abort

to cancel or stop a mission or flight for any reason other than enemy action.

A/C

aircraft commander (also AC)

acting jack

slang for the acting non-com (NCO). These are usually privates first class who are needed as sergeants and were temporarily given that rank, but continue to draw the paychecks of PFCs.

actual

the unit commander. This term distinguishes the commander from the radioman when call signs are used.

adjutant

a staff officer who takes care of all official correspondence with the exception of combat orders.

aerorifle platoon

a platoon of 44 to 50 enlisted men and one officer joined as a light airmobile infantry group and sent on missions by helicopter as assault teams. Part of an air cavalry troop, the platoon is called a blue team.

aeroscout platoon

the observation unit of the air cavalry troop, called a white team.

AFVN

Armed Forces Vietnam Network, the U.S. military radio and television broadcasts from Saigon, delivering music and news to military personnel.

Agency, the

nickname for the Central Intelligence Agency.

AGL

distance Above Ground Level.

AH-1

the Bell Cobra gunship (attack) helicopter, introduced to Vietnam in 1968.

AID

the Agency for Inter-national Development. This U.S. civilian agency administers economic aid to countries around the world, including Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Also known as USAID.

air

slang for air power, usually meaning fighter-bombers.

air abort

the cancellation of an aircraft mission for any reason other than enemy action, at any time from takeoff to mission completion.

Air America

the world's largest charter airline, based in Taiwan, flying with mostly American crews.

air cavalry

also known as air cav, these are the helicopter borne infantry assault teams and helicopter gunship assault teams. Blue teams, white teams, and red teams refer to aerorifle platoons, observation helicopter units, and armed gunship helicopter units.

air mobile

an infantry unit having its own squadron of helicopters or unrestricted access to them.

air support

bombing or strafing by fixed-wing aircraft.

Air Vietnam

the national airline of South Vietnam.

airborne

soldiers who are qualified as parachutists, or any personnel or piece of equipment dropped by parachute. Also slang for a tough, military attitude.

airstrike

bombing or strafing attacks by fixed wing aircraft.

AK-47

the standard infantry rifle of the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong, the Kalashnikov assault rifle. A fully automatic 7.62mm weapon of Soviet design, an effective and very reliable weapon.

alpha boat

the ASPB riverine vessel

Alpha Mike Foxtrot

"Adios, Mother Fuckers"

AMEMB

American embassy

ambulatory

those wounded in action who are still able to walk, also referred to as routine dustoffs.

angel track

nickname for an armored personnel carrier used as an aid station.

angels

term for altitude in thousands of feet. Thus, "angels two zero" is 20,000 feet.

the animal

slang for a device used to detonate 12 to 20 Claymore mines at the same time. Also known as the monster.

Annam

the long, narrow central coastal region of Vietnam including the city of Hue.

AO

1. Area of Operations. 2. Aerial Observer, a lookout watching the ground from a helicopter.

ao dai

the traditional slit skirt worn by Vietnamese women.

AP

abbreviation for several terms: Armor Piercing, Anti-Personnel, Ambush Patrol, or Air Police.

APC

Armored Personnel Carrier.

APH-5

the basic helmet worn by helicopter pilots and crewmen; a design from the 1950s. Weight about 1 pound. Replaced (when possible) by the AFH-1 or SPH-4 models.

ARA

Aerial Rocket Artillery, a term for helicopter gunships.

Arc Light

widely known code name for USAF B-52 bombing operations over North Vietnam.

area of operations

the area involved in war actions and the administration of those actions. Also, the place where military operations are conducted as part of an assigned mission.

Arizona Territory

nickname for an inexact area southwest of Da Nang. This region is known for sudden ambushes by the Viet Cong.

armored personnel carrier

a tracked vehicle used to transport troops and supplies. Frequently armed with light and heavy machineguns. This usually refers to the M-113 model; nicknames include 'track' and B-40 magnet.

armpit sauce

slang for nuoc mam , the prevalent Vietnamese sauce made from fermented fish.

ARP

aerorifle platoon, also called a blue team.

Article 15

a frequently used non-judicial punishment, given by an officer to an enlisted man for minor infractions.

artilleryman

member of an artillery unit. Slang for artillery-men include fuse lighters, cannon cockers, redlegs, gun apes, and gun bunnies.

Arvin

slang for an individual South Vietnamese soldier, as in 'Marvin the Arvin.'

ARVN

the regular forces of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Also referred to as the South Vietnamese Army and the Army of Saigon. ARVN is not altogether respected by U.S. troops. Pronounced 'ar-vin.'

ASH

Assault Support Helicopter.

ash and trash

slang for a single helicopter carrying out a non-combat mission of flying supplies, cargo, troops, or mail. Also called 'ass and trash.'

asking for 6 and going airborne

slang for using the rotation travel allowance of six cents a mile to fly home.

AT

antitank.

ATC

Air Traffic Controller; or, Armored Troop Carrier (in the brown water Navy)

attach

to place units or personnel in an organization as a temporary assignment.

autorotation

term for the free rotation of helicopter blades without engine power, in an unpowered descent. Usually an emergency procedure.

avgas

aviation gasoline, usually 106 - 110 octane fuel.

AWOL

Absent Without Official Leave.

baby-san

slang for Vietnamese child.

bac si

Vietnamese for medical corpsman or doctor.

Bad Conduct Discharge

not an honorable discharge, but not as damaging as an undesirable or dishonorable discharge. Given for such reasons as drug use or trouble making. Nicknamed the 'big chicken dinner'.

bad paper

slang for any discharge except honorable.

bagged and tagged

slang for the procedure of processing dead soldiers.

ba moi ba

Vietnamese for "33", and thus the beer with that name.

Bang-clap

slang for Bangkok, Thailand, an R&R location known for it's willing females.

barrage fire

artillery fire designed to fill an area rather than aimed at a given target.

base area

an area having installations and defensive fortifications.

base camp

the rear area; a semipermanent resupply base for field units and a location for HQ units, support elements (mess halls, hospitals, etc.) artillery batteries, and air fields.

basic

short for basic training

basket heads

derogatory slang for Vietnamese peasants wearing straw hats.

battalion

a military unit composed of a headquarters and two or more companies, batteries, or similar sized units, usually under the command of a major or lt. colonel. About 300 to 900 men make up a battalion.

battery

a company-sized unit in the artillery, about 100 officers and enlisted men, and normally part of an artillery battalion. Usually 6 guns, except heavy howitzer batteries which are only 4 guns.

