Down Under Military Glossary

Common Aussie and Kiwi Terms from the Vietnam War

Down Under MilTerms a glossary of common Aussie and Kiwi terms from the Vietnam War
Reference Notes
1ALSG : 1st Australian Logistic Support Group, based at Vung Tau 1ATF : 1st Australian Task Force; brigade sized formation based at Nui Dat 1st Australian Task Force had its self-contained defensive base at Nui Dat, which was a hill surrounded by an old rubber plantation. It was quite a sizeable base about 2 x 3 kilometres. 1ATF was approximately 5,000 men in strength, and was commanded by a brigadier. 1ATF consisted of three infantry battalions plus supporting troops including armour, artillery, engineers, signals, intelligence, light aircraft (fixed-wing and helicopters), and all the administrative elements such as truck transport, mechanical repair, field ambulance, pay, chaplains, canteens, etc. It contained two small airstrips and helicopter pads. 1st Ranger Squadron : name of New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) platoon attached to Australian Special Air Service (ASAS) at Nui Dat 161 : 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA); see Possum 2 (or 4 or 6) RAR / NZ : ANZAC battalion in which NZ companies served 2IC : Second in Command 2,4-D : 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; component of herbicidal defoliant 2,4,5-T : 2,4,5 trichlorophenoxyacetic acid; component of herbicidal defoliant AATTV : Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Abo : Aborigine; an aboriginal inhabitant of Australia, or any of the peoples descended from them; also called black fella ace : excellent; very good Adam's ale : sardonic reference to water adjutant : an officer who assists a more senior officer with the organisation, administration, and discipline of a battalion or regiment admin : administration; preparing for and maintaining personal and unit readiness for operations (ops) aerial pingpong : slang for Australian Rules football AFV : Australian Forces, Vietnam Agent Blue : water-based herbicide; a non-systematic desiccant used primarily against grasses, taking effect in 24 - 48 hours and killing leaves in 2 - 4 days Agent Orange : oil-based herbicide; a systematic defoliant effective against broadleaf vegetation, achieving maximum effect in 4 - 6 weeks, with a duration of approximately 12 months Agent White : water-based herbicide; a systematic defoliant effective against broadleaf vegetation, achieving maximum effect in 6 - 8 weeks, with a duration of approximately 12 months AK47 : Kalashnikov semi or fully automatic assault weapon of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) or Viet Cong (VC) using 7.62mm short ammo in detachable magazines; see RPD, SKS Albatross : call-sign of Iroquois ('Huey') helicopter flown by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) ALSG : Australian Logistics Support Group ALSG was located at the port of Vung Tau where logistic supplies from Australia were landed. There was a military hospital (1st Australian Field Hospital which was a bit more up-market than M*A*S*H on TV), major mechanical repair facilities, a rest and recuperation centre (with swimming pool and amenities), and major administrative and logistic installations. amber fluid : beer – until it becomes (by the miracle of metabolism) that other amber fluid (urine) ambush : attempt to kill from cover without warning, planned or done quickly ambo : ambulance; ambulance driver ammo : ammunition, usually bullets but including grenades and other carried munitions; see tracer bullets, bandolier, OPDEM ANPRC-25 : very high frequency (VHF) man-portable radio used at the sharp end for most variety of communications; commonly called 25 set ANPRC-77 : improved very high frequency (VHF) man-portable radio that gradually replaced the ANPRC-25 or 25 set; commonly called 77 set anti-personnel mines : mines designed for use against humans; intended to injure (as opposed to killing) as many enemies as possible, in order to increase the logistical (mostly medical) support required of such an enemy force ANZAC : Australian and New Zealand Army Corps; designation created in First World War when both countries fought together for the first time (Gallipoli, 1915); also used to describe a common spirit of brotherhood – the ANZAC spirit ANZAC biscuits : a popular cookie flavoured with rolled oats, coconut, and golden syrup; commonly called Anzacs from having been sent in tins to Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers during World War I AO : Area of Operations; terrain that ground forces patrolled and fought to dominate; see Op Aotearoa : Maori name for New Zealand, meaning land of the long white cloud AP : anti-personnel munition, as in AP mine APC : Armoured Personnel Carrier: M113 for troops, M125 mortars, M548 cargo, M577 ACV, M579 fitters; see PC, tracks Apple Isle : Tasmania, an apple growing state; formerly Van Diemen's Land apples : slang for fine or suitable, acceptable or satisfactory, okay or all right (e.g. She'll be apples.); also expressed as she'll be right or not to worry ARA : Australian Regular Army; the Regular or professional soldier arc : area that a weapon or soldier was required to cover in an all-round protective posture Arc Light operations : code name for the devastating aerial raids of B52 Stratofortresses against enemy positions in South-East Asia arctic : tractor-trailer truck, being a truncation of articulated arse : what Americans call ass (not a donkey) arse in gear : move quickly or make haste; also expressed a in g (e.g. Get your arse in gear!) artillery forward observers : artillery men attached to rifle companies; acted as middle men between artillery and soldiers, giving co-ordinates to artillery at base arty : artillery of any calibre, tracked or towed; most common included 105mm, 155mm, 8-inch howitzers, 40mm dusters arvo : slang for afternoon; also expressed afo ASAS : Australian Special Air Service, formed in 1957 as the 1st Special Air Service Company and redesignated on 4 Sept 1964, it was patterned on the British SAS; 3 Squadron deployed to Nui Dat as part of the 1st Australian Task Force in April 1966 to act as eyes and ears throughout 1 ATF's area of responsibility; nicknamed chicken stranglers ASASR : Australian Special Air Service Regiment; squadrons rotated through Vietnam on one year long deployments from 1966 through 1971; members of the ASASR (nicknamed phantoms of the jungle) conducted reconnaissance operations (for 1 ATF and MACV-SOG) as well as serving as instructors (at MACV Recondo School and FANK Training Command); a New Zealand SAS troop was attached to each Australian Squadron in both Borneo and Vietnam ASCO : Services Canteens Organisation (Australian Canteen Service) asphalt (ash-felt) : tar ARVN : Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese government forces); see RF, PF, ruff puffs ATF : Australian Task Force; see 1ATF (#atf) aubergine : eggplant, bringal; also, a dark purplish colour Aussie : an Australian; see Digger, Ozzie, 'roo Aussie salute : brushing or waving away flies with the hand Australasia : region of Australia, New Zealand, and neighboring islands in the South Pacific Ocean AWL : Absent Without Leave, unauthorised absence from duty or place of assignment; see walkabout, going bush, gone troppo awning over the toy shop : a beer belly on a man B52 Stratofortress : long-range, subsonic, jet-powered, strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955 back pack : load carrying back pack (or field pack) for field equipment and spare stores, dumped whenever a contact occurred; typical weight around 65lb / 30kg; see belt order back of Bourke : any distant place located a very long way away; the back of nowhere or the back of beyond [nb: Bourke is a town in New South Wales] baggy (arse) : private soldier; derived from ill-fitting baggy trousers bail (somebody) up : to physically corner a person bail out : to depart, usually angrily baked dinner : a traditional Sunday meal of chicken or lamb or beef baked with vegetables that's served hot banana bender : a person from Queensland bandolier : shoulder-carried ammunition pouch banger : link sausage bangers and mash : sausages and mashed potatoes barbie : slang for barbecue; known by Americans as bar-b-q or BBQ barley water : a drink made from a boiled mixture of water and barley barrack : cheers of encouragement, exhortation or acclamation, as to cheer on a group activity or team event base camp : semi-permanent field headquarters and centre for a unit usually within its tactical area of responsibility (TAOR); usually contains all or part of a unit's support elements bastard : a term of endearment bathers : swimming costume battler : someone who's working very hard but is only just getting by b & d : brandy and ginger ale [cf: B and B / B & B : the trademark for a brand of liqueur combining Benedictine and brandy] [cf: bourbon (whiskey) and branch (water)] beaut : an exclamation for great or fantastic, wonderful or terrific, approval or satisfaction; also expressed as beauty bed sitter : a small flat or studio apartment, where the parlor and bedroom are combined beehive : direct-fire artillery round which incorporated steel darts (flechettes), used as primary base defence munition against ground attack beer-up : a beer-drinking party; called beer blast by Americans belt order : personal load carrying belt and suspenders which remained on or close to the individual at all times, containing fighting equipment not otherwise carried in back pack; typical weight around 40lb / 18kg; see back pack beyond the Black Stump : any distant place located a very long way away; the back of nowhere or the back of beyond; as derived from the practise of lighting a campfire in a tree stump, so somewhere farther than civilisation bhang : marijuana, so called from the Hindi word for hemp; also known as margie, mull, dacca, and Buddha stick [aka: joint, stick, bullet, leaf (low grade), leaf and tip (medium grade), head (high grade), reefer, weed, grass] BHQ : Battalion Headquarters; see HQ, CHQ, CP big-note : to brag or boast about oneself big smoke : slang for any large city or developed urban area; ostensibly due to its smog and industrial pollution bikkie : slang for a biscuit [cookie], and also spelled bickie; also, a metaphor for coins or money (e.g. That takes big bikkies.) billabong : a stagnant backwater formed by receding floodwater; an oxbow river or watering hole billy : a teapot; a pot or kettle for cooking over a campfire; also represented as billycan billy tea : traditionally, tea made in a metal can over a campfire binder : cheese; also, a hearty meal bingle : slang for a motor vehicle traffic accident bird : any aircraft, usually helicopters; also, a woman, usually young and attractive bird dog : small fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft used to spot targets for ground-attack aircraft biscuit : cookie; see ANZAC biscuit bite your bum : be quiet, be silent, shut-up (e.g. Go bite your bum!) bities : generic slang for biting insects; see blowie bitser : slang for a mongrel dog, as derived from bits of this and bits of that; also spelled bitzer bizzo : slang for business, as in mind your own bizzo; known by Americans as beeswax black fella : Aborigine; an aboriginal inhabitant of Australia, or any of the peoples descended from them; also called Abo black and tan : a mixture of beer and stout black velvet : a drink made with champagne and stout blighter : old fashioned or outdated slang for a contemptible person, who is more commonly called a bugger; also, a chum, chap, or mate blighty : military leave; also, England or Great Britain as one's homeland, as derived from country or province removed at some distance (Urdu bilati or Hindi bilayati) blimey : an interjection or exclamation, derived as a reduction of God blind me!; also expressed as gorblimey bloke : chum; lad; fellow; man; guy (his) blood's worth bottling : an excellent person, a helpful bloke, a creditable human being bloody : an intensifier (e.g. very, entirely, truly, etc.) that's used with exclamations (e.g. Bloody hell! or Bloody oath!); derives as a contraction of the phrase by our lady bloody oath : an affirmative exclamation, as That's certainly true! blooming : an extremely mild or innocuous expletive blowie : blow fly; see bities blow-in : a stranger, in-comer or newcomer; any outsider from tourist to immigrant bludge : to cadge or beg, mooch or sponge; to be lazy bludger : slang for a lazy person, a layabout or shirker, being somebody who always relies on others to do things for him or to provide him with things blue : slang for a fight or row, a dustup or disagreement; also, to make a mistake, gaffe or blooper, misstep or slipup bluey : a traveller's bundle containing food and belongings; a swag [v: dilly bag; cf: bagman / swagman]; also, pack and equipment; also, a heavy wool felt jacket; also, Australian cattle dog with blue markings bn : battalion; military unit of around 500 - 1500 men, usually consisting of between 2 and 6 companies and typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel; ANZAC bn had an