Vet/Viet Vet Lingo

More at: http://www.vietvet.org/glossary.htm           Especially used by sea-going bellhops.

ABOARD:  on base; with us.

ACTUAL:  radio talk for unit commander.

ALL HANDS:  everyone.

AMTRACK:  amphibious tractor; landing craft.

AO DAI (Viet.):  formal attire worn by Vietnamese women.

AS YOU WERE!:  resume what you were doing; correction.

ASSHOLES AND ELBOWS:  in a hurry; quickly.

BA MUI BA (“33″):  Vietnamese beer.

BAC SI (Viet.): Doctor, used for Corpsman.

BAM:  Broad Ass Marine; derogatory name for Woman Marine.

BARRACKS COVER:  garrison (frame) cap.

BATTLE PIN:  necktie clip.

BCD:  Bad Conduct Discharge.

BELAY:  stop; quit.

BILLET:  assignment or job; place of residence.

BIRD:  aircraft.

BLOUSE:  n. jacket; v. tuck in, secure.

BLOUSING BANDS:  elastic bands used to secure utility trouser cuffs.

BLUES:  Dress Blues.

BLT:  Battalion Landing Team.

BOONDOCKS (BOONIES):  rugged isolated back country.

BOONDOCKERS:  low-topped work boots issued to reservists.

BOOT:  recruit.

BOO-COO:  (Fr. beaucoup) much, many.

BRAIN HOUSING GROUP:  your gourd, mind, brain, or head.

BRASS:  officers.

BRIG:  jail.

BRIG RAT:  jail inmate.

BRIG CHASER:  MP assigned to escort prisoners.

BROTHER:  black Marine (also Splib).

BROWN SIDE-OUT:  desert camouflage pattern.

BULKHEAD:  wall.

BY-THE-NUMBERS:  in sequence.

CANNON COCKERS:  artillerymen.

CARRY ON!:  resume what you were doing; as you were.

CASUAL COMPANY:  unit of Marines awaiting reassignment.

CC:  Corrective Custody; jail, the brig.

CHUCK:  black Marine’s term for white Marine.

CG:  Commanding General.

CHIEU HOI (Viet.):  freedom; safe conduct pass; program whereby
                    VC who surrendered were assured safe conduct.

CHIMPO:  see choda. 

CHIT:  written authorization or receipt.

CHODA:  same as chimpo.

CHOW:  food.

CHOW HALL:  mess hall.

CLICK:  one notch of adjustment on a rifle.

CINDERELLA LIBERTY:  time off which ends at midnight.

CO (Viet.): girl, woman.

COLORS: n. the flag; v. ceremony of raising or lowering the flag.

CON BIET? (Viet) do you understand?

C-RATS:  C rations, canned field rations.

COM RATS:  commuted rations; in lieu pay for meals eaten off base.

CORPSMAN:  Navy medic serving with Marines.

COVER:  hat.

COVER ASS:  take precautions to avoid blame.

THE CROTCH:  derogatory term for Marine Corps.

CRUISE:  period of enlistment; tour of duty.

DECK:  floor.

DEUCE-AND-A-HALF:  2 1/2 ton truck.

DI-DI (Viet.):  leave, go, move out.

DI-DI MAU  (Viet.):  emphatic of Di-di.

DIDDY BAG:  cloth, drawstring bag for small items.

DIDDY BOP:  swagger; affected walk.

DINK:  Vietnamese.

DINKY-DAU (Viet):  crazy.

DOG-AND-PONY-SHOW:  special presentation put on for visiting dignitaries.

DOUBLE TIME:  quickly; at a run.

DRY FIRE:  practice.

DRY RUN:  practice.

DU-DIT (Viet):  fuck you!

EIGHTH & EYE:  Headquarters Marine Corps.

ENTRENCHING TOOL (E-TOOL):  small folding field shovel.

EVERY SWINGING DICK:  All hands, everyone.