BC

body count

BDA

Bomb Damage Assessment, or Battle Damage Assessment.

beanies

slang for Special Forces (also known as Green Beanies).

beaucoup

pronounced and sometimes spelled 'boo coo'; pidgin, from the French word meaning plenty or many.

Beer 33

a brand of Vietnamese beer (Ba Muoi Ba , "Ba Me Ba").

believer

slang for a dead soldier, esp. a dead enemy soldier.

Benning School for Boys

slang for Officers Candidate School.

BEQ

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters.

betel nut

a type of palm seed which is rolled in leaves and chewed by rural Vietnamese, staining the teeth after years of use. It is an opiate, also known as areca.

B-40

a shoulder fired, rocket-propelled anti-tank weapon used by the Viet Cong and NVA. This Soviet built weapon is also known as the RPG-7.

bic

pidgin, meaning 'to comprehend,' from the Viet-namese word biet, meaning to understand.

big orange pill

slang for the anti-malarial chloroquine-prima-quine tablet taken once a week in Vietnam.

big PX

nickname for America.

big PX in the sky

the afterlife, as in 'going to the big PX in the sky.'

big R

rotation home; compare with little R, for R&R.

bingo

pilots' term for out of gas or almost empty fuel tanks.

binoctal

barbiturate sold as headache medicine in Vietnam.

bird

slang for any aircraft, especially helicopters.

bird dog

a light observation plane, esp. for a Forward Air Controller.

black

term meaning clan-destine, or covert, as in 'black operations.'

black widow

slang for an M-16 with a night vision scope attached.

blivet

a large rubberized, collapsible drum, holding 500 gallons of fuel or water.

blooper

slang for the M-79 grenade launcher. Also known as bluper, thumper or blooker.

blow bath

slang for a sauna, steam bath, massage, and then intercourse and/or fellatio. Also called steam and cream, and steam job.

blue team

nickname for an aerorifle platoon of infantry with UH-1 transport helicopters. A red team has two helicopter gunships, and a white team has two scout helicopters - early in the war, the OH-13 Sioux; later, the OH-58 Kiowa [Bell Jetranger] or OH-6A Cayuse or Loach[Hughes Model 500].

blue ticket

slang for a discharge from the service under Section 8 for mental or emotional problems.

blues

nickname for an airmobile company, or a unit or individual in such a company.

body bag

the plastic bag used to retrieve and transport American dead from the field. Each bag has a zipper and carrying handles.

body count

a MACV term for the number of enemy killed, wounded, or captured during an operation.

bomb damage assessment

recording the results of a strike estimate at the end of a flight. The bomb damage assessment contains the number of people killed, the number of buildings and vehicles destroyed, and so forth.

B-1 Unit

the peanut butter and crackers that come with a C-Ration.

boom-boom

slang used by Vietnamese prostitutes for 'sex;' also used in boom-boom girls, boom-boom house.

boondocks, boonies

slang for the jungle or any remote area away from base camps; the field, the bush, or any place the infantry operates that is not a firebase, basecamp, or ville.

boonie hat

a soft floppy jungle hat with a brim all around it, and air holes in the crown.

boot camp

stateside basic training.

BOQ

Bachelor Officers Quarters

bought the farm (or ranch)

slang for being killed.

brass

an officer

brief

premission intelligence and planning session.

briefback

a detailed discussion of an intended mission.

brig

slang for military jail

brigade

a tactical and administrative unit composed of a headquarters and one or more (typically three) battalions, usually commanded by a colonel or brigadier general.

bring up the rear

slang for the last man in a patrol, the tail.

brown bomber

slang for a large brown laxative pill given out by medics.

B-2 unit

crackers and jelly or cheese that come with C-Rations

buck sergeant

slang for the lowest grade of NCO, the sergeant (E-5).

Buddha grass

slang for marijuana.

Buddha zone

slang for the afterlife.

Buddhist priest

expression used for exaggeratedly mild surprise or annoyance.

bug juice

slang for Kool-Aid, which soldiers in Vietnam drink in great quantity. Also, slang for GI insect repellent.

bullshit bombers

slang for psychological warfare units, or leaflet dropping missions on their behalf.

BUMED

the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

BUPERS

the Navy's Bureau of Naval Personnel.

BUSANDA

the Navy's Bureau of Supplies and Accounts.

BUSHIPS

the Navy's Bureau of Ships. Responsible for the design and construction of ships and boats.

BUDOCKS

the Navy's Bureau of Docks and Yards.

BUWEP

the Navy's Bureau of Weapons, which includes aircraft.

bush

anywhere outside a base where a firefight is possible; the boonies, the field, the boondocks.

BX

for Base Exchange.

C&C Ship

Command & Control helicopter; also, the Charlie Bird.

caca dau

Vietnamese for "I'll kill you".

cache

hidden (enemy) supplies

cadence

the rhythmic chants used to keep marchers in step; also referred to as Jody calls.

cadre

the dependable, indoctrinated Communist core of Viet Cong units. Also, head-quarters personnel in special operations units.

call sign

a coded combination of letters, words, or numbers used to identify a person, unit, or activity.

Cam Ranh Bay

a large seaport and an in-country R&R location, south of the city of Nha Trang in II Corps. A large US air force base is also located there.

Cambodian Red

another nickname for local marijuana.

can do, Madame Nhu

slang expression of GIs for something they were willing or able to do.

canopy

the overhead foliage levels in they jungle, usually described as double or triple, as "We have a triple canopy." More canopy gives better overhead protection from observation, and makes helicopter landings difficult.

cowboy

slang for the motorcycle riding gangs of young (draft age) criminals in Saigon, or any rowdy, untrustworthy person.

Ca Binh

an ethnic and religious minoity group, of Tibeto-Burman stock, found (prior to the war) in the Mekong Delta, and much recruited by Special Forces teams for commando operations. [game term]

Cao Dai

a religious and political sect in South Vietnam, combining Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity, with the worship of various heroes, including Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, and Sun Yat Sen. Most of the Cao Dai live near Tay Ninh.

Caravelle

the largest hotel in Saigon, on Tu Do Street. It contains 135 air-conditioned rooms, extravagantly decorated with glass and Italian marble. Sometimes known as the "Caravelle Command Post" it was as far in-country as many journalists got.