additional rifle coy BOD : Base Ordnance Depot bodgy : anything of inferior quality bodycount : term borrowed from US forces to describe the success or ferocity of engagements, i.e. there was a high bodycount of enemy killed bogan : someone who takes little pride in his appearance, being an untidy slacker or slovenly neer-do-well bogey : to bathe or swim, as in a bogeyhole bogged : (of a vehicle) stuck in mud, deep sand, or the like; immobilized bog-in : to commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm; known by Americans as dig-in / dug-in bog standard : the basic or unadorned model, being anything without embellishment or accessories; ordinary or routine; known by Americans as no frills boiler : a tough fowl that's tenderised and made toothsome by boiling (or even pressure cooking) bollix : to botch or bungle something bollocks : testes or testicles; also, an exclamation or mild oath, typically in acclamation or approbation bonk : to have sex with bonnet : on a motorcar, what Americans call the hood over the engine; also, a cap, hat, or other headdress worn by women and children bonzer : an exclamation for great or fantastic, wonderful or terrific booby trap : improvised trap designed to maim or severely injure an individual bookoo : much; derived from the French word beaucoup boom boom : sex; bookoo boom boom meant much sex; also called naughty boomer : slang for a large male kangaroo boomerang : a curved piece of wood used as a throwing club; one form of which can be thrown so as to return to the thrower; see waddy, nulla nulla boonies : term borrowed from US forces; see bush, outback boot : on a motorcar, what Americans call the trunk boozer : a pub, bar or tavern bora : to be initiated; to undergo, or to have undergone a rite of passage; from the initiation belt worn by Aborigines boss : informal bush title for an officer; alternative address to sir; see skip bottle-o : a liquor store, or a shop that sells alcoholic beverages; derives from a man with hessian bags (or burlap sacks) of bottles who travelled around during the 1950s-60s bottler : something excellent bottle shop : liquor store bounce : a bully or ruffian, tormentor or intimidator boundary : edge of operations area (AO); to be close to or to cross a boundary required permission, called a mousetrap box : a protective cup worn in an athletic supporter to prevent injury to male genitalia, especially his testicles box of birds : cheerful, happy, in a very good mood BQMS : Battery Quartermaster Sergeant; see NCO brass razoo : a gambling chip or token, having no intrinsic value; by implication, used metaphorically for small change, representing extreme poverty, being broke or impecunious, penury or insolvency, privation or destitution brass up : concentrated fire into an area brekkie : breakfast; also spelled brekky brew : hot drink, as in Want a brew?; coffee with milk and two sugar was commonly called NATO standard BRIAM : British Advisory Mission Vietnam; advised government of South Vietnam (GVN) on hamlet programmes and counter insurgency generally; Malaya experts brick shit house : anything exceedingly well built or very well constructed, including a good physique exhibited by either a man or woman; see spunk, compare shit house brigade : basic military organisational unit; during the Vietnam War, a division was organised into three brigades, each commanded by a colonel; a division consists of approximately 20,000 people brilliant : great, splendid, wonderful, marvelous brown-eye : to flash your naked arse at others, or to be flashed by someone's naked arse, performed as a prank or gesture of disrespect; known as mooning by Americans brown-eyed mullet : a turd floating in the sea near where you're swimming! brownie : a brown coloured glass bottle of beer BSM : Battery Sergeant Major; see NCO bubble and squeak : a dish of leftover meat and vegetables (typically cabbage and mashed potatoes) that have been fried together Buckley's : no chance at all, not a prayer of success, doomed or hopeless; also expressed as Buckley's chance Buddha stick : marijuana compressed into stick form; also known as margie, mull, bhang, and dacca [aka: joint, stick, bullet, leaf (low grade), leaf and tip (medium grade), head (high grade), reefer, weed, grass] budgie smugglers : slang for men's bathing costume, after budgerigar, the Australian parakeet that's bred as a pet bug : crayfish; called crawdad, crawdaddy, or spiny lobster by Americans bugger : an exclamation (e.g. Bugger all!), an intensifier (e.g. Bugger off!), a mild oath or expletive (e.g. Bugger it!); as derived from buggery (sodomy) bull bar : a stout guard affixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against impact with wildlife or vegetation; also called roo bar; compare elephant's trunk bum : butt or buttocks, behind or rear end (not a tramp) bum-bag : fanny pack, as a medical kit worn around the waist bumf : a contraction of bum fodder, which originally meant toilet paper, but has been extended to include any copious amount of paper, especially required paperwork or official literature bum nuts : eggs; also spelled bum-nuts bunds : sandbagged defensive artillery positions created by small bulldozers for Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) and Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) Bundy : short for the brand of rum made in Bundaberg, Queensland bunya nuts : large edible nuts from the cone of the huge Bunya pine tree, having a tough fibrous casing, with the starchy nutmeat having a texture similar to a chestnut, and a subtly sweet flavour similar to the pine nut or macadamia Bunyip : a mythical outback creature; see yowie burst : controlled firing of five or more rounds of automatic fire, more depending on urgency bush : jungle, scrub, hinterlands, or remote back country; area outside the base perimeter where fighting took place; see outback bushie : someone who lives in the bush or outback bushman : a dweller in the bush bushman's hanky : the absence of a handkerchief; the practise of blowing one's nose without the use of a handkerchief or facial tissue, performed by occluding one nostril by pressing on the outside of the nare while vigorously blowing through the other nasal passage; this technique is widely practised by country people worldwide, and requires some finesse to avoid blowing snot onto oneself! bushman scouts : a Viet Cong (VC) defector who then served with Allied forces as a scout or interpreter; Americans called them Kit Carson; see Chieu Hoi bush oyster : slang for nasal mucus bush pig : an ugly woman (so ugly that she ought to be banished to the bush) Bushranger : call-sign for Australian AH1B Iroquois helicopter gunship, see LFT; also an Australianism for someone who subsists by robbing residents of the bush, an outlaw or highwayman, see larrikin bush telegraph : gossip, spread by word-of-mouth (and much faster than electronic communications!) bush telly : a captivating nighttime campfire in the bush or outback bush tomato : a small pungent berry from a tomato-related shrub found in Australia's central desert regions; also called desert raisin bush tucker : wilderness foodstuff, from leaves and fruits to roots and grubs bush week : a period of confusion or disorientation, discomfiture or trepidation, being the interval necessary for transition from a safer and more secure environment into another harsher and more hostile one; used sardonically to express suspicion or disbelief (e.g. What do you think this is, bush week?) bust a gut : to make an intense effort (as) busy as Bourke Street in the rush hour : simile for very busy; also expressed as flat out like a lizard drinking [nb: Bourke Street is a main thoroughfare in Melbourne] butcher : a small glass of beer, or a short beer, from the earlier practise of workers and tradesmen drinking a quick beer during a break from their job byo : abbreviation for bring your own [beverage or food], a widespread practise at party gatherings and unlicensed restaurants [nb: bring a plate means to bring your own food] C130 : US model tactical troop and cargo aircraft used extensively by United States Air Force (USAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF); known as Hercules C4 : type of plastic explosive, commonly found inside claymore anti-personnel (AP) mine cack-handed : someone who is awkward, inept, unsuccessful, or clumsy; also, left-handed, from bent backwards cactus : slang for dead, not functioning cadres : small groups of covert political organisers in villages; members helped recruit, train and support Viet Cong military wing; always competed with the South Vietnamese government structure and services call-sign : radio code-word to identify or summon particular organisations or people for a radio conversation camp oven : a large, heavy, cast iron pot with a lid for cooking on an open fire; called Dutch oven by Americans can : slang for jail or prison; in the can meant arrested and locked up cane toad : a person from Queensland canister : anti-personnel artillery or tank round containing flechette cans : usually beer capsicum : bell pepper, sweet pepper a Captain Cook at : rhyming slang for look at caravan : small house trailer that can be towed as a travel trailer [cf: camper, wanigan, mobile home] Caribou : twin-engine light transport aircraft operated by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) cark it : to die, cease functioning car park : the area or lot where motor vehicles are parked; called parking lot or motor pool by Americans carpet-bombing : heavy, indiscriminate bombing of an area by plane, usually causing widespread destruction carraig : rock; also spelled carrick CASEVAC : Casualty Evacuation of injured soldiers from the field; see dustoff, MEDEVAC cast : immobilised, unable to rise or maneuver C&C : Command and Control; title applied to helicopter (usually with extra radios) with sunray commander on board flying above operations area (AO) directing ground operations, or a person doing C & C for a task CCRSFF : Commander Central Region SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Field Force cellotape : a transparent or translucent adhesive film of cellulose acetate or cellophane that Americans call Scotch tape Centurion : Australian 50-ton battle tank belonging to 1st Armoured Regiment, usually operated as a troop of four, with a main 20-pounder gun and a crew of four, fully tracked and heavily protected with armour plating; see tracks chalk : personnel grouped together for travel on a sortie Charlie : slang for Viet Cong (VC); from radio designation victor charlie chat-up : to flirt, using facile or glib pick-up lines; patter or chatter; called fast-talk by Americans Cheap Charlie's : a notorious tailor shop in Saigon that specialised in serving the needs of allied military advisors to the South Vietnamese; by extension, any tailor shop in Vietnam; compare op shop cheeky : sassy, impish, insolent or impudent cheerio : good-bye; farewell; offering good wishes when leave taking cheers : traditionally used as a toast, it has become popular to use it when meaning thank you; see ta chemist : pharmacist or pharmacy; what Americans call druggist or drugstore chewie : chewing gum; also spelled chewy Cheyenne : medium-sized high-speed observation helicopter Chieu Hoi [Chew Hoy] : South Vietnam Open Arms programme that allowed VC to defect and receive money for surrendered weapons chilly bin : cooler china : friend or mate; also expressed as china plate Chinook : large twin-rotor helicopter; see Geronimo chips : thickly sliced fried potatoes, French fries, or potato crisps (q.v.); also called taties chocka : full, full to overflowing, over-full; crowded, tight, close; also expressed chockablock or choc-a-block choice : very good; superb, select chockies : chocolate candy chook : chicken (as prepared for eating) chopper : any model of helicopter, usually US model Iroquois UH1D troop lift and utility helicopter flown by Allied forces Army aviation or Air Force units choges : Vietnamese people CHQ : Company Headquarters; see coy, CP, BHQ, HQ chuck-a-sickie : taking a day off from work by pretending to be sick; malinger chuddy : chewing gum chuffed : pleased chunder : vomit or regurgitate, upchuck or throw-up, puke or barf; also called liquid laugh or technicolour yawn civvies : civilians; also clothes worn when out of uniform clacker : slang for the electrical firing device used to detonate Claymore mine, as derived from sound made on use; also the anus (Latin cloaca = sewer), from the single orifice of monotremes (platypus and echidna) that's used for both reproduction and the elimination of body wastes Claymore : US model directional anti-personnel (AP) mine containing 900 ball-bearings, that's electrically fired singly or in a bank Clayton's : fake, substitute, ersatz; generic use of brand name for non-alcoholic beverages (alcohol-free spirit) cleanskin : any standard or generic product that can be marked or branded for sale or distribution by another, as a house label or customized gift; by extension from unmarked or untagged cattle click : kilometre, as in travel 6-clicks south clobber : clothes or