| AA * |
Automatic Ambush. These were something that we
were experimenting with. It was a sort of "booby trap" device
that had a claymore and a trip wire. We didn't have much luck with it
but you can find it reported in almost every log report. Normally these
were set up on a trail just before dark and then we went back and got it
in the morning. |
| ACL* |
Aircraft Combat Log |
| AO* |
Area of Operations |
| APC |
Armored Personnel Carrier. In Vietnam we saw the M113A1 version of this vehicle.
(Photo) |
| ARA* |
Aerial Rocket Artillery |
| ASR* |
Available Supply Rates |
| BDE* |
Brigade |
| BN* |
Battalion |
| Boonies: |
Nickname for the field. (Not on an LZ or FSB) |
| C-Rations |
These were canned meals that also contained
small packets of the essentials. You can see a list by clicking here. |
| CA: |
"Combat Assault" This is a little
bit of a misnomer most of these were just transporting troops from a
fire support base (see FSB) to the field. |
| CC: |
Command and Control. This was the helicopter
that the commanders flew around in to direct the troops on the ground. |
| CMD* |
Command |
| CO* |
Commanding Officer |
| Co* |
Company. Our company normally included 100 to
125 people. |
| CP* |
Command Post. This was the unit that consisted
of the company radio operator, Battalion radio operator, Commanding
Officer, Executive Officer, 1st Sergeant, Artillery officer, Artillery
Radio Operator and from time to time another person or two. We mainly
set up within the perimeter of two platoons and ran the whole show. |
| Claymore: |
An Antipersonnel mine (Photo) |
| Cobra: |
Aka Blue Max. This was a helicopter gunship
used as the "killer" in the pink team. (Photo) |
| DEROS |
Date of expected return from overseas. This
was the day we were supposed to come home. Some did some didn't. |
| "Donut Dollies": |
These were ladies that were sent to fire bases
by the American Red Cross. These gals were the closest contact we had to
the "World" during our stay on the FSB. Visit their web site
for pictures and stories. www.donutdolly.com |
| E* |
East |
| ETA* |
Estimated time of arrival. |
| FAC* |
Forward Air Controller. |
| FO |
Forward Observer. This was normally an officer
that would direct the artillery from the field. I worked as a radio
operator for Lt. Ed Griffith (our FO) for a while. |
| FX/CA* |
Final extraction to Combat Assault. |
| FSB* |
"Fire support base". This is also
referred to as an "LZ" or Landing
zone. (Photo) |
| Field: |
Any time company was off of the fire support
base. |
| Foo Gas |
A mixture of explosives and napalm, usually
set in a fifty-gallon drum and placed around the perimeter of the fire
support base. |
| G/R* |
Ground Reconnaissance. |
| Green Line duty |
This was what they called guard duty that
covered the perimeter at Quan
Loi. Normally 2 or 3 companies of units that had battalion
headquarters located at Quan Loi would be used to secure the perimeter.
This duty was considered a "mini R&R" for us as Quan Loi
had hot chow, a swimming
pool and a real bar! |
| Hootch |
This was a building that was constructed of
bamboo. These ranged in size anywhere from 2 ft x 2 ft to one we found
that was 3 stories high! |
| Huey: |
This is the helicopter that was used
extensively throughout the military. It was used as transportation,
medical evacuation, cargo and as a gunship for air support. (Photo) |
| Hunter/ Killer Team: |
See Pink Team |
| Hook: |
aka "Shithook" Officially a CH-47
"Chinook" cargo helicopter (Photo) |
| IR* |
Infa-red, Red Haze. This was detection
equipment similar to what is used in police helicopters today. |
| JS* |
Journal Staff. The people who kept the log. |
| KIA: |
"Killed in Action" |
| Kit Carson
Scouts aka. KCS* |
These were Vietnamese and Montagnard soldiers
that were assigned to companies to help with local customs, and
language. |
| KY-38 Secure |
This unit was used to connect to our radio to
"secure" communications. It basically scrambled the signal so
it could not be overheard. It came with a crypto key that was a large
"punch" that was coded. I carried the codes in my pocket,
another guy carried the secure and a 3rd person carried the crypto key.
The guy that carried the secure also carried a phosphorus grenade that
was there to be used to destroy the secure if it was about to be
captured. (Photo) |
| LRRP* aka. "Lurps" |
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. These were
teams of 4 to 6 guys that were inserted into the jungle all by
themselves. They would attempt to keep under cover and just watch enemy
movement. |
| LRS* |
Light recent use. |
| LZ: * |
"Landing Zone". See FSB |
| LOH: |
Helicopter that is one half of a
"Pink" team. Also Known as a "Loach" (Photo) |
| Log: |
"Log" days were when we were
re-supplied in the field. Most times the helicopters (Hueys) could land
and we were able to unload the supplies by hand. However when the jungle
did not allow this we got a "kick-out" which meant they just
pushed the supplies out of the door of the chopper.