CAS

nickname for 'Covert Action/Saigon,' the CIA office in Saigon.

CAT

Civil Air Transport, the CIA-owned airline based in Taiwan.

CCC

Command Control Central, a SOG center located at Kontum.

CCN

Command Control North, a SOG center located at Danang.

CCS

Command Control South, a SOG center located at Ban Me Thuot.

chain of command

the hierarchy of military authority.

chairborne commando

or ranger, slang for clerks or office personnel.

chalk

a helicopter's position in a takeoff line; for example, the third ship is called Chalk Three.

chaptered out

to be involuntarily separated from military service, usually with an undesirable discharge. A Chapter 10 discharge is usually an alternative to a court martial; a Chapter 8 is for mental or emotional instability.

Charge of Quarters

(CQ) an officer put in charge of a unit headquarters, usually at night.

Charles, Charlie

nickname for the enemy.

Charlie Ridge

a generic term for almost any location in the bush in Vietnam.

che

a sweet Vietnamese soup made from peas and rice, with water and sugar added.

cheap charlie

slang for a stingy or cheap person, often applied by bar girls to GIs in bars.

checkpoint

1. the point where a unit calls their base to inform them of mission progress. 2. a spot where Military Police or others check passing cars and personnel.

che-man

tea made from roasted tea leaves.

che-nu

tea made from dried flower buds.

cherry

slang for a new soldier

chickenplate

slang for the ceramic armor worn by helicopter crews.

Chicom

Chinese Communist; also, weapons (especially the AK-47) manufactured in the PRC.

Chin Luan

a daily Vietnamese language newspaper in Saigon.

China Beach

an in-country R&R facility at Danang. Infantrymen are sometimes rewarded with one day mini-R&R there. Another less-well-known China Beach was located near Vung Tau.

chloroquine-primaquine

a large yellowish orange tablet given weekly to US servicemen to help prevent malaria. It was often called the Monday pill, or the horse pill, elephant pill, CP pill, Big Orange pill, and Commander Orange.

Cholon

the Chinese quarter of Saigon. At one time it was a separate city from Saigon and was inhabited almost exclusively by Chinese. Heavily damaged during Tet '68.

choi oi

Vietnamese exclamation indicating surprise.

chop-chop

pidgin meaning to hurry up, or move faster.

CI

counterintelligence, or counterinsurgency.

CIC

Combat Information Center.

CID

for the Criminal Investigation Division of the U.S. Army.

CIDG

(pronounced 'sidgee') Civilian Irregular Defense Group. These ethnic minorities work with U.S. Special Forces for village defense or commando operations.

CINCPAC

Commander in Chief Pacific Command.

CISO

Counter Insurgency Support Office; a laboratory and design facility in Okinawa, set up to produce specialized equipment for SOG.

clacker

firing device for Claymore mines.

clearance

1. clearing an area of the enemy. 2. permission to engage the enemy in a specific area.

clerks and jerks

slang for office and support personnel.

CLP

oil used to clean rifles: cleanser/lubricant/preservative.

clubs and messes scandal

slang for the 1969 bribery, kickback, and smuggling operation operative among U.S. soldiers in Vietnam and on European bases.

CO

1. conscientious objector. 2. Commanding Officer.

cohabitation license

the license U.S. soldiers can buy for $1.00; it is good for one year, and gives a soldier the legal right to cohabit with a part-time wife without police interference. In Vietnam, a soldier can have as many 'wives' as he can afford.

cold LZ

a landing zone not under fire, meaning relatively safe to land.

colors

slang for LSD

combat pay

combat pay in Vietnam is $65 per month, in addition to regular pay.

combat professor

slang for American military advisors.

combat tracker team

a team of five men and one scout dog.

comics or funny papers

slang for topographic maps.

COMJUWTFSEASIA

Commander Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force for Southeast Asia.

commo bunker

a bunker containing vital communictions equipment.

commo check

slang for a radio check.

company

a military unit usually consisting of a headquarters and two or more platoons, commanded by a captain.

Company, the

slang for the CIA.

compound

a fortified military installation.

COMUSMACV

Commander Military Assistance Command Vietnam.

coolies

slang for Vietnamese civilian workers.

conex

a metal cargo container, about 6 feet on a side, often used as shelter on fire bases, to store heavy equipment, or to hide out while smoking 'herb.'

contact

enemy engagement, including exchanging fire.

Continental

a modern hotel in Saigon on Tu Do Street. It has 95 rooms, of which 65 are air-conditioned. The outdoor sidewalk cafe of this hotel is nicknamed the Continental Shelf.

CORDS

Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support, a U.S. agency in charge of pacification efforts in Vietnam, founded in 1967. CORDS encouraged the Phoenix/Phuong Hoang program, and included personnel from the U.S. military, the State Department, the Agency for International Development, the U.S. Information Agency, and the CIA. The CORDS slogan is 'Hearts and Minds." William Colby, former CIA station chief for Saigon (1959-1962), is head of CORDS from November 6, 1968. The Military Region 3 CORDS regional director is John Gunther Dean (1970-72).

corps

a military unit consisting of two or more divisions, plus support elements; in Vietnam, each corps is responsible for the defense of a Military Region (there are four).

CP

Command Post. Units of platoon size or larger established command posts or field headquarters.

crachin

a constant drizzle of rain with foggy, poor visibility. From the French word for spit.

crank time

starting the engine of a helicopter.

c-rations

the standard meals eaten in the bush. C-rations come in cartons containing 12 different meals, complete with instant coffee and cigarettes. Each meal consists of one canned meat item, one canned fruit or dessert (often pound cake), one B-unit of crackers and the like, a accessory packet (cigarettes, matches, chewing gum, toilet paper, instant coffee, cream substitute, sugar, and salt), and a plastic spoon.

crotch rot

generic slang term for any tropical disease affecting the genital area; also called the grunge.

Cu Chi

a town northwest of Saigon. The area around Cu Chi is known for its extensive system of VC tunnels.

CYA

slang phrase Cover Your Ass, common Army graffiti.

cyclo

a type of three-wheeled bicycle-rickshaw.

cyclo boy

and cyclo girl slang for a pimp and his prostitute.

Da Nang

a major deep water port in I Corps, with a large U.S. airbase. Da Nang had been known by the French as Tourane.