clothing CMF : Citizen Military Forces (in Australia) cobber : a close companion or friend; chum or pal cockie : a farmer; derived from a similarity to the nesting habit of cockatoos, which settle on the edge of permanent water holes cockroach : a person from New South Wales; also called cockie coldie : cold bottle of beer collywobbles : fear or apprehension; also, an upset stomach or intestinal cramps; coined by merging colic and wobble combat power : mix of weapons, intelligence, communications, and personnel capabilities brought against the enemy come-a-gutser : to make a bad mistake, to suffer a severe accident comms : communications, verbal or electronic, as in get comms with [call-sign] conex : Container Export (used as platform for claymore mine control posts); see claymore contact : engagement with enemy, often sudden; outcry or radio message used to warn that troops are engaged, as in contact front or contact fire mission 2 mortars cooee : figurative distance, either near or far, close or distant (e.g. They're not within cooee of winning! or We were within cooee of beating them!); also, a hail or salute, call or outcry that's used to attract someone's attention at a distance in the bush coord : co-ordination; bringing together different agencies to achieve a common task; artillery support for infantry attack with FAC available to direct air strikes; engineer support to clear mines cor blimey : gorblimey; blimey (q.v.) corker : something excellent cornflour : corn starch corroboree : a boisterous social gathering; derived from an assembly of singing and dancing Aborigines COSVN : Central Office for South Vietnam; the Viet Cong (VC) headquarters and senior echelon of the Vietnam Communist Party in South Vietnam (SVN) cotton buds : cotton-tipped swab, or small cotton mop; known as Q-tips by Americans counter meal : pub food courgette : zucchini cousin : informally, a person from another member country (e.g. Briton, Scot, Canadian, etc.) in the United Kingdom; also, a person from an allied nation (i.e. American); also, a gullible person who is taken advantage of, or an innocent person who is easily duped; also spelled cuz coy : company; organisation of soldiers for administrative and tactical reasons; usually commanded by a major Each rifle company consisted of about 120 men, and was commanded by a major. Each company comprised a HQ, three rifle platoons and a support section. There were at least two radios at CHQ, one for communicating with the platoons and one (on a different frequency) for communications to Battalion HQ and to the other rifle companies. As well, an artillery FOO (Forward Observer) had a radio (on yet another frequency) for directing artillery fire during combat, and at times the company would have a Mortar Fire Controller (MFC) with his radio on a separate frequency. Coyote : small high-speed reconnaissance helicopter cozzie : swimming costume; also spelled cossie CP : Command Post; see CHQ, BHQ, HQ CQMS : Company Quartermaster Sergeant; senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) responsible for stores and resupply crack-a-fat : slang for getting an erection crack a tinny : to open a can of beer cracker : very good (a fair) crack of the whip : a request for a chance or opportunity, an even break craic : fun crib : a holiday home or vacation house, a getaway dwelling or recreation cabin; also called bach crisps : thinly sliced potato chips that have been baked or fried and seasoned before packaging for commercial sale crook : sick or ill; angry or ill-humored; bad or wrong; out of order or unsatisfactory; derived by alteration of German krank (sick) cross as a frog in a sock : colloquialism for anyone or anything that sounds angry crow eater : a person from South Australia (allegedly due to a plethora of crows) Crown forces : those people serving in the military or government security crunchie : Australian slang for infantry, from the sound made when walking on gravel; see troopie CSM : Company Sergeant Major, senior other rank (OR) in company [warrant officer class 2 (WO2)]; right hand man for officer commanding (OC); see NCO CTZ : Corps Tactical Zone South Vietnam (SVN) was divided into four CTZs: I, II, III and IV. Although Australia had military advisers throughout SVN from I Corps to IV Corps, the main Australian contingent was 1st Australian Task Force in III Corps, based in Phuoc Tuy Province to the southeast of the capital, Saigon. SVN forces and US troops operated throughout the country. cubby house : a small house, usually made of timber, used for children to play in the garden; by extension, any diminutive dwelling, as the homes built by primitive peoples culchie : someone who is culturally deprived by virtue of not living in a major city; any rural or backwoods denizen, an unsophisticated rube, a provincial hick or parochial hillbilly cunning as a dunny rat : colloquialism for exceedingly devious, wily or crafty cuppa : a cup of brewed tea cut lunch : a sandwich, or a meal of sandwiches cut lunch commando : an army reservist cyclo : a cab for hire, especially a motorized ricksha or motorscooter taxi; a jingle dacca : marijuana, so called from its source in Dacca / Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh (a former province of Pakistan); also known as margie, mull, bhang, and Buddha stick [aka: joint, stick, bullet, leaf (low grade), leaf and tip (medium grade), head (high grade), reefer, weed, grass] dacrons : New Zealand dress uniform in the tropics, complete with regimental belt, beret, and black rank; Australian lanyard designating the ANZAC battalion the soldier belonged to was also worn dag : a person with character; also, a joker or comedian (e.g. He's a bit of dag.) daggy : looks bad, as from dag being a small clot of dried dung clinging to the hindquarters of an animal dairyfood : a creamy smooth custard-like dessert that's offered in several flavours (e.g. chocolate, banana, strawberry, caramel, etc.) daks : trousers or pants; also spelled dacks damper : a simple, unleavened, outback bread made with flour and water; the dough is kneaded, formed into a round, and cooked in a pot that's buried in the coals of an open fire danger close : indirect fire that's deliberately adjusted to within 250 metres or closer of troops because significant numbers of enemy are within that range & posing a real danger of overwhelming the troops dapsone : drug used by Australians and New Zealanders as a malaria suppressant [sic: leprosy deterrent], taken in combination with Paludrine DAQMG : Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General The Dat : slang for Nui Dat, base of 1Australian Task Force (1ATF) combat units, as in heading back to the Dat date : euphemistic slang for arse DCM : Distinguished Conduct Medal, an Imperial gallantry medal; it was the second highest award for valour in action (after the Victoria Cross) for all army ranks below commissioned officers dead marine : an empty beer bottle; called dead soldier by Americans [nb: this expression may date from World War II, when U.S. Marines were stationed in Australia for refit and reorganisation; USMC shoulder patches were first displayed at this time, and together with the more attractive uniform, caused jealousy and resentment among Aussies, who were notorious for mocking the over-decorated Marines by wearing toilet paper imitations of their adornments] dead horse : sauce, usually tomato, as on a meat pie dead meat tickets : nickname for identity disks; also called dog tags deadset : true, truth a deal : a problem dear : expensive de facto : informal reference to common law relationships, where couples (with or without children) live together without marrying defoliant : chemical sprayed or dusted on trees or plants to make leaves fall off desert lime : wild lime; also called tropical yellow lime desert peach : quandong desert raisin : bush tomato DF : Defensive Fire; usually refers to artillery fire called to land close to the Allied perimeter; can be fired and recorded in anticipation of VC attack; a silent DF target was calculated from a map (i.e. without using ranging shots) and recorded on a register for use in an emergency DFC : Distinguished Flying Cross, an Imperial decoration awarded to officers and warrant officers for an act of valour performed whilst flying in operations against the enemy di di mau [dee dee mau] : Vietnamese for go away, get out, or piss off Digger : slang for an Australian soldier; may have originated in New Zealand; see Aussie, Ozzie, 'roo dill : an idiot dilly-dally : to waste time, especially by indecision or vacillation; also expressed as shilly-shally ding : a minor motor vehicle accident; not a crackup; known by Americans as a fender bender dingbat : a foolish or silly person; also, an object serving as a missile dingo's breakfast : going without eating, partaking in no food at all; awakening behavior imitative of a wild dog: rouse, yawn, scratch, urinate, take a quick survey, and depart dinkum : genuine, authentic (e.g. That's fair dinkum!) dinky-di : the real thing, genuine dinner : tea; the main evening meal dipstick : a fool or idiot, loser Div Loc Bty : Divisional Locating Battery Div Postal : Divisional Postal Unit Div Pro Coy : Divisional Provost Company Div Sal Coy : Divisional Salvage Company DMZ : Demilitarised Zone dodger : bread; also, sausage dodgy : bad or wrong; inappropriate or illicit; shady or suggestive (he) doesn't know Christmas from Bourke Street : someone who's slow to catch-on, anyone confused or misguided [nb: Bourke Street is a brightly lit thoroughfare in Melbourne] dog's balls : anything obvious, something conspicuous (e.g. It stands out like dog's balls.) [cf: Plain as the nose on your face.] dog's breakfast : messy, or a mess; hash or mishmash, jumble or muddle, disorder or disarray; also expressed as a pretty kettle of fish dog's eye : a meat pie dog tags : nickname for identity disks; also called dead meat tickets Dong : Vietnamese unit of currency donger : slang for penis; also represented as donga donk : a motor or engine doodle : slang for penis doona : diminutive of duvet, being a quilt or comforter dork : idiot or fool double-tap : snap shooting technique where two rounds are quickly fired at the centre of a target before the firer changes position DOW : Died of Wounds some time after being wounded down the gurgler : colloquialism for a failed venture or foiled plan down under : identifying, oriented toward, or travelling from or to the regions of Australia and New Zealand, including Tasmania and the Antipodes draughts : the game of checkers; derived from movement dreaded lurgy : an imaginary disease that's used as an excuse to get out of doing something dressing gown : bathrobe drill : see immediate action (IA), triangle drink with the flies : to drink alone, a solitary drinker drongo : a stupid person or dope, fool or idiot dropkick : a fool or idiot, loser drum : tip-off information, scoop or skinny; known by Americans as poop or dope, scuttlebutt or back channel dry as a dead dingo's donger : colloquialism for absolutely dry, entirely without moisture; also expressed as dry as a nun's nasty and dry as a pommy's towel DSO : Distinguished Service Order, an Imperial gallantry medal to recognise officers who exhibited instances of individual meritorious or distinguished service in combat; it was usually awarded for service under fire, or under conditions equivalent, and generally given to officers in command, with the rank of lieutenant colonel or above DTA : Division Tactical Area; a designation by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) for an area comprising two or more provinces; the DTA commander was also the ARVN division commander, and the DTA was his permanent tactical area of responsibility (TAOR) dud : cheat or swindle, deceive or trick, con or ripoff; often expressed as dudded dudgeon : a feeling of offense, slight or resentment, disgust or irritability, as in high dudgeon duds : clothes or clothing duffel bag : ground-based personnel-sensing devices dummy : a nipple-like pacifier for a baby dun : fort dung lai [doung loy] : Vietnamese for Halt! dunny : toilet, especially outdoors; loo or lav; bog or khasi; latrine or head; bathroom or restroom dunny budgie : blowfly Duntroon : the location of the Royal Military College (RMC) in Canberra; these officers graduated with the rank of lieutenant after a four-year training course; Aussie version of American West Point dustoff : radio code-word for removal of battle casualties from a contact, usually by helicopter; casualty evacuation helicopter fitted out with medical evacuation equipment such as stretchers, Stokes litters, winches, jungle penetrator, resuscitator and medical supplies; see CASEVAC, MEDEVAC dux : top of the class; most outstanding or superior performance earbashing : ceaseless talk or non-stop chatter Ebony : call-sign for switchboard at 1 Australian Task Force (1ATF); could indicate specific offices or officers, e.g. Ebony 12 as reference in correspondence eejit : idiot Eketahuna : the archetypal small country town that lacks all amenities; an obscure locale about which nothing is known