"kick-outs" were never fun since this meant water would be put
into large ammo containers. The water from these really tasted bad! Also
we could not get new troops, i.e. Scout Dogs etc. Normal supplies were
"C-rations", water, mail, ammo, and any small items like
batteries or repair stuff. We were normally logged every 4 to 6 days
when we were in the field. As the Radio Telephone Operator I was the one
that called in the items for the log. |
| M-16 |
This was the standard issue weapon for
everyone in Vietnam (Photo) |
| M-60 |
The M-60 was a light weight 30 caliber machine
gun that was commonly used during the Vietnam war. The method we used
was that one person in each squad was assigned to carry the M-60 and
then one other person carried extra ammunition. (Photo) |
| M-79 |
The M-79 Grenade launcher was capable of
firing an 40mm grenade (didn't use this much) or a "buckshot"
round. For a short time I carried one of these for the commanding
officer. (Photo) |
| MRU* |
Moderate recent use. |
| Medevac |
When someone was injured or killed we would
call for a helicopter to come and get them. The normal Helicopter used
was a "Huey" |
| Mini Cav |
This was when a platoon size element (about 30
people) went out alone on a mission. |
| Mini-gun |
A multi barrel fast shooting gun. Normally
used on helicopters. (Photo) |
| Montagnard |
A Vietnamese term for several tribes of people
inhabiting the central and northern highlands. |
| Mule |
The M274 mule was a flat bed 4 wheel drive
vehicle what was used on the FSB to transport most everything. (Photo) |
| N* |
North. |
| NCO |
Non Commissioned Officer (aka Non-Com) This
was the military name for enlisted personnel (non officers) |
| NCS* |
Net Control Station. Radio headquarters. |
| NDP* |
Night Defensive Position. (NL) Night Location. |
| NFZ* |
No Fire Zone. |
| NRS* |
Negative Recent Use. |
| NVA: |
North Vietnamese Army |
| OHC* |
Overhead cover. |
| OPCON |
Operational Control |
| P-38 |
A "P-38" was military lingo for a
small "collapsible" can opener. This was probably the best
thing to ever come out of the military! I still have the very first one
I got in Vietnam and have even recently used it. They never rust, need
sharpening or wear out. (Photo) |
| PDS* |
Personal Daily Strength. Information on the
number and rank of the personnel within the company. This was reported
daily. |
| PF* |
Popular Forces. Small units of local Vietnamese
farmers. |
| POL* |
Petroleum, Oil & Lubricates. |
| PZ* |
"Pick up Zone" PZ was essentially
the same as an LZ one for pick ups and one for landing. |
| Pink Team: |
This was a group of two helicopters a "Loach"
and a Cobra Gun ship. These were also
termed a "hunter/killer" team. The concept was the
"loach" would fly low and in tight circles to draw enemy fire.
Then when the enemy was spotted the "Cobra" would use there
fire power (miniguns and rockets) to attack. |
| Point Man |
This was the first guy in a column of troops.
I did this job one time and decided it was not for me. You have to have
your weapon on full automatic and be watching for booby traps, enemy
soldiers and keep your sense of direction. Some of our guys (a very few)
were really good at it and WANTED to do it. They didn't get much
argument. One of the guys I remember from 1st platoon was nicknamed
"Gator" and he was from Florida. |
| Pop Smoke |
Term used for using smoke grenades. These came
in a variety of colors including: yellow " mellow yellow",
green, purple "goofy grape", and red. Red was used to mark a
target for aircraft. (Photo) |
| Push: |
This was a name we used for the radio
frequency setting. The common terminology was "we will change our
push from 55.33 to 58.00". Or "The medevac chopper will be on
push 58.15". |
| QRF* |
Quick Reactionary Force. |
| RCN* |
Reconnaissance. |
| RF* |
Regional Forces. (South Vietnam soldiers) |
| RRF* |
Ready Reactionary Force. |
| RPG |
Rocket propelled grenade. (aka B40) These were
Chinese or Russian make weapons that are still being used today (listen
to recent news reports) Very effective and cheap weapon. (photo). |
| Radio PRC77 |
This was the radio I carried during my time in
Vietnam. I also carried one spare battery. (Photo) |
| Rash |
This was actually the call sign that was used
by pilots that flew a OV10 Bronco. (Photo)
This was a forward observation plane that was used extensively in our
area. I can't say enough about these guys. They were always there and
did anything we asked. They saved lots of lives! |
| Redleg |
This was a term used for Artillery personnel. |
| RTO |
Short for Radio Telephone Operator. aka "ROTO".
This was what I did for most of the time in Vietnam. |
| S* |
South. |
| SEC/CA* |
Secure to Combat Assault. Term used when we
were helicoptered from a secure area such as an FSB to the field. |
| SEC/SEC* |
Secure to Secure. Term used when we were flown
from a FSB to a FSB. |
| SOI |
Standard Operating Instructions. These
documents were sent out to the Battalion Radio Operator to carry. They
included the codes that were used to set the Secure radio. |
| Scout
Dog: |
This was a K-9 team of a dog handler and dog.
We seem to ask for this a lot but I can't ever remember seeing one! |
| Secure |
This was the device that allowed us to use the
radio without having to worry about what we were discussing. (see KY-38
Secure) |
| Sorte: |
This was military jargon for a load that was
to be carried. 1 sorte = 1 helicopter or airplane load. |
| TBS* |
Time Broke Station. Term used to establish the
time an aircraft left a certain area. |
| TOC |
Tactical Operations Center. This was a large bunker centrally located in the middle of the fire base. It normally contained the battalion operations center and sleeping quarters. |
| TOS* |
Time On Station. Term used to establish the
time an aircraft arrived in a certain area. |
| TOT* |
Time On Target. Term used to establish when
aircraft was firing or dropping bombs on a target. |
| Trip flare |
An illumination device used with wires to
secure the parameter during the night. |
| VR* |
Visual Reconnaissance. |
| W* |
West |
| WIA |
Wounded in action |
| XO |
Executive Officer. Second in command for the
company. Normally a 1st Lieutenant. |