EYE FUCK:  scrutinize; inspect closely.

FARTSACK:  mattress cover.

FIELD DAY:  general cleanup of barracks.

FIELD SCARF:  necktie.

FIELD STRIP:  disassemble; take apart.
  
FIRE IN THE HOLE!:  warning that explosives are about to be detonated.

FIRST SHIRT (ALSO TOP):  First Sergeant.

FLOAT PHASE:  sea deployment of a Marine unit.

FMF:  Fleet Marine Force.

FOUR-BY:  light truck.

FRONT LEANING REST POSITION:  pushup position (“the Position”).

GALLEY:  kitchen.

GANG WAY!:  stand back! move away!

GEDUNK:  sweets or a store that sells sweets.

GEAR:  equipment.

GI CAN:  garbage can.

GIZMO:  gadget; anything that defies discription.

GOURD:  head; where you hang your cover.

GREEN SIDE-OUT:  woodland pattern camouflage.

GRAB A HAT:  leave.

GRINDER:  parade ground.

GUIDON:  pennant bearing unit designation.

GUNG HO:  lit. work together; (from Chinese) highly motivated.

GUNGY:  gung ho.

GUNNY:  Gunnery Sergeant.

GRABASS (ORGANIZED GRABASS):  play; sports, frivolous activity.
       
GREEN MACHINE:  Marine Corps.

HAM:  Hairy Assed Marine; male Marine.

HAM AND MOTHERS:  “Ham and Motherfuckers;” generally detested C-ration meal
                   posing as ham and lima beans. 

HATCH:  door.

HARD CHARGER:  motivated Marine.

HEAD:  toilet.

HIGH-AND-TIGHT:  standard Marine haircut; shaved sides and short on top.

HOLLYWOOD MARINE:  San Diego MCRD graduate.

HOOCH (Jap.):  any kind of shelter, residence.

HONCHO (Jap.):  boss; man in charge.

HOUSE MOUSE:  Drill Instructor’s go-fer.

HUMP:  to march; to carry; to be burdened with.

HUSS:  a favor; a break e.g., “gimme a huss;” archaic name for HU34D helicopter.

INCOMING!:  hostile fire being received!

IRISH PENNANT:  string dangling from clothing indicating unkempt appearance.

ITR:  Infantry Training Regiment.

JARHEAD:  Marine.

JIBS:  teeth, esp. front incisors, e.g., “I’ll bust your jibs.”

JING (also jing-wa, Jap.): change; money.

JOE SHIT THE RAGMAN:  bad example, un-squared-away Marine,
                      boyfriend of Rosy Rottencrotch.

JUNK-ON-THE-BUNK:  complete clothing and equipment inspection
                   (also Things-on-the-Springs) laid out on the rack.

K-BAR:   Marine-issue fighting knife.

KLICK:  kilometer.

LADDER (or ladderway):  stairs.

LAI DAY (Viet.):  come here!      

LEAVE:  authorized absence of more than 24 hours.

LIBERTY:  authorized absence of less than 24 hours.

LOCK AND LOAD:  arm and ready your weapon; get ready!

MAKE A HOLE!:  stand back! gang way!

MAGGIE’S DRAWERS:  red disc used on the rifle range to signify missing the target.         

MOS:  assigned job specialty.

MUSTANG (Mustanger):  enlisted man who becomes an officer.

NON-QUAL:  Marine who fails to fire a qualifying score at the rifle range.

OFFICE HOURS:  summary court marshall, official inquiry or reprimand.

OFFICE POGUE:  desk-bound Marine.

ONTOS:  armored tracked vehicle mounting six 106 mm recoiless rifles.

OUTSTANDING!:  exceptional; well done!

OVERHEAD:  ceiling.

OVER THE HILL:  absent without authorization.

OVER THE HUMP:  more than halfway through enlistment.

PASSAGEWAY:  corridor; hallway.

PIECE:  rifle.

PISS CUTTER:  envelope-shaped overseas cap.