and nobody has ever heard; not as exotic as Timbuktu, but easily as remote and distant! [nb: this NZ town does actually exist] elephant's trunk : a line-cutter securely mounted on the front bumper of vehicles to prevent injury (especially decapitation) to the driver and passengers from booby traps and tripwires, as derived from similarity of appearance to a raised elephant's trunk, but also called cobra due to its resemblance to an erect King Cobra; compare roo bar enfilade fire : raking fire along the length of a road or line of trenches, or firing at enemy from their flank, so as to maximise combat power and increase effectiveness; distinct from firing directly across them engr : engineer; support troops used for construction, demolition or battlefield mine / booby trap clearance; see sapper, splinter team, mini team, satchel charge entree : appetizer, or starter; a dish served at a formal dinner between the fish and meat courses; also spelled entrée evils : to stare intimidatingly or hostilely at someone; to give someone the evil eye extraction : withdrawal by helicopter of troops from area of operations (AO); see hot extraction F4 Phantom : jet-powered fighter-bomber with a 6000lb capacity and a speed of 500 - 1250mph that was operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) against enemy personnel and fortifications FAC : Forward Air Controller, usually airborne, who could call for and direct air strikes; fixed-wing FAC call-sign was Jade face fungus : beard, especially the several days' outgrowth from not shaving while in the field or bush fag : cigarette fair go : a chance or opportunity, an even break fancy : inclination, attraction, or interest; also, an idea or opinion, judgement or taste, with little or no basis FANK Training Command : Forces Armees Nationale Khmer (or Forces Armee Nationes Khmeres) which was a combined advisory training programme, conducted from 1970 to 1973, that was designed to replenish Cambodian forces farter : the soldier's bed; usually a narrow pneumatic mattress, with a lightweight nylon-type blanket (i.e. silk); the inflated mattress would sometimes make a sound when you turned over, thereby giving rise to the name fella : a man or person, as an informal diminutive of fellow [cf: feller] feral : a hippie; also called wilding FFI : Free From Infections; routine medical inspection to check for skin and other medical problems FFZ : Free Fire Zone; an area where Vietnamese civilian access was prohibited, such that any activity there was that of the enemy field dressing : large cotton pad with strapping that soldiers carried for emergency first aid to stop bleeding, usually taped to equipment such as rifle butts FIGJAM : slang acronym for F**k I'm Good, Just Ask Me!; a boast or vaunt firebase : semi-permanent defensive location in an area of operations (AO) from which a unit supports operations (ops) with artillery and logistics firefight : skirmish or battle; see hook into firetrail : land clearing of bush to provide better observation of likely enemy (NVA / VC) routes fizz boat : a small fast motorboat or powerboat fizzy : soft drink or soda pop flagon : a large 2l container for holding wine or liquor, as for use at table, having a spout, handle, and cover; origin related to flask flake : shark meat flannel : washcloth or facecloth flash : sensational flat : residential apartment; also, a deflated tire flat out like a lizard drinking : colloquialism for busy or busily flechette : individual dart from either flechette artillery or tank round; each round contains several thousand individual flechettes designed to break up massed infantry assaults flick : slang for a movie or motion picture film; by shortening of flicker; also to get rid of something or someone floater : a meat pie sitting in a pool of sauce, gravy, or soupy peas flog : to steal or rob, burgle or purloin, filch or swipe, pinch or five finger discount fly wire : gauze flyscreen covering a window or doorway FOO : artillery Forward Observation Officer, usually a captain, who travelled with infantry to co-ordinate artillery support FOO(A) : artillery Forward Observation Officer Assistant; an NCO or gunner (gnr) who travelled with infantry as fire support co-ordinator in place of mortar fire controller (MFC) football : rugby footbrawl : derogatory reference to Australian Rules football footy : rugby, or Australian Rules football fortnight : a period of fourteen nights and days; two weeks forward scout : soldier in front of platoon, seeking out likely enemy ambush sites and booby traps fossick : to seek, rummage, search around, prospect, or ferret out; derived from bustle about fragging : assassination of unpopular officers by Allied soldiers, often by means of fragmentation hand grenade; there are no recorded incidents of NZ troops fragging officers during the Vietnam War franger : condom; also represented as franga frankfurt : a cooked hot dog; also, smoked sausage of beef and pork; also called frankfurter freckle : anus free fire zone : an area free of civilian population, or an area in which the population is known to be hostile; the rules of engagement (ROE) allowed any target to be considered enemy and could be fired at without clearance frenchie : condom; also called French letter friendlies : Australian troops, Allies, or anyone not on the other side friendly fire : air, artillery, or small arms fire from own forces mistakenly directed at own positions fringe : bangs; hair that's been cut or combed to fall over the forehead front : to encounter or challenge, face or dare, as a truncation of confront FSCC : Fire Support Co-ordination Centre; artillery command post (CP) to manage fire from all deployed guns FSPB : Fire Support Patrol Base followed by a particular name, usually of a woman; a defensive position (sometimes just called FSB), with two-man weapon pits manning the perimeter, that contained the command and control (C&C) centre in the Command Post (CP), provided mortar and artillery fire support for operations (ops), and a helipad for battle control and observation from a small Bell Sioux helicopter ('Possum'); see firebase full on : intense, intensively full tit : colloquialism for maximum speed or ultimate effort, using all power or resources; nothing held back or reserved (e.g. He was running full tit!) funk hole : a two-man weapon pit situated on the perimeter of a unit FUP : Forming-Up-Place; an area suitable for an attacking force to spread out into the formation to be used during an attack on the enemy position; preferably it was in dead (concealed) ground such as a re-entrant or gully from which the attacking troops would begin the attack at H Hour from the forward edge (called the Start Line) of the FUP furphy : false or unreliable rumour FWMAF : Free World Military Assistance Forces (US, NZ, Australian, South Vietnamese and other Allied forces) GAFA : slang acronym for Great Australian F**k All, referring to any vast emptiness or great nothingness, especially the outback gaffer : the foreman, overseer, or boss; as derived from governor (guv'nor) galah : a silly person or fool; after the Australian cockatoo gander : look; also, a silly or foolish person gat : slang for a rifle g'day : hello; truncation of good day greeting; also spelled gidday German sausage : bologna, a smoked sausage of finely ground beef and pork [nb: Bologna is a city in northern Italy]; called baloney / boloney by Americans Geronimo : nickname for US CH47 I Chinook helicopter; based on aircraft call-signs get off the grass : an exclamation of disbelief; equivalent to Stop pulling my leg! or No way! get up (somebody) / got up (somebody) : to rebuke, reprove, or reprimand someone GI : Nickname for American soldiers; from the term Government Issue which was stamped on all equipment used by U.S. soldiers gibber : small rocks, as a gibber plain in the desert git : a friendly insult that expresses envy or jealousy for another's (undeserved) good luck, fate or fortune (e.g. You lucky git!) give it a burl : try it, have a go give over : colloquialism for stop or quit, give it a rest or give me a break, let it go or let it alone give way : yield gnr : gunner; an artillery assistant gob : mouth, in the most vulgar sense (e.g. Shut yer gob!); also, to spit, as derived from refuse and sewage that's expelled from a drain aboard ship gobful : worthy or warranted abuse, as a scold or tongue-lashing gobshite : nonsense, lies, or exaggeration; figuratively, excrement extruded from someone's mouth, or the person making such utterances; called bullshit or horseshit by Americans gobsmacked : surprised, astounded, taken aback, shocked or startled, as if having been suddenly struck in the mouth goffer : a can of soft drink; Naval slang adopted by troops on board HMAS Sydney and used widely in Vietnam going bush : to take a break; to get away; become withdrawn or reclusive; compare walkabout, see AWL [v: dreamtime] gollock : issue machete, rarely used except in fire support patrol base (FSPB) as the noise of its use attracted enemy attention; see secateurs gone troppo : having escaped into a state of tropical madness; to have lost the veneer of civilisation after spending too long in the tropics; compare walkabout, see AWL [v: dreamtime] gone walkabout : something lost, anything that cannot be found, irretrievable or irrecoverable; based upon the outback (q.v.) trek by Aborigines that lasts indefinitely good oil : useful information, a good idea, the truth good-o : well done, congratulations; also expressed as good-on-you good-on-you : well done, congratulations; also expressed as good-o googie : egg; also represented as goog; from the northern English slang word (goggie) for an egg gook : slang for Viet Cong (VC); see nog GPMG : General Purpose Machine Gun, used at section level for fire support; see M60 greasies : fried food, such as fish and chips or shark and taties green one : a bottle of Victoria Bitter greens : green uniform designed for field wear; also, green vegetables grid square : a 1000 x 1000 metre squared division of military maps for plotting locations; see POO grinning like a shot fox : colloquialism for very happy, smugly satisfied grog : liquor or beer; originally watered rum, after the grogram cloak worn by Admiral Edward Vernon, who ordered the dilution served instead of pure spirits from 1740 ground clearance : permission given by land force commander for air or artillery clearance to fire or fly into or over his area of operations (AO) grouse : great, terrific, very good grunt : US slang for infantry soldier, as in The only answer you get from a foot soldier is a grunt; see crunchie, troopie GSW : Gun Shot Wound, as distinguished from shrapnel; see WIA gummies : waterproof rubber or water-repellent leather boots, also called gumboots or wellies (Wellington boots) gun : the best, outstanding or superlative, as He's a gun tracker. guns : artillery; see arty gunship : an aircraft, fixed-wing or helicopter, armed for close air support of ground troops engaged with the enemy gurgler : slang for drain, as derived from throat a gutful of piss : slang phrase for drunk or intoxicated; also expressed as full as a goog, full as a boot, got the wobbly boot on, and off his face gutser : to suffer from a mistake, or be hurt in an accident; also spelled gutzer or gutza; expressed as come-a-gutser guts for garters : threatening expression for impending trouble (e.g. I'll have his guts for garters!) GVN : Government of [South] Vietnam handle : a pint of beer as happy as Larry : colloquialism for exceedingly happy, very pleased; perhaps originating as a diminutive of larrikin (i.e. prankster or hoodlum) happy pills : anti-malarial tablets harbour : bush location where field troops rest and protect themselves; see triangle hard case : comic or comedian; an amusing or funny person HE : High Explosive; destructive force in artillery shells, mortar bombs, and aerial bombs head : American term for a bathroom or restroom, a lav or loo; a room aboard ship equipped with sinks, toilets, and showers; also called latrine heap : a large quantity or great amount; an abundant mass or multitude; also represented as heaps hepatitis roll : bread roll or loaf baked locally Hercules : C130 transport aircraft hexie : hexamine or solid kerosene; British-made cooking tablet used mainly in Malaysia H&I : Harassment and Interdiction; unobserved artillery, mortar, or air bombardment on locations which might be used by enemy forces, usually fired at night Ho Chi Minh sandals : Viet Cong (VC) foot-ware made from old tyres, which left a distinctive and recognisable trail Ho Chi Minh Trail : a network of roads and smaller trails, extending from North Vietnam through Cambodia and Laos, used by communist insurgents for the infiltration of troops and supplies into South Vietnam Hoi Chanh [Hoy Chan] : a Viet Cong (VC) or North Vietnamese (NVA) soldier who defects to and ceases fighting the government of South Vietnam (GVN) forces; see Chieu Hoi hokey-pokey : a kind of chocolate covered candy; a kind of ice cream sold by street vendors; as derived from hocus-pocus holiday : vacation Hollywood : an extremely exaggerated