Dac Cong

the Viet Cong commando forces, including sappers and other elite units.

daily-daily

slang for the antimalaria pill taken every day, in addition to the chloroquine-primaquine pills which were taken weekly.

dap

a 'soul' handshake and greeting, used mainly by black soldiers. Often specific to certain units and highly ritualized.

deadlined

slang for down for repairs.

dee dee

pidgin derived from the Vietnamese word de, for goodbye, leave, or depart. Also commonly spelled didi, as in "Let's didi out of here."

Delta Dust

a variety of marijuana.

DEROS

Date of Expected Return fom Overseas.

detail

a work assignment.

detainee

euphemism for a local indigenous personnel taken into custody.

deuce and a half

the military 2€ ton all-wheel drive truck. Also called a 6x6, or six-bye.

deuce gear

Marine slang for load-bearing equipment, from the requisition form (782) needed to issue it.

deuce-point

the second main in line on a patrol, also known as the slack, or slackman.

dew

slang for marijuana.

dexedrine

an amphetamine drug used by troops in the field when they had to do without sleep or be especially alert for the enemy; also known as speed.

DIA

Defense Intelligence Agency.

diddy-bopping

slang for walking carelessly.

didi

pidgin from the Vietnamese word di, meaning to go or to leave.

didi mau

Vietnamese for go quickly.

dime

slang for the number 10.

ding

slang for killed; a dinger is a sniper.

ding team

slang for a scout-sniper team.

dink

derogatory slang for an Oriental.

dinky dau

pidgin, from the Vietnamese diên cau dau, meaning to be literally off the wall, or crazy, bad, or no good.

Disneyland East

the Pentagon

Disneyland Far East

MACV HQ, in Saigon

district team

the American personnel assigned at the district level to act as advisors to Vietnamese military and civilian officials.

ditty bag

small zip bag issued for gear.

division

a military unit of 6,000 to 20,000 men, under the command of a general officer. A division is made up of two or three brigades plus smaller units of artillery, engineers, and other combat support.

doc

slang for medic.

DoD

Department of Defense.

dogface

slang for infantryman.

DOOM

the Da Nang Officers' Open Mess.

doper

slang for a pot smoker, or 'head.'

double veteran

a soldier who rapes a Vietnamese woman and then kills her.

doubtfuls

locals who, after being questioned, can not be classified as either Viet Cong, civil offenders, or friendlies.

DOW

Died Of Wounds.

drag, the

the last man or squad in a patrol or platoon column.

dream sheet

slang for the Army form on which a soldier lists where he would most like to serve next.

dung lai

Vietnamese for "stop" or "halt".

durian

a large oval fruit in Vietnam with a terrible odor but a delicious taste, similar to a peach.

dust, to

slang meaning to kill.

Duster

the M42 tracked anti-aircraft vehicle, mounting two 40mm autocannon.

dust off

medical evacuation by helicopter, also called medevac: either routine, priority, or emergency.

eagle flight or strike

a swiftly carried out helicopter assault mission.

echelon

an aerial formation in which flight members are positioned sequentially to one side of the lead aircraft.

el Cid

slang for spies in general, and CIA agents particularly.

elephant grass

tall, razor edged tropical plant indigenous to certain parts of Vienam, especially the Highlands.

elephant gun

slang for the M-79 grenade launcher

eleven bravo

slang for a U.S. Army infantryman, taken from his MOS number, 11-B. Also, eleven bush, eleven bang-bang.

EM Club

Enlisted Men's Club.

engagement

an encounter which involves hostile or aggressive action by one or more participants.

entrenching tool

the folding military shovel; also E-tool, Army banjo.

ETS

Estimated Time of Separation (from military ser-vice); or End of Tour of Service.

evac

short for evacuation hospital or medevac helicopter.

extend

voluntarily staying longer than the required overseas tour of duty.

extract, extraction

to withdraw from the field, usually by helicopter.

FAC

Forward Air Controller.

fall in

to assume military formation.

farangs

derogatory Thai word for foriegners - literally, the French.

fast mover

slang for jet aircraft, esp. fighter-bombers.

fatigues

standard olive green combat uniform.

FB

fire base

FCT

Fire Control Tower; the FCT is protected by sandbags, and used in camps to direct artillery, machine guns, and mortars when the camp is under close attack.

FDC

Fire Direction Center. Here, requests for fire support are interpreted into specific information for artillery and mortar fire.

field cross

the arrangement of the rifle, boots, and helmet of a fallen comrade as part of a memorial service.

field jacket

a weatherproof jacket with a hood and zippered quilted liner, usually the M65.

field phone

the hand-powered portable phones used between bunkers in camps.

fifteen and two

a common penalty under Article 15: 15 days of restriction plus two hours a day of extra duty. Also available was fourteen and two, etc.

fire in the hole

warning shouted by soldiers when there is about to be a planned demoltion.

fire support base

a semipermanent defended camp with artillery and mortar units present.

five fingers

procedure for buying hashish in villages. A large block of hashish is scraped with one's fingernails, and the price is set according to the number of fingers used.

555

a brand of British cigarettes very much favored by the Vietnamese.

five o'clock follies

slang for the daily press briefings at MACV HQ which report body counts and allied victories.

flak jacket or vest

armored vests for infanty soldiers, models M55 or M69 typically.

flying lesson

slang for throwing a prisoner from a helicopter in flight.

FM

frequency modulation, a common operating mode for military radios. Also, a term for the radio itself.

FOB

forward operating base.

Forest of Assassins

the translation of Rung Sat, the swampy area of mud and mangrove between the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers.

Forget-Me-Not Bar

a well known bar in Da Nang.

Fort Knox East

nickname for the U.S. Army Central Finance and Accounting Office at Tan Son Nhut airbase in Saigon. Enormous sums of money are stored here to pay troops and others in Vietnam.

Four Deuce

slang for the U.S. 4.2" heavy mortar.

Fox Mike

code slang for FM radio.

frag

short for fragmentation grenade, fragmentation bomb, etc.; also, to wound or kill another GI, usually with a grenade.

free fire zone

an area presumed to be cleared of civilians, into which aircraft and artillery can fire without having to obtain clearance.

freq

short for radio frequency.

fresh meat

slang for a replacement soldier.

friendlies

slang for anyone on 'our' side.

frisbees

slang for C-Ration crackers.

