LIVING QUARTERS; TO CLUBS; TO PXS; TO "YOU NAME IT."

SEARCH AND DESTROY

OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS DESIGNED TO FIND AND DESTROY THE ENEMY

SERETTE

LITTLE DISPOSABLE NEEDLE WITH MORPHINE IN FIRST AID KITS

SEVENTEENTH PARALLEL

TEMPORARY DIVISION LINE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM (DMZ)

SHELL

BULLETS, ARTILLERY ROUND, OR OTHER AMMUNITION

SHIT

A CATCHALL MULTIPURPOSE TERM, IE, A FIREFIGHT WAS 'IN THE SHIT', A BAD SITUATION WAS 'DEEP SHIT', TO BE WELL PREPARED AND ALERT WAS TO HAVE YOUR 'SHIT TOGETHER

SHORT OR SHORT-TIMER

INDIVIDUAL WITH LESS TIME REMAINING IN VIETNAM, I’M SHORT AND YOU ARE GOING BACK ON THE BRIDGE (MEANING YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME REMAINING OVER HERE THAT A BRIDGE COULD BE BUILT IN TIME FOR YOU TO GO HOME. A GUY WITH 364 DAYS LEFT IN COUNTRY WOULD BE A SHORT-TIMER WHEN TALKING TO A GUY WITH 365 DAYS LEFT IN COUNTRY.

SIN LOI

TOO BAD

SIX

THE CO OR COMMANDING OFFICER

SKATE

GOOF OFF

SKY PILOT

ANOTHER NAME FOR THE CHAPLAIN

SKYRAIDER

DOUGLAS A1-H FIGHTER/BOMBER, SINGLE PROPELLER AIRCRAFT USED FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

SNAFU

SITUATION NORMAL ALL FOULED UP

SNOOPY

THIS WAS A MISSION FLOWN OFTEN IN VIETNAM, ONE SHIP FLEW AT TREE-TOP LEVEL, TRYING TO DRAW ENEMY FIRE FROM HIDDEN TROOPS (THIS WAS "SNOOPY"). THE SECOND SHIP (AT HIGH ELEVATION) WOULD THEN OBSERVE WHERE THE SHOTS CAME FROM AND DIVE AND ATTACK. THESE WERE SNOOPY MISSIONS

SORTIE

ONE AIRCRAFT MAKING ONE TAKEOFF AND A LANDING TO CONDUCT A MISSION

SOS

SHIT ON A SHINGLE." CHIPPED BEEF CREAMED ON TOAST

SPECIAL FORCES

U.S. ARMY GREEN BERETS

SPOOKY

C-47 GUNSHIP - 7.62 MINI GUNS MOUNTED IN SIDE WINDOWS

SQUAD

A SQUAD IS A BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL INSTITUTION (APPROX 8 TO 10 MEN MAKE UP A SQUAD)

STAND-DOWN

PERIOD OF REST AND REFITTING IN WHICH ALL OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY, EXCEPT FOR SECURITY, IS STOPPED.

STANSIONS

STABILIZING DEVICES

SUPER SABRE OR HUN

F-100 CLOSE SUPPORT FIGHTER – BOMBER

TEE-TEE

VERY FEW OR A SMALL AMOUNT

TET

VIETNAMESE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD

TET

REFERS TO THE NATIONWIDE NVA-VC OFFENSIVE THAT BEGAN DURING TET OF 1968

THE WALL

VIETNAM-VETERANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON D.C.

TOC

TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER

TOMMY-GUN

.45CAL, THOMPSON SUB-MACHINEGUN, FULLY AUTOMATIC SHOULDER FIRED WEAPON

TRI-BORDER

THE AREA WHERE VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, AND LAOS MEET

TRIP-WIRE

THIN WIRE USED BY BOTH SIDES STRUNG ACROSS AN AREA SOMEONE MAY WALK THROUGH. USUALLY ATTACHED TO A MINE, FLARE, OR BOOBY TRAP

U.S. ARMY

WE USE TO SAY THE U.S. ARMY ABOVE OUR POCKET INDICATED: UNCLE SAM AIN’T RELEASED ME YET.

US
(PREFIX TO SERIAL NUMBER)

INDICATED THAT PERSON WAS A DRAFTEE.

USAF

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

USARPAC

UNITED STATES ARMY, PACIFIC

USARV

UNITED STATES ARMY, VIETNAM

USO

UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATION ( BOB HOPE’S CHRISTMAS SHOWS WERE USO SPONSORED EVENTS )

VC

THE VIETCONG OR SOUTH VIETNAMESE COMMUNIST FORCES

VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

MEDAL AWARDED TO U.S. PERSONNEL BY THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, FOR MILITARY SERVICE IN SOUTH VIETNAM (MOST US PERSONNEL RECEIVED A RIBBON AND WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE THE MEDAL THEM SELVES IF THEY WANTED IT)

VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL

MEDAL AWARDED TO U.S. PERSONNEL, BY THE U.S., FOR MILITARY SERVICE IN SOUTH VIETNAM

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

BLACK GRANITE WALL WITH A LIST OF ALL WHO DIED IN VIETNAM, BUILT IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND DEDICATED IN 1982 (THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC)

VIETNAM WOMEN'S MEMORIAL

BRONZE SCULPTOR DEDICATED TO THE WOMEN WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM. THE MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED IN 1993 AND STANDS NEAR “THE WALL” IN WASHINGTON D.C.

VN

VIETNAM

WAKE-UP

THE LAST DAY SPENT IN COUNTRY BEFORE GOING HOME. I’VE GOT TWO DAYS AND A WAKE-UP TO GO.

WIA

WOUNDED IN ACTION

WORLD

THE UNITED STATES, I’M GOING BACK TO THE WORLD.

WP

WHITE PHOSPHORUS SHELL OR GRENADE.

YARD

THE MONTAGNARD PEOPLE