act, as to magnify a minor injury or to embellish a trifling event Holy dooley! : an exclamation of surprise, similar to Good heavens!, Goodness gracious!, Goodness sakes!, or Gracious sakes! hoochie : house, tent, or other living space; from US slang; also known as hutchie hook into : to attack aggressively hooray : goodbye; also expressed hooroo hooroo : goodbye; also expressed hooray hosing down : raining very heavily; a heavy rain hot extraction : withdrawal of troops from area of operations (AO) via helicopter while under enemy fire hot LZ : a Landing Zone under hostile fire HQ : headquarters, at any level, describes the command / staff structure; see CHQ, BHQ, CP, base camp Huey : nickname for US model Iroquois helicopter flown by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF); utility model had Albatross call-sign and gunship model had Bushranger call-sign humpie : a rough shelter in the bush; also spelled humpy hutchie : shelter provided by small nylon sheets rigged up to branches IA : Immediate Action; instinctive drill such as ambush or contact ICB : Infantry Combat Badge, the revered badge awarded to all infantrymen who have served in combat; worn on the left chest of the uniform, immediately above medals; depicts an upright SLR bayonet surrounded by a wreath ice block : an ice cream bar icy pole : flavoured ice frozen onto a stick; called Popsicle by Americans identity disks : pair of personalized tags used to account for soldiers killed in combat; also called dead meat tickets and dog tags in country : within the territorial limits of Vietnam inf : infantry An infantry battalion has about 800 men, commanded by a lieutenant colonel. It consisted of a headquarters (BHQ), four rifle companies, a Support Company (with mortars, trackers (men and dogs), signals, assault pioneers and on the first tour: a reconnaissance platoon), and finally an Administrative Company (with stores, ammunition, and equipment supplies, as well as medical services and stretcher bearers). INTREP : Intelligence Report on enemy locations, movement, and intentions J [jay] : jungle; see bush jackaroo : an inexperienced leader given the responsibility of command, being someone with more authority than expertise; as derived from the young male kangaroo; also spelled jackeroo [cf: jillaroo] Jack Tar : the universal byword for a common British sailor, from the specimen name used on sample forms jaffle : a toasted sandwich jaffle iron : the cast alloy holder for toasting sandwiches over an open fire jam : jelly (with or without preserves) jandal : thongs, sandals, shower shoes or flip-flops jar : measure of drink jelly : a semisolid or rubbery dessert made from a mixture of gelatin, sugar, and fruit flavouring; known by Americans as Jell-O jersey : sweater jingle : a roofed two-wheeled carriage or hackney coach; also called jingly jocks : men's underwear Joe Blake : rhyming slang for a snake Joe Bloggins : the universal byword for a common Canadian soldier or sailor, from the specimen name used on sample forms, and when designating someone (incompetent or unfortunate) in precautionary examples; also cited as Joe Bloggs joker : man judder bar : speed bump jug : electric kettle jumper : sweater jumping jack : a two-stage anti-personnel mine that explodes at waist level; known by Americans as a bouncing betty jungle penetrator : heavy bulb device with fold-away seats that's lowered by winch from a helicopter to extract people where a landing is not feasible just down the road : an expression representing any relative or indefinite distance, but always farther than expected; and always represented as down, even if the land rises in elevation kakadu plum : a round, tartly sweet, green plum that's extraordinarily high in vitamin C KFS : knife, fork, spoon; eating utensils used with mess tins, preferably plastic to reduce noise in the bush KIA : someone Killed in Action during enemy contact; see WIA kia ora : Maori for hello kil : church; also spelled kill Kit Carson : US term for a Viet Cong (VC) defector who then served with Allied forces as a scout or interpreter; Australians called them bushman scouts; see Chieu Hoi Kiwi : New Zealander; nickname used nationally and internationally to describe people from New Zealand; derived from flightless bird native to that country [nb: Many US service people queried the reason a New Zealand unit would display on their vehicles a stylised fat arsed chook ... it is not k1w1!] kiwifruit : a climbing shrub cultivated for its edible fruit, its egg-sized berry has fuzzy brownish skin and green flesh; also called Chinese gooseberry or zespri knackered : very tired or exhausted; as derived from the person (knacker) who slaughters and renders livestock knickers : underpants, bloomers, shorts, and more generally, pants (e.g. Don't get your knickers in a twist!) knock : to criticise knock back : a refusal; to refuse knocker : somebody who criticises, who is critical of others or things knuckle sandwich : catch-phrase for a fist in the teeth or a punch in the mouth kumara : sweet potato, yam LAD : Light Aid Detachment lair it up : to behave in a brash and vulgar manner, to do something in bad taste Lamingtons : sponge cake cubes dipped in chocolate icing, then coconut; reputedly named after the popular nineteenth century governor of Queensland, Baron Lamington; often sold in Lamington drives to raise funds for some worthwhile project larrikin : a prankster or hoodlum; see bushranger latrine : American term for a bathroom or restroom, a lav or loo; a room equipped with sinks, toilets, and showers; also called head laughing gear : mouth, especially lips (e.g. Wrap your laughing gear around this.) LCM : Landing Craft Medium; a flat-bottomed troop-carrying craft with a ramp for beach landings lemon aspen : small, pale yellow fruit with a tart citrus flavour lemon myrtle : lemon-flavoured leaves and stems of a native rain forest tree lemonade : clear soda (i.e. 7-Up) or any similar soft drink LFT : Light Fire Team; comprised two UH1D helicopter gunships armed with forward firing mini-guns and 2.75-inch Zuni rocket pods with twin-M60s in each door; Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) call-sign was bushranger lift : elevator; a moving platform or cage that's used for carrying passengers or freight from one level to another in a building, ship, or other structure lilo : Australian model air mattress with inner air tubes LOB : Left Out of Battle; personnel routinely rested from operations (ops); see pogo, pogue lobbies : lobsters (as prepared for eating) LOCSTAT : statement of location of a force or activity, typically a coded grid reference lolly : sweets or candy [also boiled sweets, candy floss, hokey-pokey] lolly scramble : a festive search for candies long drop : colloquialism for an outdoor toilet; a dunny or shit house; a hole in the ground longneck : a 750ml bottle of beer; also called tallie loo : a toilet, bathroom, or lavatory; bog or khasi; latrine or head lorry : large motor truck lough : lake lounge : living room LP : Landing Point; single helicopter pad, or area in bush capable of allowing only one helicopter to land L&P : brand name of popular fizzy soda water lurgy : flu or influenza lurk : any illegal racket, especially a furtive or underhanded one LZ : Landing Zone; capable of landing and moving multiple helicopters M16 : US designed anti-personnel (AP) bouncing mine; also known as a jumping jack M16-A1 : US model 5.56mm lightweight individual rifle; see SLR M18-A1 : designation for claymore anti-personnel (AP) mine M60 : US model general purpose machine gun M72 : US model shoulder-fired, 72mm shaped-charge, single-shot, disposable rocket launcher; used to attack bunkers and light tanks M79 : US model single-shot 40mm grenade launcher M113 : armoured personnel carrier (APC); designed to move and position troops and supplies M125 : self-propelled armoured personnel carrier (APC) with 81mm mortar firing through large, circular roof hatch in hull rear; an M113 variant M548 : unarmoured cargo carrier; an M113 variant M577 ACV : Armoured Command Vehicle used as a mobile tactical operations centre (TOC); includes command and control (C&C) equipment and long-range communications through hand-cranked extendible antenna system; an M113 variant M579 fitter : repair and recovery vehicle fitted with crane attachment; an M113 variant MACV : Military Assistance Command Vietnam MACV-SOG : Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Special Operations Group; cover named Studies and Observation Group mad as a cut snake : colloquialism for extremely angry, very upset mad as a meat axe : colloquialism for very angry, upset or crazy main : a meal's main course; the principal dish of a meal; known as entree or entrée by Americans MAINTDEM : routine supply to field troops of essential items, like food and water; see OPDEM Manchester : household linens, such as sheets and towels Maori : a member of the Polynesian people who are the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand marge : margarine margie : diminutive of marijuana; also known as mull, dacca, bhang, and Buddha stick [aka: joint, stick, bullet, leaf (low grade), leaf and tip (medium grade), head (high grade), reefer, weed, grass] Marmite : a dark-brown concentrated yeast-extract paste, having a salty flavour and a slightly sweet undertaste; a trademarked product of Australia mash : mashed potatoes MAT : Military Assistance Team; Australian personnel who were temporarily stationed with SVN military posts for liaison and training mate : buddy or friend; chum or pal Matilda : bedding or sleeping roll [v: bluey, swag, dilly bag; cf: bagman / swagman] MC : Military Cross, an Imperial award to recognise commissioned officers for distinguished, courageous, and meritorious service in combat meat pie : an individual serving of meat-and-gravy filling that's completely enclosed in a cup-shaped or turnover-shaped crust; also called dog's eye MEDCAP : Medical Civil Aid Programme (or Medical Civic Action Programme); normally conducted in a secure area, and could involve psychological operations to display humanitarian treatment and improve the image of occupying forces MEDEVAC : Medical Evacuation; nominally a medical emergency rather than a battle injury; see CASEVAC, dustoff medic : medical orderly or trained soldier who would provide medical support mess : dining hall; barbeque area mess tins : metal dishes used to cook and eat meals; container for shaving water, etc. metal road : a country route covered by gravel MFC : Mortar Fire Controller, attached to infantry; mortar sections often accompanied companies in the bush; MFC directed artillery fire in absence of forward observation officer (FOO) MG : machine gun MID : Mentioned in Despatches, lowest form of Imperial award presented as high praise to all ranks for bravery or outstanding duty middy : slang for a medium-size (about 9-ounce) glass of beer milk bar : a corner shop or convenience store selling takeaway food; also called dairy mini-gun : a Gatling-type machine gun, comprising 6 or more rotating barrels firing up to 6000 rounds per minute mini team : two engineer Sappers, specially trained in demolitions and mine warfare, were allocated to each rifle company to assist the infantry in detection and neutralisation of mines, booby traps, and tunnels; see splinter team, engr Min Min lights : mysterious lights that have been reputedly and inexplicably observed in the bush or outback mission : an operational task to be performed, especially one specifically assigned to a person or group; also, any difficult undertaking MM : Military Medal, an Imperial award to NCOs and private soldiers for individual acts of valour Mohawk : US OV1 observation aircraft mongrel : a despicable person moo-juice : milk mortar : an infantry indirect-fire support weapon that fires bombs in a high trajectory which plummet onto the target mossie : mosquito; also spelled mozzie motorbike : a bicycle propelled by an attached motor; also, a small, lightweight motorcycle, variously configured motorway : expressway or freeway; a toll-free thoroughfare mousetrap : permission to cross a boundary out of one operational area (AO) into another MPC : Military Provisional Currency (or Military Payment Certificate); had a face value of US currency but only valid for use by service personnel at Allied facilities; issued to control the local black market mudbug : crayfish; called crawdad, crawdaddy, or spiny lobster by Americans muddie : a large crab mug : field cup used to heat food and drink; also a gullible person, offered as a friendly insult (e.g. Have a go your mug!) mulga : the bush, the scrub, hinterlands or outback mull : slang for marijuana; also known as margie, dacca, bhang, and Buddha stick [aka: joint, stick, bullet, leaf (low grade), leaf and tip (medium grade), head (high grade), reefer, weed, grass] muntries : small, crunchy, apple-flavoured berries found in South Australia; also called native cranberries murphy : potato mushie : mushroom muster : a gathering together or roundup mystery bag : sausage naff off : an interjection directing others to go away or get