PISS-AND-PUNK:  bread and water punishment.

PISS TUBE:  field urinal; rocket launcher (bazooka) which resembles one.

POGUE:  lazy individual, also office worker.

POGEY BAIT:  candy, sweets.

POLICE CALL:  time allocated to clean up an area.

POLICE UP:  clean up.

POOP (also dope, scoop):  information.

POP-FLARE:  hand held and launched aireal illumination flare.

PT:  Physical Training; exercise.
       
QUARTERS:  living space.

RACK:  bed, bunk.

RAPPEL:  descend from cliff or helicopter by rope.

RECON  (also Force Recon):  Force Reconnaissance Marine.

ROMP ‘N’ STOMP:  to drill, march.

ROUND:  bullet or artillery or mortar shell.

RUBBER LADY:  inflatable air mattress.

SALT:  experience; an old-timer Marine.

SALTY:  smart-mouthed; opinionated.
                                       
SCOSHI (or scosh’): small, short, a little bit.

SCUTTLEBUTT:  rumors; a drinking fountain.

SEABAG:  duffle bag.

SEA DUTY:  billited aboard a ship.

SEA GOING BELLHOP:  derog. for Marine, from Marines assigned to the bridge
                    of a vessel.

SEA STORY:  a lie or an exaggeration.

SEA LAWYER:  self-appointed expert.

SECURE:  tie down or make fast; also to recycle or dispose of;
         to put something in its proper place; to desist.

SEVEN-EIGHTY-TWO GEAR:  field equipment; canvas web gear.

SHIT BIRD:  messy or undisciplined; a fuck up.

SHIT CAN:  (v) to dispose of; (n) garbage can.

SHORT:  nearing the end of a tour of duty or enlistment.

SHORT ROUND:  ordnance which is landing short of the intended target.

SHORT TIME:  a very brief love affair.

SHORTTIMER:  Marine nearing the end of an enlistment period.

SICK BAY:  clinic or hospital.

SIX-BY (six-by-six):  standard three-axle truck.

SIX-SIX-AND-A-KICK:  The ultimate General court marshall punishment consisting
                     of six months forfeiture of pay, six months hard labor,
                     and a dishonorable discharge.

SKIPPER:  captain; commanding officer.  

SKIVVIES:  underwear.

SKIVVIE HONCHO:  a lothario; a ladies man.

SKIVVIE HOUSE:  brothel.

SLOPCHUTE:  diner; restaurant.

SMOKING LAMP:  authority to smoke when it is lit.

SNAP IN:  practice, esp. on the rifle range.

SNOOPIN’ AND POOPIN’:  reconnoitering.

SNOT LOCKER:  nose.

SOUND OFF!:  assertively voice.

SORRY ‘BOUT THAT!:  assertion of mock apology.

SPUD LOCKER:  pantry.

SQUAD BAY:  barracks.

SQUARED AWAY:  neat, orderly, organized.

SQUID:  (derog.) sailor.

STACK ARMS!:  command given to place 3 rifles in a pyramid.

STACKING SWIVEL:  appendage near muzzle of rifle allowing stacked arms; neck.

STAND BY!:  prepare.

STANDBY:  waiting status.

STARCHIES:  starched utilities.

STROKE BOOK:  porno magazine.

SURVEY:  dispose of; recycle.

SWAB:  mop.

SWABBIE:  sailor.

TI TI (Viet.) (pron. tee-tee):  little, small.
               
TOP:  Sergeant Major.

TOPSIDE:  upstairs; on deck.

TROPS:  khaki tropical summer dress uniform.
                                
TURN TO:  begin work.

UA:  Unauthorized Absence.

UD:  Undesireable Discharge.

UTILITIES:  olive drab field uniform.

WILLIE PETER:  white phosphorus.

THE WORD:  confirmed official information; the straight scoop.

ZERO-DARK-THIRTY:  pre-dawn; early.

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