FTA

'Fun, Travel, and Adventure,' according to the Army recruiting material. Many obscene variants are known to exist.

fougasse

an inciendiary land mine, usually improvised from a drum of gasoline. Also spelled fu-gas, foo-gas, phugas and phougas.

funny money

slang for military payment certificates (MPC).

ga mug

thank you

garritrooper

slang for service personnel in the rear who act as though they are involved in heavy action.

gate ghetto

slang for the bars and other tawdry businesses clustered around the gates of military installations.

Genghis Khan

nickname for General Curtis LeMay, commander of SAC 1961-1965. LeMay is notorious for his remark about the air war against North Vietnam, "We should bomb them back to the Stone Age."

get some

slang for killing the enemy.

get wet

slang meaning to kill with a bayonet or knife.

Geneva Accords

the 1954 agreement which split Vietnam into two countries at the 17th parallel.

ghost or ghosting

slang meaning to take it easy or evade duty. Goldbricking, sandbagging.

GI Says

one of the many underground GI newspapers in Vietnam.

gimme go

pidgin for wanting transportation or needing to go somewhere other than by walking.

gink

derogatory slang for Vietnamese.

gomers

GI slang for the North Vietnamese.

gook

one of several derogatory slang terms for an Oriental person, especially the Vietnamese, even more so the enemy. Also referred to as dink, slant, slope, Luke the gook, chink, Charles, Charlie, gooner, zip, or zipperhead.

gook band

slang for any of the non-Caucasian (often Filipino) bands playing in the Enlisted Men's Clubs.

Great Dark One, the

nickname for Cambodian premier Lon Nol.

Green Beanies, Green Berets

the U.S. Army Special Forces.

green machine

slang for the military bureaucracy of the U.S. Army.

greens

the U.S. Army class A uniform, rarely worn in Vietnam.

grids

commonly used maps with 1 kilometer grid-lines; also grid coordinates, grid square, etc.

Grunt Free Press

one of the many undergroung GI magazines in Vietnam.

gunship

a helicopter armed with extensive air-to-ground weapons. Either the UH-1 Huey, or the AH-1 Cobra. Also, some Air Force aircraft used for ground support.

guntruck

a 2€ ton or 5 ton truck fitted out with armor and several machine guns for convoy security duty.

GVN

the government of South Vietnam.

halazone tablets

used to purify drinking water in the field.

hamlet

a small group of buildings; a village usually contains several hamlets.

hamlet evaluation system

a computerized reporting and data processing system planned and run by CORDS since 1967. Each district senior advisor makes a monthly report to Saigon; this information is used to show the progress of the pacification program.

happiness is a cold LZ

a popular saying - this means no one is firing on you.

harassment and interdiction (H&I)

artillery bombardment used to deny the enemy from general areas, rather than specific and confirmed military centers, and thus of a rather random nature.

head

slang for a marijauna smoker.

Hell Island

nickname for Poulo Condor Island (Con Son in Vietnamese), an island 60 miles south of Saigon used as a prison, and known for the harsh conditions. Originally established by the French during the 19th Century.

Hershey, Lewis

director of the Selective Service, from 1948 to 1970.

Hershey tropical bar

the C-Ration chocolate bar which will not melt even when exposed to high temperatures.

hex tent

a small hexagonal tent holding five men. A larger size holds 8 to 10 men.

high order

powerful or full-power, in regards to an explosion.

Hoa

ethnic Chinese in Vietnam.

homesteader

an American who has served in Vietnam five years or more.

honch

pidgin for chief, boss, officer.

Hong Kong

pidgin for anything cheap or false, inc. a padded bra.

hooch

a hut or simple peasant dwelling.

hoochgirl

young Vietnamese women employed by the American military as maids and laundresses.

hot landing zone

a landing zone which is taking fire.

House 50

a SOG warehouse in Saigon, containing unconventional warfare materials.

house mouse

slang for maid or concubine.

house of dark shadows

slang expression for a building inhabited by the Viet Cong.

Howard Johnson

slang for the pushcarts that food vendors haul on city streets in Vietnam.

hump

slang meaning to walk any distance, especially with a load, or do any laborious job.

hun

USAD slang for the F-100 jet fighter.

illum

short for illumination

immersion foot

a skin condition suffered by many infantrymen, the consequence of feet being in the water for long periods of time.

in-country

in Vietnam

Indian Country

slang for areas controlled by the Viet Cong, or NVA, or anywhere else the enemy was percieved to be.

indigenous

local

insert, insertion

to be dropped into a tactical or combat area by helicopter or parachute, usually secret.

intel

slang for military intelligence.

intercourse and intoxication

often called I&I, referring to activities while on R&R.

IPW

Prisoner of War Interrogation, as in, "IPW indicates ..."

Irene's Bar

a well known bar in Vung Tau.

Jam-a-matic

slang for the early versions of the M-16 rifle

Jesus nut

slang for the bolt that holds the rotor blades onto the hub on a helicopter.

John Wayne High School

nickname for the Special Warfare Training School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where all Special Forces members were trained.

JP-4, JP-5

two grades of kerosene-based fuel used for turbine engines.

JPRC

the Joint Personnel Recovery Center, a SOG sub-unit created September 1966 to rescue American POWs and evaders.

JTD

Joint Table of Distribution.

jujube

a thorny Vietnamese tree whose fruit is used as a flavoring for candy.

jump pay

military personnel who maintain their jump status by parachuting at least once every three months get an extra $55 per month.

jungle fatigues

the lightweight rip-stop olive drab uniforms used by almost all personnel in Vietnam; also called tropical combat uniforms.

kak wheel

a "slide rule" carried in the field by RTOs to encrypt and decrypt map coordinates.

khakis

the summer service uniform, usually with a short sleeve shirt and no coat or tie.

kill ratio

a MACV term for keeping score during the war.

Killer Kane

nickname for assassination specialists who operate behind enemy lines at night.

Kit Carson Scouts

former VC soldiers acting as guides and interpreters for U.S. units.

klick

slang for kilometer

Kools

a favorite cigarette of the Vietnamese people, especially the mentholated variety.

knong biet

Vietnamese for "I don't know" or "I don't understand".

koon sa

Vietnamese for marijuana.

kpung

a poisonous nettle that causes excruciating and long-lasting pain. These nettles were used as barricades around villages.

lai dai

Vietnamese for "bring to me" or "come to me".

land of the big PX

slang for the United States.

land of the 24 hour generator

slang for the United States.