lost; a declaration equivalent to Leave me alone! nana : grandmother or grandma [cf: nanny] napalm : an explosive mixture of gasoline and detergent, which sucks oxygen from the air, either killing people through asphyxiation or burning them alive; often used during firefights nappy : diaper; being a diminutive of napkin, a piece of absorbent material worn as underpants by an infant who is not yet toilet trained nasho : slang for Australian national serviceman or a two-year conscript; also refers to the compulsory military service itself, adapted from National Service [nb: NZ troops were all professionals] NATO standard : coffee with milk and two sugar, based upon typical military issue in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) NCO : Non-Commissioned Officer; section commander or platoon sergeant type ranks, including the warrant officer, staff sergeant, sergeant, corporal, and lance corporal ranks; see OR NDP : Night Defensive Position; a small temporary base for supporting arms like tanks Neptune : P2 US Navy aircraft netball : game similar to basketball night hunter : co-ordinated radar, artillery, and air cavalry operation (Op) night raid : operation (Op) planned against an intelligence target NiteCAP : integrated Civic Action Programme during darkness, with particular emphasis on psychological operations NLF : National Liberation Front, a communist front organisation that sponsored the Provisional Revolutionary Government and the People's Liberation Armed Forces; commonly known as Viet Cong (VC) nog : slang for Vietnamese; also expressed as noggie; see gook no-hoper : somebody who'll never do well or get ahead noisy as a dunny door in a storm : colloquialism for very noisy, from the sound made by the door of an outdoor toilet slamming in the wind NOK : Next of Kin; the person registered to receive bad news about a soldier NOTICAS : Casualty Notification, an abbreviated radio message about injured or deceased soldiers that used a standard format; also NOTICAS Fatal not my bowl of rice : something unwanted or disliked, anything not pleasing; also expressed as not my cup of tea not to worry : an expression of reassurance or encouragement, of forbearance or forgiveness; also uttered as no worries, no drama, and she'll be right nosh : a snack; also, to eat (a snack) nosh-up : raid the refrigerator; also, an excellent meal nuddy : naked nulla nulla : a heavy wooden club; see waddy, boomerang nut out : to work out the details, hammer out arrangements NVA : North Vietnamese Army; regular army of North Vietnam; a capable and well armed enemy who is usually highly skilled and motivated NZ : New Zealand or New Zealander; see Kiwi NZATTV : New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam NZSAS : New Zealand Special Air Service group, formed 1955 and patterned on British SAS; based in Nui Dat, the NZ SAS served under the Australian SASR from November 1968 through October 1971, where it was named 1st Ranger Squadron; most tasks involved conducting recce missions and ambush of enemy forces; a New Zealand SAS troop was attached to each Australian SAS squadron in both Borneo and Vietnam NZV Force : New Zealand Army Force (Vietnam) OC : Officer Commanding; also known as the company commander or sunray ocker : any unsophisticated person, especially the stereotypic Aussie male, who is reputedly an uncultured lout, fond of swilling beer and gobbling food, indiscriminately following sports and politics, recklessly gambling and womanising OCS : the Officer Cadet School at Portsea in Victoria; an eighteen months officer training course OE : overseas experience; compare OS off-license : liquor store off like prawns in the sun : colloquialism for leave quickly, to depart with haste offsider : an assistant or helper O Gp : Orders Group; meeting of personnel to be tasked for future operations (ops) old bomb : an old, decrepit or dilapidated vehicle; a mechanically unsound jalopy; also called rust bucket old fella : penis oldies : parents or elders on the never never : colloquialism for using layby to pay for something over an extended period; not paying outright or straightaway; known as will-call or layaway plan by Americans Op(s) : operation (usually followed by a name); see AO, FSPB OPDEM : urgent supply of ammunition and weapons to field troops; see MAINTDEM open slather : a free-for-all; a disorderly fight or contest without rules op shop : opportunity shop, being a store where secondhand goods are sold; also called thrift shop; compare Cheap Charlie's OR : Other Ranks; soldiers who are not commissioned officers; see Pte, NCO Orion : P3 US Navy aircraft OS : overseas; abroad; in foreign land on foreign service OTLP : One Time Letter Pad; a code book system, each page of which would be used only once by patrols in the field OTU : the Officer Training Unit at Scheyville near Windsor NSW; a six months officer training course for National Servicemen Ouc Da Loi [Uc Dai Loy] : Vietnamese for an Australian; see Tan Tay Lan outback : the back country or remote settlements; scrub or bush; also called never never after the Never-Never Land (originally Never Land), where lost boys and red indians lived and pirates sailed up the lake, in Peter Pan by James M. Barrie (1904) Oz : Australia Ozzie : an Australian; see Aussie, Digger, 'roo pack-a-sad : bad mood, touchy, morose, dour, crestfallen, grim, downcast, glum, despondent, ill-humoured, out-of-sorts (e.g. She packed a sad.) pad : a helipad, see Landing Point (LP); also a narrow footpath, like an animal trail through a paddock paddled : to suffer ill fate or misfortune, mischance or bad luck Pakeha : any non-Maori person Paludrine : drug used by Australians and New Zealanders in Vietnam as a malaria suppressant, taken in combination with dapsone panel beater : slang for an automobile repair shop, or auto body shop; also called panel shop party pooper : a person whose negative attitude or aloof conduct ruins everyone else's enjoyment; spoilsport Pat Malone : rhyming slang for being on your own patrol : activity by a selection of soldiers, from three to company size, on task in the bush pawpaw : papaya, a yellow melon-like fruit PC : slang for APC, an Armoured Personnel Carrier, as in mount that PC PE : Plastic Explosive, such as C4 pedicab : a three-wheeled cab for hire, peddled by its operator and provided with a bench seat and folding cover for its passengers; a ricksha or jingle people sniffer : electro-chemical device to detect humans pepper-pot : advance to contact in an irregular or unpredictable manner, using small groups who cover movement with observation and aimed fire; pattern in appearance like shaking pepper from a pot perve : exhibiting salacious, lustful, lubricious, lewd or lascivious behavior; adapted from pervert / perversion Peter Collins : an alias for any unknown or unidentified person, being a euphemism for anyone or anybody; known by Americans as John Doe, Joe Blow, Joe Doakes, John Q. Public, and Richard Row petrol : petroleum fuel, especially gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, paraffin oil, and the like PF : Popular Force, a South Vietnamese territorial militia of platoon size that were under the control of village or district chiefs; see RF, ruff puffs, ARVN picket duty : sentry duty; see stag piece-of-piss : easily accomplished; not hard or difficult to do; an easy or simple task pikelet : a small pancake, usually served with jam and whipped cream pike out : to quit when things become difficult, to give up when the going gets tough piker : someone who gives up easily; contemptibly cautious; slacker or quitter; social misfit; as derived from petty thief piss : slang for beer piss around : to waste time; also called muck around or muck about pissed-off : annoyed, angry, upset pisshead : a heavy drinker; someone who consumes a lot of alcohol, especially beer piss-up : a party or social gathering, being an excuse for drinking alcohol pit : hole dug or scraped in the ground as protection from incoming fire pl : platoon; military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads, and containing 30 - 50 soldiers A rifle platoon consisted of 34 men; a platoon HQ of 4, plus 3 rifle sections of 10 each. At Pl HQ were the platoon commander (a Lt or 2Lt), the platoon sergeant, a batman, and the radio operator. Each platoon had a radio set for communicating to Company HQ and to the other two platoons. PLAF : People's Liberation Armed Forces; the armed forces of the communist National Liberation Front (NLF), or Viet Cong (VC) pl comd : platoon commander; usually an officer of lieutenant rank plonk : cheap or inferior wine pl sgt : platoon sergeant, responsible for platoon administration and deputising for commander (pl comd); see NCO pogo : any soldier who is farther from combat action than the speaker; a relative term commonly used to describe the logistics and administration staff pogue : derisory slang for someone permanently left out of battle; see pogo, LOB polly : politician pom : truncation of pommy (q.v.) pommy : slang for a Briton; as derived from an excess of pomade, or for a florid complexion resembling pomegranate; also spelled pommie [nb: an alternative origin alleges a corrupt pronunciation of the abbreviation for Prisoner Of Mother England (POME)] pommy shower : using scent in an attempt to mask body odor; using deodorant instead of washing; also known as a whore's bath [nb: the colloquial expression dry as a pommy's towel is based upon the canard that Britons rarely bathe] pong : a bad smell or disagreeable stench; malodorous stink pongo : slang for a soldier or Marine; probably after its primary meaning of monkey POO : Point of Origin; map referencing system in which prearranged grid references on a map were used as a point of origin by jungle patrols pop smoke : to throw a coloured smoke grenade to assist helicopters identify the correct landing place porky : a lie or untruth; also called pork pie porridge : a thick cereal of boiled oatmeal port : a suitcase that opens into two halves; truncation of portmanteau Portsea : the location of the Officer Cadet School (OCS) in Victoria; these officers graduated with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant after an eighteen months training course Possum : call-sign for aircraft or helicopter of 161 Reconnaissance Flight pot : a 285ml beer glass, or any large mug for beer poteen : illicitly distilled whisky; also spelled poitin, and known as moonshine by Americans pottle : a small container for liquids; also, a pot or tankard with a two quart capacity power cut : outage or stoppage; an interruption in electrical service, or a failure in the supply of electricity pozzy : position; place to set up prang : a small dent from a minor collision; an insignificant injury from a physical encounter or confrontational episode (e.g. He got pranged a bit.) Pte : Private, the lowest grade of trained soldier; also Gnr (gunner - artillery), Sig (signaller - Corps of Signals), Spr (sapper - engineers), Tpr (trooper - armoured corps); see OR pub : a bar or tavern, as a truncation of public house (inn); also, a hotel with facilities for eating and drinking PUBLINTICAS : advisory message with details of a significant event that's of interest to the general media, such as NOTICAS pudding : dessert Puff the Magic Dragon : C47 aircraft equipped with three mini-guns; see Spooky punji : sharpened stick; see booby trap push bike : a peddle-powered bicycle (with or without gears); not a motorbike PW : Prisoner of War; American reference is POW PX : Post Exchange; retail stores operating on United States military installations worldwide. Known as Base Exchange (BX) on Air Force bases, and Navy Exchange (NEX) on Navy bases Q store : quartermaster store; reserve stores in base area quack : medical doctor (used ironically); in its sense of fraud, cozener, impostor, charlatan, or mountebank, its derived from quacksalver quandong : an outback fruit that's high in vitamin C, having a bright red skin and a flavour reminiscent of a tart or acidic peach; also called native-, wild-, or desert peach quay : waterfront, as a landing place, dock or wharf quencher : ice cream bar queue : a file of people awaiting their turn in a line; also, a single plait or braid of hair quite nice (quoite noice) : very good, exceptional quirly : a handmade or hand-rolled cigarette, as rhyming slang for twirly; also called rollie, and known as pigtail by Americans RAA : Royal Australian Artillery RAAF : Royal Australian Air Force; helicopters and transports supporting 1Australian Task Force (1ATF) rack off : a verbal injunction directing someone to leave or depart, as to Get out of here!, Get lost!, Push off! (e.g. Rack off hairy legs!) rage : colloquialism for a party [v: Bachelors' and Spinsters' Ball, buck's night] rage on : merrymaking or revelry, as at a party; also expressed as going off RAN : Royal Australian Navy Ranch Hand : tactical military project for aerial spraying of herbicides in South Vietnam randy : sexually excited or aroused; lustful or horny; also, rude and aggressive, as derived from rant rank : designation of experience and authority; see