Glossary of Terms
courtesy of Dr. Christopher C. LovettAgrovilles ::South Vietnamese resettlements.
AA :: Antiaircraft
AAA :: Antiaircraft Artillery
AC (also A/C) :: Aircraft Commander.
AgitProp :: Communist term meaning revolutionary agitation and Propaganda.
AHB :: Assault Helicopter Battalion.
Airborne :: Parachutists Troops who jump from aircraft with parachutes.
Airmobile :: Helicopter-borne troops, troops that jump from helicopters without parachutes.
AID (also USAID) :: Agency for International Development.
AIT :: Advanced Individual Training.
AK-47 :: A Russian or Chinese built assault rifle, designed by the famous Russian weapons designer Andrei Kalashnikov, which fired a 7.62mm round.
ALPHA :: The military phoentic symbol for the letter A.
Annam :: The central section of Vietnam.
AO :: A military term for Area of Operations. It is also used in the context of a soldier's personal living space, i.e., "stay out of my AO troop."
Apparatchiks :: Communist party functionaries.
ARA :: Aerial Rocket Artillery.
Arty :: Artillery.
ARVN :: Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the former South Vietnam.
AWOL :: Absent Without Leave. This is either for a short period or it could mean the act of desertion.
Asimuth :: A bearing from north.
B-40 :: A Communist bloc rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Also B-40 rounds fired --- B-40 Rockets.
B-52 :: A can opener, church key type. Also a heavy American bomber.
BA :: The PAVN's base area where supplies and facilities were stored and maintained.
Bac Bo :: The term used by the North Vietnamese for North Vietnam.
Ballgame :: An operation or contact.
Battery :: An artillery unit the equivalent of a company. Six 105mm or 155mm howitzers or two 8-inch or 175 Self-Propelled howitzers.
BDA :: Battle Damaged Assessment.
Beaucoup :: French for many or much. The word was often pronounced by American troops as boo-coo.
Beehive :: An American antipersonnel artillery round containing either metal fragments or darts.
Berm :: The perimeter line of a fortification, which is usually raised above surrounding terrain.
Binh Van :: North Vietnamese political agitation among enemy troops. See also Dau Tranh.
Bird :: A Helicopter.
Bird Dog :: A Forward Air Controller or FAC, usually a small single engine prop aircraft.
Boonie Hat :: A soft cover, now prized, hat worn by infantry in Vietnam.
Boonies :: The field in Vietnam.
Boonierat :: Another term for infantry or grunts in Vietnam.
BRAVO :: The military phonetic symbol for the letter B.
Bro Brother :: A term for an African American GI in Vietnam.
Butterfly :: A flirt.
C-4 :: Powerful plastique explosive.
C-123 :: A small cargo aircraft. The Caribou.
C-130 :: A medium cargo aircraft. The Hercules.
C-141 :: A large cargo aircraft. The Starlifter.
CA :: Combat Assault.
CAR-15 :: A carbine rifle.
CC :: Company Commander.
C & C :: Command and Control. Also C2.
Cao Dai :: A religious sect found in South Vietnam near the city of Tay Ninh.
CG :: Commanding General.
C&GSC :: U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. Often simply called "Leavenworth" by those who have lived to tell about it.
CHARLIE :: The military phonetic symbol for C. Also a term for Viet Cong.
Cheap Charlie :: A GI who is frugal with his funds and is not a good customer for the Vietnamese business community.
Cherry :: A new soldier in Vietnam. See also FNG or Newbie.
Chieu Hoi :: South Vietnamese and American program to encourage either the Viet Cong or PAVN to defect to the Allied side.
CIA :: Central Intelligence Agency.
CINCPAC :: Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command.
Claymore :: Anti-personnel mine which contains a one-pound of C-4 that propels over 600 small steel balls.
Cobra :: An assault helicopter, AG-1H.
COMUSMACV :: Commander, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.
CORDS :: Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support. It is associated with the pacification program or as LBJ called it, "the other war."
COSVN :: Central Office South Vietnam (Headquarters controlling all political and military operations in Central and South Vietnam. It was subordinate to the North Vietnamese Politburo.
CTZ :: Corps Tactical Zone.
Daily-Daily :: An anti-malaria pill taken daily.
Dan Cong :: Communist supporters, no combat capability.
Dan Cong du Kich :: Communist guerrillas.
Dan Van :: Communist agitprop among civilian population under their control.
Dap :: A greeting with a stylistic handshake between troops that are "tight," often between African American GIs.
DELTA :: Military phonetic symbol for D.
DEROS :: Date Estimated Return From Overseas.
DIA :: Defense Intelligence Agency.
Dich Van :: Communist agitprop among people under enemy control.
Didi (also Didi Mau) pronounced by GIs as Dee-Dee. To leave quickly.
DMZ :: Demilitarized Zone. The region at the 17th parallel separating North Vietnam from South Vietnam.