Land to the Tiller Program

President Thieu's plan, started in 1970, to give peasants their own land at no cost. Each peasant receives about 5 acres.

Lao Green

slang for a variety of marijuana.

Laotian Red

slang for a variety of marijuana.

laterite

the red, rocky, claylike soil in Vietnam.

LBE

load bearing equipment, the straps, belts, pouches, and packs which carry a soldier's gear.

LBJ

slang for Long Binh Jail, actually the Long Binh Military Stockade. Also known as the LBJ Ranch.

leg

or straight leg: slang for non-parachute rated personnel or units in the U.S. Army.

line loi

Vietnamese for "sorry about that".

lindane powder

an insecticide used in Vietnam.

litter case

a combatant wounded in action who could not walk and was placed on a litter for medevac.

Loach

the Hughes OH-6 light observation helicopter, military version of the Model 500. Also known as Tadpole, and White Bird.

lock and load

prepare to fire.

log bird, log run

slang for a resupply by helicopter.

Long Binh

a huge U.S. military base just outside of Bien Hoa, 12 miles north of Saigon. Vast amounts of supplies are handled here; also the site of a large military stockade. The world's largest military post.

long nose

pidgin for an American.

longan

a Vietnamese fruit related to the lichee.

longtime

pidgin for all-night intercourse.

LRRP

Long Range Reconnaisance Patrol, an elite team of 5 to 7 men who would go deep in the jungle to observe enemy activity without initiating contact. Also called LURPs, now called Rangers.

LURP

slang for freeze dried food carried on LRRP missions.

LZ prep

airstrikes and artillery bombardment of a proposed LZ, in preparation for its use.

Ma Deuce

nickname for the M2HB .50 caliber machinegun.

MACV

pronounced "macvee", Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. MACV-HQ is the headquarters of the senior general staff of the American forces in Southeast Asia, located at Tan Son Nhut air base in Saigon. Nicknames include Pentagon East, the puzzle palace, and the madhouse.

MACV Directive 525-15

the standard Rules of Engagement.

MACV-SOG

the intelligence arm of MACV; publicly the Studies and Observation Group, actually the Special Operations Group. Headquarters are at 37 Pasteur Street, Saigon.

Majestic Hotel

a modern hotel in Saigon, on Tu Do Street, with 125 air-conditioned rooms.

mama-san

pidgin slang for an Oriental female or elderly lady.

mangosteen

a dark red, juicy fruit with a thick rind, found in Vietnam. It is eaten raw or cooked with rice.

Marble Mountain

a small Mountain near Da Nang. A U.S. base is at its foot.

Marineland

slang for Military Region I.

mass-cal

for mass casualties, a term indicating that seven or more critically wounded soldiers were brought in.

maverick

a government vehicle which was misused or stolen.

McGuire rig

a device used by Special Forces for lowering or lifting out personnel by helicopter.

mechanical ambush

elaborate booby trap device or firefight simulator used by U.S. forces.

medic

enlisted men in the Army Medical Corps, also called corpsmen. Knicknames include 91 band aid, 91 bedpan, chancre mechanic, etc.

mermite or mermite can

a large insulated (hot) food container.

M5 bag

the large bag carried by combat medics, containing medical supplies.

MIA

missing in action

MIA/BNR

missing in action, body not recovered.

Michelin Rubber Plantation

a French owned plantation north west of Saigon, base for several VC units.

midnight requisition

slang for unauthorized supply acquisition.

mike-mike

military phonetic slang for 'millimeter.'

miracle rice

a quickly maturing rice strain brought into Vietnam through USAID programs in 1968, with a yield 2.5 times that of the domestic Vietnamese variety.

Monkey Mountain

the mountain between the Da Nang airfield and the sea.

Montagnard

French word for several tribes of mountain people made up of roughly 60 ethnic groups and totalling about 5 million people total.

MOS

Military Occupational Specialty, the code for assigned jobs in the Army. For example, MOS 11-B is infantry man, 13-B is artilleryman, and 91-B is medical specialist (medic). The Marine Corps uses the same abbreviation, but has different MOS codes.

most ricky tick

pidgin for immediately, or right now.

MP

Military Police.

MPC

Military Payment Certificates, or scrip.

Mr. No Shoulders

slang for snakes

Mr. Thirty

slang for tigers. The name reflected the fact that tigers hunt towards the end of the lunar month, when there is little moonlight.

MSS

Military Security Service, the South Vietnamese Army's military counterintelligence organ-ization.

mustang

slang for an up-from-the-ranks officer.

muy huy duc

(pronounced 'me hoy duck') supposed by GIs to be Vietnamese for 'kiss my ass,' but the expression is unknown to the Vietnamese.

NAD

Naval Advisory Detachment; often a SOG cover for covert operations.

Nam, the

slang for Vietnam

nape

slang for napalm

native sport

slang for hunting the Viet Cong.

NCO

non-commissioned officer: corporals and sergeants.

necessary

slang for latrine

net

short for radio network, or radio frequency setting.

neutralize

euphemism for destroy, kill, or render ineffective.

newbie

slang for a new soldier

NGFS

naval gun fire support

nickel

slang for the number 5.

night belongs to Charlie, the

a phrase used to refer to the belief that U.S. forces control the day, but the nights belong to the VC.

night kit

an equipment package for troops in the bush that includes ammo, c-rations, water, shovel, barbed wire, sandbags, claymore mines, flares, insect repellent, and engineer stakes. These kits are usually delivered by helicopters.

Nine Rules

a card is given to each U.S. soldier entering Vietnam. The front reads: "NINE RULES for Personnel of U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. The Vietnamese have paid a heavy price in suffering for their long fight against the communists. We military men are in Vietnam now because their government has asked us to help its soldiers and people in winning their struggle. The Viet Cong will attempt to turn the Vietnamese people against you. You can defeat them at every turn by the strength, understanding, and generosity you display with the people. Here are the nine simple rules:" And on the back: 1. Remember we are guests here. We make no demands and seek no special treatment. 2. Join with the people! Understand their life, use phrases from their language and honor their customs and laws. 3. Treat women with politeness and respect. 4. Make personal friends among the soldiers and common people. 5. Always give the Vietnamese people the right of way. 6. Be alert to security and ready to react with your military skill. 7. Don't attract attention to yourself by loud, rude, or unusual behavior. 8. Avoid separating yourself from the people by a display of wealth or privilege. 9. Above all else, you are members of the U.S. Military Forces on a difficult mission, responsible for all your official and personal actions. Reflect honor upon yourself and the United States of America.