Pte, NCO, CQMS, CSM, RSM, OC RAP : Regimental Aid Post; first level medical facility rapt : pleased or delighted, as from enraptured RAR : Royal Australian Regiment; Australian infantry structure of nine battalions, three of which were designated ANZAC and had New Zealand companies rark-up : telling somebody off rasher : a serving of thinly sliced bacon or ham that's been fried or broiled ratbag : an obnoxious person, being a mild insult; also spelled rat bag rats : rations rattle your dags : colloquialism for hurry up, get moving; as derived from the clattering sound that sheep make when running, caused by the striking together of dried dung stuck to their hindquarter fleece Raven : US model UH23 observation helicopter razoo : a gambling chip or token [nb: not to be confused with razzoo, an Americanism used to exhibit ridicule or indignation, to provoke scorn or contempt, as razz, raspberry, or Bronx cheer] R&C : Rest and Convalescence; a 5-day leave for NZers outside South Vietnam recce [recky] : reconnaissance; US abbreviation was recon Recondo School : training course for reconnaissance techniques operated by MACV in Nha Trang reffo : refugee re-entrant : any gully or low ground between two spurs, as a creek-line Reg : slang for a Regular or full-time soldier who had signed up for at least 3 years of military service; see ARA rellies : diminutive of relatives, family members resup : resupply; see MAINTDEM RF : Regional Force, a South Vietnamese territorial militia of company size that were under the control of province chiefs; see PF, ruff puffs, ARVN ridgy-didge : original, genuine, authentic; also spelled ridgie didge right as rain : perfect, especially being fit and well after an injury or illness; an allusion to rain being good for growth R in C : Rest-in-Country; a 48-hour recreational break at Peter Badcoe Club in Vung Tau ring : a telephone call; to place or receive a telephone call (e.g. I'll give you a ring.) ring-in : an impostor or poseur, pretender or cozener ripper : an exclamation for great or fantastic, wonderful or terrific ripsnorter : great, fantastic; something powerful or exciting RMC : the Royal Military College at Duntroon in Canberra; a four-year training course; Aussie version of American West Point RNZA : Royal New Zealand Artillery RNZAF : Royal New Zealand Air Force; pilots were attached to 9 Sqn RAAF and flew resupply from Singapore RNZIR : Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment roast dinner : a dish of beef or lamb roasted with potatoes and other vegetables that's served hot rocket : arugula, pungent leaves of the mustard family rockmelon : cantaloupe rock up : arrive ROE : Rules of Engagement; the laws of war that imposed restrictions on Allied soldiers as to where and when they could shoot rollie : a cigarette rolled by hand; also called twirly or quirly, and known as a pigtail by Americans Rolling Thunder : US air campaign against North Vietnam 'roo : slang for kangaroo, representative of an Australian; see Aussie, Digger, Ozzie roo bar : a stout guard affixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against impact with wildlife or vegetation; also called bull bar; compare elephant's trunk root : synonymous with f**k in all its senses rooted : tired or feeling tired root rat : somebody who's constantly looking for sex; philanderer or libertine, rake or roué ropeable : very angry; also expressed as spewin' rort : to cheat, swindle, defraud or defalcate, especially public funds by a politician; bilk, hoodwink, bamboozle, cozen, purloin, mulct, embezzle, peculate, misappropriate, misfeasance, malfeasance rotten : drunk or intoxicated rough as guts : an unpolished or unsophisticated person roundabout : rotary or traffic circle; also, carousel or merry-go-round rounds : ammunition; see ammo, tracer bullets, bandolier, OPDEM round the bend : very busy; going crazy RPD : the Soviet model 7.62mm light machine gun, having many parts interchangeable with the AK47 RPG : Soviet or Chinese model shoulder-fired Rocket Propelled Grenade; used as local firepower by VC R&R : Rest and Recreation sponsored by US forces; 5-days off-duty outside South Vietnam; each soldier was entitled to one R&R break during a 12 month tour, which could be spent in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, or Taipei RSM : Regimental Sergeant Major, the senior soldier within a battalion who is responsible for advising the commander (OC) on all matters affecting the troops, and directing the company sergeants major (CSM); see NCO RTA : Return to Australia from an overseas posting RTNZ : Return to New Zealand from an overseas posting rubber : eraser rubbish : to criticise; also, a declaration of untruth or an assertion of falsity; also, garbage or trash ruff puffs : slang for the South Vietnamese Regional Force (RF) and Popular Force (PF) territorial militia; see ARVN RV : rendezvous; a designated meeting place RVN : Republic of Vietnam, official name of South Vietnam saddle up : directive to get your gear on and let's get ready to move sambo : sandwich; also represented as sammie sandgroper : a person from Western Australia, from the abundance of desert sand sanger : a sandwich; also spelled sanga sapper : lowest grade of field engineer; special force Viet Cong (VC) or North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers who penetrated bases to destroy infrastructure SAS : Special Air Service, either Australian or New Zealand; lived on SAS Hill, the highest point in Nui Dat satchel charge : a pre-constructed 10lb / 4.5kg demolition charge of double-primed TNT that's enclosed in a canvas bag and used on fortifications and tunnels; see engr, splinter team, sapper sat cong : Vietnamese for kill communists sav : diminutive of saveloy; a highly seasoned dried pork sausage, originally containing pig's brains scarfie : a university student, from distinctively patterned neckcloth Scheyville : the location of the Officer Training Unit (OTU) near Windsor NSW for National Servicemen; these officers graduated with the rank of 2nd lieutenant after an intensive six months training course schooner : a large tall glass for beer scone : a light, sweet, quick bread that's often baked on a griddle scout : first and second soldier in patrol; role to give early warning of danger scroggin : an edible mixture of nuts, dried fruit, rice crisps, unwrapped lollies, chocolate bits, and selected seeds; this mixture is consumed as a source of high-energy food, and known as gorp or trail mix by Americans SEATO : South East Asia Treaty Organisation secateurs : hand-held pruning shears used to remove bush during movement; see gollock sect : section; a subunit of a platoon (pl) or company (coy), as a mortar section or support section The rifle section was the smallest of sub-units in the infantry organisation. The section consisted of 10 men, commanded by a corporal, and had three distinct groupings: the two scouts, the machine gunner and his number 2, and the riflemen. There were three sections to a platoon. seppo : slang for an American serviette : table napkin servo : petrol station shandy : a drink composed of beer and lemonade sharp end : directly involved in the action, up where the danger is greatest sheepshagger : a New Zealander sheila : a girl or young woman; see wahine she'll be right : an expression of reassurance or encouragement, of forbearance or forgiveness; also uttered as no drama and no worries or not to worry shickered : slang for drunk or intoxicated; also known as rotten or wankered shit a brick : an exclamation of surprise or annoyance shit house : toilet, especially outdoors, also called dunny; loo or lav; bog or khasi; latrine or head; bathroom or restroom; also, anything of poor quality, something inferior; compare brick shit house shonky : dubious or suspect, underhanded or unscrupulous shoot through : catch-phrase for leave suddenly, to depart with haste short : small amount of time still remaining to serve in a tour of duty short black : a single espresso shout : turn to buy, as a round of drinks; also, treat, as to provide or bestow (food, drink, entertainment, etc.) as a compliment or gift (e.g. Lunch is my shout.) show pony : someone who tries hard to impress others by his dress or behavior sickie : taking time off work due to illness; compare chuck-a-sickie side-valving : to speak surreptitiously from the corner of the mouth so as to be undetectable and inaudible at any distance farther than near, as when commenting sotto voce while in formation; also called side-mouthing Sig : signaller or radio operator; see Pte sign : evidence of enemy presence, from footprints and disturbed undergrowth to blood trails and enemy bush symbols (e.g. crossed sticks on a track) silk : a lightweight nylon-type blanket used on a soldier's bed ('farter') silverside : corned beef singlet : undershirt, tank-top sinker : pie Sioux : US model OH13 observation helicopter (a plastic bubble with an open grid tail) SITREP : Situation Report, usually a coded radio message using a standard format skanger : a low-class person who is prone to petty criminal acts skip : short for skipper, informal bush title for an officer; alternative address to sir; see boss skite : boast, brag, or vaunt; show-off or flaunt SKS : Simonov Soviet-made or Chinese-made semiautomatic rifle had a built-in 10-round (7.62 x 39mm) magazine with attached bayonet; was highly accurate, and used primarily by local Viet Cong (VC) forces; see AK47, RPD skull : to drink a beer in a single draught without taking a breath; quaff or chug-a-lug; also spelled skol [cf: skoal] Sky Crane : see superhook slab : a carton of 24 bottles or cans of beer slag : teasing slapper : a woman of loose morals slick : single helicopter movement; slang for an individual troop carrying Iroquois UH1D helicopter, with radio call-sign Albatross slouch hat : traditional broad brimmed hat worn in the bush; worn by Australians with a central fore-and-aft bash in the crown, while New Zealanders shaped the crown into a lemon squeezer peak (like American Montana Peak) that sheds rainwater; one side of the hat brim is pinned-up only when under arms, so as to clear the rifle at the shoulder or on its sling SLR : British model 7.62mm / .308cal semi-automatic self-loading personal rifle; see M16-A1 sly grog : an alcoholic beverage that's been illegally prepared in violation of licensing restrictions smoko : to take a break from work for smoking; also, to take a break from work for tea and smoking; also, to attend an informal evening gathering of men for companionship and entertainment, who share tobacco and beverages with conversation, which is also called smoke-o, and known as a smoker by Americans; also, to smoke marijuana snaffle : to quickly grab something, especially something to eat snag : sausage snarky : a blend of sarcastic and nasty snarler : sausage snatch : a rapidly planned and executed operation (op) to exploit information that's obtained from enemy snatch-and-grab : takeaway food sneakers : athletic shoes made of canvas and rubber snog : to kiss, fondle, and caress each other; unconsummated foreplay (without copulation) (e.g. We were snogging on the couch.) Snoopy : US aircraft tasked to scan jungle with a range of human detecting sensors snorker : sausage sod : a chum, chap, or mate; also, a friendly insult or mild oath, widely used to intensify or vulgarise any other word or phrase by its addition; as derived from sodomy or sodomite (not turf) song : Vietnamese for river, as in Song Rai sook : any soft or tame animal, hence its application to any inoffensive or unthreatening person; a scaredy-cat or crybaby, milksop or milquetoast, mollycoddle or pantywaist, wimp or twit; also spelled suk, and also represented as sooky SOP : Standard Operating Procedure; agreed way to do certain actions or reports; see SITREP, NOTICAS sortie : the flying of an airplane on a combat mission; also any sudden attack or raid. spag bol : spaghetti bolognese (a stew of veal and pork, garlic and onions, wine and spices in tomato sauce over pasta); also abbreviated spog spanner : a wrench with fixed jaws [i.e. crescent or box wrench, not monkey wrench]; also, a mild insult for someone who interferes or messes things up spare : exasperated or aggravated, irked or riled, vexed or perturbated (e.g. It's driving me spare!) sparkie : slang for an electrician sparrow fart : very early in the morning, as at dawn or sunrise (e.g. We were up before sparrow fart.) spew : hurl or vomit; to violently eject the stomach's contents through the mouth; also called liquid laugh or technicolour yawn spider holes : shoulder-deep hole, often covered by a camouflaged lid and linked to a tunnel system; the Viet Cong (VC) stood and fired a weapon, then closed the lid to disguise the hole and conceal the tunnel entrance spiffy : great, excellent; smart, spruce, fine spit chips : very angry spit the dummy : slang phrase for getting very upset at something splinter team : small group of field engineers attached to rifle units for mine, booby trap, or obstacle clearing tasks; see mini team, engr, sapper, satchel charge splintex : term for round filled with flechettes