DOD :: Department of Defense, which includes the complete defense establishment of the United States.
DRV :: Democratic Republic of Vietnam or North Vietnam.
Drops :: A reduction of your tour in Vietnam.
Dust-Off :: A medivac or medical evacuation by helicopter.
DZ :: Drop Zone.
E-1 :: Private. The lowest pay grade in the U.S. Army.
E-2 :: Private Two. The next lowest pay grade. You have at least one stripe.
Early-Out :: A reduction of your time in the Army.
ECHO :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter E.
Eleven Bravo (also 11-B) :: Military MOS, military occupational specialty for those in the infantry.
EM :: Enlisted Man, now an EP or an enlisted person.
ET :: Entrenching tool, which is a small shovel.
ETS :: Estimated Termination of Service, when your enlistment or responsibility with the army comes to an end.
Fast Mover :: A jet attack aircraft, i.e., A-4 Skyhawk or F-4 Phantom Jet.
Field Force :: United States corps-type headquarters in Vietnam.
FOXTROT :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter F.
Frag :: A fragmentation grenade.
Fragging :: The murder of an officer or NCO by a man of lower rank, generally by a hand grenade.
FSB :: Fire Support Base, which is a protected artillery position.
FWF :: Free World Forces. The name given to those forces sent by American allies to Vietnam.
G-1 :: Section Military personnel staff division.
G-2 :: Section Military intelligence staff division.
G-3 :: Section Military operations staff division.
G-4 :: Section Military logistics staff division.
GOLF :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter G.
Grunt :: Nickname given to combat infantry or marines in Vietnam.
GVN :: Government of Vietnam (South Vietnam.
HES :: Hamlet Evaluation System.
HHC :: Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
Hoa Hao :: A militant Vietnamese sect found in the Mekong Delta.
Hoi Chanh :: A Viet Cong defector.
Hootch :: A billet or living space for a soldier.
Hootch Maid :: A Vietnamese national, often a female that maintains a hootch.
Horn :: Radio handset.
"Hot" :: Dangerous, i.e., "hot LZ," and LZ in which the opposition is defending.
HOTEL :: The Military phonetic symbol for the letter H.
Hueys :: UH-1 helicopters. The main insertion and extraction helicopter for U.S. forces in Vietnam.
Hump :: A patrol of major move by U.S. troops in Vietnam.
I Corps :: First corps, pronounced as "eye" corps, which is located in Northern South Vietnam.
In-Country :: In Vietnam or Nam. The complete opposite of the World.
INDIA :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter I.
Insert :: To deploy U.S. troops into a tactical area by helicopter.
JCS :: Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Jody :: The fellow that puts the moves on your girlfriend or wife while a GI is in Nam.
JULIET :: The military phonetic symbol for the letter J.
KIA :: Killed in Action.
KILO :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter K.
Klick :: Kilometer.
Lao Dong (also Vietnamese Worker's Party) :: Communist Party in North Vietnam.
LAW :: An American anti-tank weapon.
LIMA :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter L.
Lifers :: Those that are considered professional soldiers.
Little People :: The enemy.
Lit-Up :: Fired upon.
LMG :: Light Machine Gun.
LOC :: Line of Communication.
LOH :: Light Observation Helicopter.
LP :: Listening Post.
LRRP :: Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol.
LSA :: Lubricant, Small Arms.
LZ :: Landing Zone.
M-16 :: Standard U.S. assualt weapon of the U.S. forces in Vietnam.
M-60 :: Standard U.S. Machine Gun used in Vietam, also called the PIG.
M-79 :: A 40mm grenade launcher used by U.S. forces. It was called the THUMPER by grunts.
MA :: Mechanical Ambush. An ambush using booby traps set by U.S. forces.
MAAG :: Military Assistance and Advisory Group.
MACV :: Military Assistance Command Vietnam.
Mad-Minute :: A weapons free-fire for a test session.
Main Force :: Regular army units of the PAVN, Viet Minh, and Viet Cong.
MIA :: Missing in Action.
MIG :: Communist aircraft.
MIKE :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter M.
Mini-Gun :: An electric Gatling gun which fires 7.62mm rounds at a rate of 6,000 rounds per minute.
Monday Pills :: Anti-malaria pills taken once a week on Mondays.
MOS :: Military Occupational Specialty.
MPC :: Military Pay Certificates.
MR :: Military Region.
NAM :: Vietnam.
Nam Bo :: A communist term for South Vietnam.
Napalm :: A jellied incendiary used by the French and Americans during the First and Second Indochinese Wars.
NDP :: Night Defensive Positions.
Net :: Radio frequency setting, from network.
Nickel :: number five.
NLF :: National Liberation Front.
No Sweat :: Easy, can do.
NOVEMBER :: The military phonetic symbol for the letter N.
Number One :: The best. Often pronounced by the Vietnamese as "numba one."