NLF

the National Liberation Front, the political organization of the Communist guerilla forces in South Vietnam.

NLT

No Later Than.

no can do, Madame Nhu

slang phrase for something that couldn't or wouldn't be done.

no-doze mission

a psy-ops slang phrase for aerial loudspeaker broadcasts.

NOFORN

Not For Foreign Eyes (referring to classified messages).

NSA

Naval Support Activity, such as NSA Danang, aka Camp Tien-Sha. Sometimes 'NavSupAct' was used, especially by the Navy itself.

number 1

pidgin for the best or first place.

number 10

pidgin for the worst, a loser, or the lowest.

number 10,000

pidgin for very, very bad.

NVA

North Vietnamese Army.

O-club

club for officers warrant officers, and their dependents.

OCS

Officer Candidate School.

OCS Manual

slang for comic book.

OD

olive drab.

OER

Officer Efficiency Report, an importancy mechanism for the evaluation of officers for promotion.

OP

observation post

ops

operations

orbit

a circular pattern flown by aircraft in order to remain over or near a specified area.

over the fence

slang for cross border movement.

Oversexed Weekly

slang term for the newspaper 'Overseas Weekly', a privately published paper distributed to service personnel.

papa-san

slang for an Oriental father or much older male.

parakeet mission

an intelligence raid mission including: a light OH-6 scout helicopter to locate the enemy; a gunship to attack the enemy once identified; and a slick with a team of LRRPs or Rangers to collect weapons and documents.

Pathfinders

specialist airborne infantry men, trained in land navigation and setting up LZs. They are called 'black hats' because of their black baseball hats.

peta-prime

the black tarry material spread to hold down dust in the dry season. It tends to melt in the sun and stick to everything.

pho

a noodle soup sold on the streets in Vietnam.

Phoenix

code name for Phuong Hoang, a long-running CORDS program to identify and neutralize the Viet Cong infrastructure (VCI) through identification and arrest of Communist Party figures.

piaster

the currency used in South Vietnam. 100 piasters is worth $1.15 U.S. Sometimes known just as the "p".

pink team

an OH-6 Cayuse scout helicopter escorted by an AH-1 Cobra gunship. Also called a hunter-killer team.

PLF

parachute landing fall

point, point man, point element

the first man or unit in line as a squad or platoon move in column.

POL

petroleum, oil, and lubricants.

Ponderosa, the

a bar at Military Intelligence Headquarters, Saigon, located in a former French villa.

Practice Nine

the unclassified name (from 1967) for the various plans to build and maintain infiltration barriers along the DMZ; an early version of the 'McNamara Line'.

prang

a bumpy landing.

proword

a code word used to express a prearranged message, as in 'Rain' might mean 'I am under enemy fire.'

psycho-killer

slang for the UG-1 aircraft armed with .50 cal machine guns, loudspeakers blaring threatening tapes, teargas, searchlights, and other psywar devices.

psywar

psychological warfare, the use of propoganda to affect enemy morale.

PTF

Navy designation for the 'Nasty' class patrol boats used by SOG's marine operations units.

pull pitch

helicopter pilots' term indicating that they are about to take off.

pungi stakes

a common VC trap: a shallow, concealed hole with sharpened stakes at the bottom.

PX

Post Exchange, the military store.

PZ

Pick Up Zone

Q Course

the qualification course for Special Forces soldiers.

QC

Quan Cahn, the Vietnamese military police.

Queen Bee

a popular nightclub in Saigon.

R&R

Rest and Recuperation, a three to seven day vacation from the war for soldiers, usually once during their one-year tours. Popular R&R locations outside of Vietnam are Bangkok, Hawaii, Australia, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Singapore, and Taipei. In-country R&R locations are Da Nang, Saigon, and China Beach. Out of country transportation and other expenses are the soldier's responsibility.

Ranger

in the U.S. Army, elite soldiers trained for recon and scout missions. Formerly known as LRPs or LRRPS.

rat patrol

nickname for road patrols in jeeps.

ration card

this form is issued to soldiers to enable them to buy certain restricted items at the PX, such as liquor and cigarettes.

recondo

(from recon and commando a school in-country for training U.S. Army troops in performing LRRP missions. The largest school of this type is at Nha Trang, and is shut down in 1970.

regiment

a military unit, which consists of 3 battalions; this size of unit is used (in the Army) only by cavalry units.

RF/P

F Regional and Popular Forces, the South Vietnamese militia. Regional Forces are company sized units that protect districts, while Popular Forces are platoon sized and stay in their villages. Nicknamed Ruff-Puffs.

ricky-tick

pidgin for quick or fast.

rocket belt

the zone around a friendly area from which the VC can launch a rocket attack.

Rocket City

the American base at Danang.

ROK

Republic of Korea. 'Roks' refers to ROK soldiers.

Rome plow

a special jungle clearing bulldozer.

RON

Remain Overnight position, also called NL for Night Location.

rotation

returning to the United States after completing a tour of duty.

round eye

any Occidental, especially a woman.

RTB

Return to Base

RTO

Radio Telephone Operator

Ruby Queens

a brand of Vietnamese cigarettes.

ruck or rucksack

backpack

Rue Catinet

the former French name for Tu Do Street in Saigon.

Rules of Engagement

also ROE or Romeo; MACV Directive 525-13 governs the conduct of ground and air combat. These procedures are meant to control air power and artillery fire to minimize civilian casualties. There are three levels of control:

    - Negative Suppression: you may not fire or return fire.

    - Normal Rules: you may return fire if fired upon.

    - Full Suppression: fire at will (as in a Free Fire Zone).

Rung Sat Special Zone

a known Viet Cong refuge near Saigon, along 40 miles of the Long Tau river.

running trails

a common LRRP mission, observing enemy movements in the bush.

RVN

Republic of Vietnam, that is, South Vietnam.

RVNAF

Republic of Vietnam Air Force, or Armed Forces.

SACSA

Special Assistant (to the JCS) for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities; the man to whom SOG reports.

Saigon Daily News

an English language newspaper in South Vietnam.

Saigon Post

an English language newspaper in South Vietnam.

Saigon tea

slang for the soda or cold tea drunk by Saigon bar girls.

salty dog

slang for an item lost in combat.

same-same

pidgin for the same as, or to do likewise.

sampan

a vietnamese peasant boat.

sanitize

euphemism for leaving no evidence, including witnesses.

sapper

a VC or NVA commando, especially trained in infiltration and demolitions.

scrip

Military Payment Certificates.

SEA

Southeast Asia.

SEAL

the 'Sea, Air, Land' teams of naval commandos.

Section 8

a discharge from the military for mental or emotional problems.

SES

the Special Exploitation Service, a South Vietnamese covert military operations unit established in 1964.

SF

Special Forces.

shrine

slang for latrine.

sin loi

Vietnamese, roughly 'tough shit'.

Sir Charles

slang for the Viet Cong soldier.

sit rep

situation report.

sit rep alpha sierra

situation report all secure.

six

radio call sign for the unit commander or headquarters.

six to six

term for commanders speaking to each other, esp. on the radio.

66 File

the military records of officers, equivalent to the 201 File of enlisted men.

skate

slang for "goof off".

slack

the second man or unit on a patrol, just after the point.

slant

derogatory slang for the Vietnamese.

slick

an unarmed or lightly armed troop or cargo carrying helicopter, usually the UH-1 Huey.

slicky boy

a Vietnamese thief

skosh

little or small, from Japanese sukoshi

Smith-Corona commandos

slang for clerks.

smudge pots

slang for the flaming pots which surround fire support bases.

snake

slang for the AH-1 Cobra gunship.

Snake Eaters

slang for Special Forces.

Sneaky Petes

slang for Special Forces, or sometimes any elite unit capable of stealthy movement.

snuffy

Marine corps slang for marine infantry units or personnel.

SOG

Studies and Observations Group, actually the Special Operations Group within MACV. In charge of unconventional warfare.

SOI

Signal Operating Instructions. This booklet contains the callsigns and radio frequencies of various units.

SOP

Standard Operating Procedures.

souvenir

pidgin, meaning to give without cost, as in "Souvenir me cigarettes."

SP-4

Specialist Fourth Class, the commonest rank in the Army. Almost any enlisted man with more than a few months of service reaches this rank.

spider hole

a camoflauged one-man foxhole, especially if VC.

spook

intelligence or counterintelligence personnel, whether civilian or military.

SPU

the T-14 swimmer propulsion unit.

squad

the basic infantry unit of 8 to 10 men, commanded by a sergeant.

STABO rig

a rope extraction harness, much used by Special Forces and LRRP units.

Starlight scope

any of various light intensifier instruments, either mounted on weapons or used for surveillance.

sterile

covert operations term for untraceable or unidentifiable equipment and uniforms.

Stone Elephant

slang for the Officer's Club in Da Nang.

strac

slang for a good soldier who sticks exactly to regulations.

SVN

South Vietnam.

SWAG

Scientific Wild Ass Guess.

tail rotor chain bracelet

used tail rotor chains worn by helicopter crews. These cost the government $95 per inch when new.

tail-end Charlie

slang for the last man in a patrol.

tally ho

term used by Air Force pilots to acknowledge that they have seen their target.

tango uniform

slang for "tits up" -- all gone wrong, or failed.

tanker's grenade

two pounds of TNT wrapped together with barbed wire and sections of chain.

TAOR

tactical area of responsibility

tar

slang for hashish

tar baby

slang for a soldier addicted to hashish.

taxi girl

a prostitute who hangs around base entrances.

TDY

temporary duty.

team uniform

the radio frequency on which a unit communicates. Also called company uniform.

tee-tee

pidgin for very small or little.

Tet

the lunar New Year, usually late January, or early February.

3

radio call sign for the operations officer, the staff officer in charge of plans and operations in battalion sized units and up.

thud

Air Force slang for the F-105 jet fighter-bomber.

Thunder Road

slang for Highway 13, between Saigon and Loc Ninh, a very dangerous route.

Tiger Beer

slang for Bier la Rue, a brand of beer brewed in Saigon, with the silhouette of a tiger on the label. It is milder than Ba Moi Ba, and comes in larger bottles.

Tiger Paw Beer

a Vietnamese beer made with formaldehyde to speed the fermentation process; nicknamed Tiger Piss.

tiger stripes

a camoflauged set of jungle fatigues, in a striped pattern; not authorized for regular troops.

Tijuana East

nickname for the red light district near the U.S. air base at Bien Hoa.

TOC

Tactical Operations Center.

TOE

Table of Organization and Equipment.

TOG rule

slang expression standing for "they're only gooks."

top or top sergeant

the company first sergeant.

tri-border area

where Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam share a common border.

2

the radio call sign of a unit's intelligence officer.

201 file

the military record file for Army personnel.

UCMJ

Uniform Code of Military Justice.

UE

unit equipment.

USARV

U.S. Army, Republic of Vietnam, the operational headquarters for U.S. military forces in Vietnam, based at Long Binh.

USNAD

U.S. Naval Advisory Detachment; often a SOG cover for covert operations.

VC

Viet Cong

VCI

Viet Cong Infrastructure, the covert Communist government of South Vietnam.

ville

Vietnamese hamlet or village, or any collection of local buildings.

VNAF

(South) Vietnamese Air Force.

VNN

(South) Vietnamese Navy.

VOF

Voice of Freedom, a million watt SOG propoganda station.

web gear

a soldier's load-bearing equipment, not including backpacks.

wet job

covert slang for assassination.

white mice

slang for South Vietnamese police, known for their corruption.

White Elephant

the building housing "Naval Support Activity, Danang" and by extension NSA Danang itself

WIEU

Weekly Intelligence Estimate Update, also known as the MACV reports.

winchester

radio code for 'I am out of ammo' or 'all ordnance has been expended.'

world, the

anywhere outside of the war zone, especially the United States.

yards

slang for Montagnards, the tribal natives heavily recruited by Special Forces during the war.

zap

slang for to shoot and hit, wound, or kill.

zippo

a flamethrower.

zippo raid

a mission involving burning down Vietnamese villages.

zulu

slang for a casualty report.

Primary Sources: In the Field: The Language Of the Vietnam War, by Linda Reinberg; pub. Facts On File, New York, 1991; MACVSOG Command History Annexes A, N & M (1964-1966), by by Charles F. Reske; pub. Alpha Publications, Sharon Center OH, 1992