Number Ten :: The worst, i.e., "This AO is number ten." The Vietnamese would pronounce this as "numba ten."
Number Ten Thousand :: The very worst.
NVA :: North Vietnamese Army. The correct term is PAVN.
NVN :: North Vietnam or North Vietnamese.
NSAM :: National Security Action Memorandum.
NSC :: National Security Council.
NSSM :: National Secuity Study Memorandum.
OB :: Order of Battle.
OCO :: Office of Civil Operations.
OD :: Olive Drab.
OP :: Observation Post.
OPLAN :: Operations Plan.
OSCAR :: The Military phonetic symbol for the letter O.
OSD :: Office, Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense and his immediate staff.
OSS :: Office of Strategic Services.
P-38 :: A tiny collapsible can opener. Also called a "churchkey."
PACAF :: United States Pacific Air Force.
PACFLT :: United States Pacific Fleet.
Pacification :: Program of the Government of South Vietnam and the United States to win the allegiance of South Vietnamese people and eradicate Viet Cong influence.
PACOM :: United States Pacific Command.
PAPA :: Military Phonetic symbol for the letter P.
PAVN :: People's Army of Vietnam, North Vietnam.
PF :: Popular Forces.
PHOENIX :: An American and South Vietnamese program to combat the Viet Cong infrastructure, often by assassination.
Point (also Point Man) :: The lead man on a patrol.
POL :: Petroleum, oil, lubricants.
PRG :: Provisional Revolutionary Government.
PSDF :: People's Self Defense Forces.
PsyOps :: Psychological operations.
Punji Stake :: A sharpened bamboo stake covered with feces and placed in a pit or another concealed location.
POW :: Prisoner of War.
PZ :: Pick-up Zone.
Quad 50s :: A four-barreled 50 caliber machine guns.
QUEBEC :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter Q.
RBF :: Recon by fire.
Redball :: A high-speed road or trail used by the enemy.
REMF :: Rear Echelon Mother Fucker.
RF :: Regional Forces.
Rock'n'roll :: Firing a weapon on full automatic.
ROMEO :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter R.
ROTC :: Reserve Officer Training Corps.
RVN :: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).
RVNAF :: Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces.
SA :: Systems Analysis.
SA-2 :: Medium-range Soviet surface to air missile.
SAC :: Strategic Air Command.
SAM :: Surface to Air Missile.
Sapper :: North Vietnamese or Viet Cong commando, an expert in penetrating prepared defenses.
SEATO :: Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.
Shake `n' Bake :: Sergeant who attended NCO school to earn his rank.
SIERRA :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter S.
Sit Rep :: Situation Report.
SKS :: Simonov 7.62mm semi-automatic carbine.
Sky :: To leave.
Slack (or Slackman) :: The man located directly behind the point.
Slicks :: Huey helicopters.
Snakes :: Cobra gunships.
Soul Brothers :: African-American GIs.
SOG :: Studies and Observation Group, an American clandestine operation unit.
Sortie :: An operational flight by one aircraft.
Stand-down :: An infantry units refitting or retraining from the field.
SVN :: South Vietnam.
TAC :: Air Tactical air (Air Force) support, usually fighter-bombers.
TANGO :: The military phonetical symbol for the letter T.
TAOR :: Tactical Area of Responsibility.
TCK-TKN :: (Tong Cong Kich-Tong Khoi Nghai) A North Vietnamese term used as a code for the TET Offensive which means General Offensive, General Uprising.
Tee-Tee :: Very tiny.
TF :: Task Force.
TOC :: Tactical Operational Center.
TO&E :: Table of organization and Equipment.
TOT :: Time on Target.
Trung Bo :: A Communist term for Central Vietnam.
TSN :: Tan Son Nhut air base.
UH-1H :: A Huey Slick.
UNIFORM :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter U.
USAID :: United States Agency for International Development.
USAF :: United States Air Force.
USARPAC :: United State Army, Pacific.
USARV :: United States Army, Vietnam.
USIA :: United States Information Agency.
USMC :: United States Marine Corps.
UCMJ :: Unform Code of Miitary Justice.
VC :: Derived from the term Viet Cong Son (meaning Vietnamese Communist).
VICTOR :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter V.
VCI :: Viet Cong Infrastructure --- shadow government for the National Liberation Front.
Ville :: Village.
VNAF :: South Vietnamese Air Force.
VVAW :: Vietnam Veterans Against The War.
Wake-Up :: The last day of a GIs tour in Vietnam.
WHISKEY :: The military phonetic symbol for the letter W.
WIA :: Wounded In Action.
Widow Maker :: See MA
WIEU :: Weekly Intelligence Estimate Update, a strategy session, MACV.
Willy Peter :: White Phosphorus, an incendiary artillery round or hand grenade.
World :: The United States.
X-RAY :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter X
YANKEE :: Military phonetic symbol for the letter Y.
ZULU :: Military Phonetic symbol for the letter Z