Spooky : call sign for C47 gunship; see Puff the Magic Dragon spot on : exactly right sprog : a child, an ankle biter or crumb cruncher; also, to give birth to a child sprung : caught in the act of doing something wrong spud : potato spunk : an attractive person of either sex; see brick shit house sqn : squadron, military subunit of a size equivalent to a company, except in the Air Force, where it's a battalion (bn) sized unit squiz : quick look or short examination; also spelled squizz stag : rostered sentry duty; see picket duty stands out like a shag on a rock : colloquialism for very obvious, conspicuous [cf: Plain as the nose on your face.] stand-to : period at dusk and dawn when all activity ceases; change from day to night routine or vice versa Start Line : the forward edge of an attacking force formation; see FUP Steinie : a bottle of Steinlager, diminutive of the brand name stick : group of men ready to board helicopters stick book : a fictional paperback book with a higher than usual proportion of sexual content sticking plaster : a small adhesive bandage with a gauze pad affixed centrally; known as a Band-Aid by Americans stickybeak : a nosy person; snoopy or prying, inquisitive or intrusive stirrer : troublemaker or mischief-maker, agitator or fomenter, instigator or inciter, provoker or provocateur stoked : very pleased Stokes litter : rigid stretcher with straps to immobilise a casualty before winching (either vertical or horizontal) aboard a dustoff helicopter; see CASEVAC, MEDEVAC stonkered : beaten, defeated, cornered, perplexed straightaway : promptly or right away; immediately or forthwith strapped : needy or wanting (e.g. strapped for cash) strewth : an exclamation or mild oath; also, honestly, reliably; as derived from God's truth strides : trousers strine : denotes Australian pronunciation and slang usage stroppy : bad tempered stubby : a squat 375ml bottle of beer; also called short stuffed : tired or feeling tired; also, an expression of surprise, as an exclamation of disbelief (e.g. I'll be stuffed!) (a fair) suck of the sav : an exclamation of wonder, awe, or disbelief sunbake : to sunbathe sundowner : shirker; from the tramp or hobo who arrives too late to work at a homestead, but early enough for a meal sunnies : sunglasses Sunray : radio term for officer commanding (OC) Sunray Minor : slang for Second-in-Command (2IC) suoi : Vietnamese for creek, as in Suoi Tam Bo superhook : slang for CH54 cargo helicopter; also known as Sky Crane supper : any light meal, especially coffee and dessert, consumed during late evening or nighttime suss : to figure out SVN : South Vietnam swag : bedding rolled with other possessions; a traveller's bundle containing food and belongings; a bluey [v: dilly bag; cf: bagman / swagman] swede : rutabaga sweep : tactical move through an area to check for enemy sign, bodies, wounded, equipment, etc. sweets : dessert, or candy ta : thanks or thank you tail-end Charlie : the last person in a patrol, responsible for covering tracks and for backwards observation tailor-made : a commercially manufactured cigarette, instead of handmade or hand-rolled; compare rollie, twirly, and quirly takeaway : takeout / take-out food to be consumed elsewhere or off the premises; also spelled take-away; also, an establishment selling such fare, as a fast food outlet take the piss : to ridicule tall black : a double espresso tallie : a 750ml bottle of beer; also called longneck tall poppy syndrome : criticism of successful people; the tendency to blame the success of others for one's own lack tank : Centurion battle tank; see tracks Tan Tay Lan : Vietnamese for a New Zealander; see Ouc Da Loi TAOR : Tactical Area of Responsibility; unit's operating area (AO); the area around Nui Dat and other firebases Tarmac : trademarked name for a bituminous binder (similar to tarmacadam) that's used for surfacing roads, runways, and the like tarmacadam : a paving material consisting of crushed stone covered with tar and bitumen tasty cheese : sharp cheddar, a hard aged cheese Taswegian : derogatory term for a person from Tasmania tatie : diminutive of potato; also represented as tater or chips (q.v.) TCDD : 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzodioxin tea : generic term for dinner, the main evening meal; also, the beverage, as a nice cup of tea, see cuppa tea towel : dish rag Tet : Vietnamese annual celebration of the lunar New Year that'd be right : an expression denoting the acceptance of bad news as inevitable thingo : wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit, jigger thongs : cheap, rubber, backless sandals; also called jandal thunderbox : toilet, from chamber pot, stool or commode; known by Americans as thunder mug or thunder bucket tickets on oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself, as in betting on one's self to win tights : nylon pantyhose (one-piece stockings and panties) for women's wear; derived as a truncation of skintight tiki tour : to buy a ticket for the scenic tour; used figuratively to mean taking or going the long way; to travel without urgency [cf: milk run] till : a box, drawer, or tray that's used for keeping money or valuables, as in a cash register tin-arsed : lucky tinned goods : canned goods tinny : a can of beer, also spelled tinnie; also, a small aluminium boat titch : a tiny amount; smidgen, bit, particle, scruple, trifle, dollop, morsel, dram, modicum, dribs and drabs TOD : Tour of Duty (usually one year); period of time for a task or posting togs : swimming costume tomato sauce : ketchup, catchup or catsup, being the spiced tomato and onion condiment; derived from Malay fish sauce (kechap) Tommy : the universal byword for a common British soldier, from the specimen name of Tommy Atkins as used on sample forms since 1815 tommyrot : nonsense, bosh, balderdash, utter foolishness; derived from Tommy (the) simpleton [cf: tomfool] toodle pip : good-bye, often uttered in a slightly jocular manner with an English affectation too right! : an emphatic expression of confirmation or assurance, as Definitely!; unambiguous substantiation, unequivocal corroboration, or unqualified affirmation torch : flashlight tracer bullets : special bullets containing a phosphorous that burns brightly while in motion to show where they are going; see ammo, rounds, bandolier, OPDEM tracks : slang for APC; as in moving in the tracks down the coast; see tank tracker : infantryman with scout dog proficient at trailing enemy sign or trace trad : rigidly traditional tramp : to hike or trek; also, a vagabond or hobo tramper : someone who walks steadily, as to march or trudge; also, a hiker or trekker, especially one embarked upon a walking excursion; also, one who goes about as a vagabond or tramp treacle : molasses syrup triangle : easily understood shape of a harbour position; adapted as a drill for ambushes and halts trolley : shopping cart troopie : slang for an ANZAC soldier; see crunchie trough lolly : the perfumed piece of solid disinfectant in a men's urinal true blue : patriotic trundler : shopping cart tucker : food tucker-bag : a bag used to carry food; see swag, bluey [v: dilly bag; cf: bagman / swagman] tucker box : a refrigerator, icebox, or other container for food tuckshop : a canteen or cafeteria, especially one that's part of a business or institution twink : white-out visibility condition twirly : a handmade or hand-rolled cigarette; also called rollie and quirly, and known as pigtail by Americans two up : a gambling game played by calling the result of spinning two coins simultaneously tyre : tire UH1D : model of US utility helicopter operated in Phouc Tuy province by 9 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), called Iroquois or Huey Uncle Ho : nickname for Ho Chi Minh used by his supporters during the war and still widely used in Vietnam unit : a flat or apartment unwaged : without income or livelihood; unemployed up oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself up the duff : pregnant, gravid, or parturient; being expectant, with child, in a family way; also called bun in the oven and knocked-up USAF : United States Air Force useful as an ashtray on a motorbike : colloquialism for a useless or worthless thing, an unhelpful or incompetent person; also expressed as useful as tits on a bull or useful as teats on a boar hog VC : Viet Cong; the common name for the South Vietnamese communist guerrillas, called the People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), the fighting arm of the National Liberation Front (NLF) VCI : Viet Cong Infrastructure; the political arm of the National Liberation Front (NLF) that installed covert cadres in SVN villages Vegemite : a vegetable extract used as a flavouring or spread; a thick, dark-brown, intensely salty yeast-extract paste that's flavoured with a variety of ingredients, including celery and onions; an advertising slogan promoted to be a happy little Vegemite, equating consumption with pleasure or contentment; a trademarked product of Australia veges : vegetables vejjo : vegetarian VHF : Very High Frequency; radio frequency between 30-300 megahertz (MHz) Victor : V Company RNZIR; there were successive company replacement drafts, each with a numeral to indicate order – V5 Coy was the fifth V Coy to arrive in Vietnam; see Whisky Victoria Cross : an Imperial gallantry medal; it was the highest award for valour in action for all army ranks Viet Cong (VC) : armed forces of the communist National Liberation Front, more formally known as the People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF) Viet Minh : national liberation movement formed by Ho Chi Minh in 1941 to seek independence from France for Vietnam, as well as to oppose the Japanese occupation VIS : Vietnamese Information Service, responsible for interpretation and dissemination of South Vietnamese government programme and information VTSZ : Vung Tau Special Zone Vungers : slang for Vung Tau; located 30 km south of Nui Dat, this large busy town, which had wide boulevards and buildings of French colonial architecture, was a beautiful holiday resort called Cap Saint Jacques during the period of French occupation waddy : a wooden war club of the Australian Aborigines; see nulla nulla, boomerang wag : to skip training or work; to be absent without permission wahine : a Polynesian woman; see sheila Waikikamukau : the name of a mythical town that's so remote that nobody can find it! ... the quintessential middle-of-nowhere or back-of-beyond; its name is a jocose misspelling of Why kick a moo cow? wakey : the final day of service in Vietnam; from wake up and go home walkabout : leave from or absence from work; also called yondering or roving, roaming or wandering; compare going bush, gone troppo; see AWL [v: dreamtime] wallaby track : to travel in search of work, as He's gone on the wallaby track. wally : a clownish or silly person; an irresponsible or incompetent person; diminutive of wallaby wank : to masturbate; also spelled whank wanker : a contemptible or objectionable person; also spelled whanker wankered : slang for drunk or intoxicated; also spelled whankered, and also known as rotten or shickered wardrobe : clothes closet warrigal : wild; ferocious; savage wattle seed : a small, oval, black variety of the Acacia seed; after being dry-roasted and ground, the seed's colour changes to a mustard-brown, and its naturally nutty flavour becomes rich and coffeelike; used to accent foods, including rice, soups, meat rubs, and baked goods webbing : see belt order weekend warrior : an army reservist wellies : rubber boots (i.e. gumboots or gummies) that are worn when walking in wet or muddy terrain; diminutive of Wellingtons the wet : the summer season of tropical rains whacker : an idiot or dickhead; somebody who talks drivel; somebody who makes others impatient; also represented as whacka wharfie : longshoreman whinge : carp, cavil, complain Whisky : W Coy RNZIR; there were successive company replacement drafts, each with a numeral to indicate order – W3 Coy was the third W Coy to arrive in Vietnam; also spelled Whiskey; see Victor whiteant : to criticise something so as to deter or dissuade somebody from pursuing or obtaining it; to discourage or persuade against White Mice : derogatory name for South Vietnamese national police; derived from their uniform of white helmets and gloves white pointers : topless female sunbathers WIA : Wounded in Action; see GSW wicked : cool, as in excellent or adept wild lime : small round citrus fruit, in a colour range from pale yellow to pale green, with a flavour reminiscent of lime and grapefruit; also called desert lime or tropical yellow lime willies : nervous tension or fright, dismay or distress, misgiving or foreboding; to shake, quiver, shiver, or fidget with uneasy apprehension or anxiety; to be jumpy, jittery, or skittish with uncertainty; also known as the creeps, heebie-jeebies, butterflies, whim-whams, and jim-jams windscreen : on a motor vehicle, what Americans call a windshield, positioned above and before the instrument panel in the dashboard wing : on a motor vehicle, what Americans call a fender, being the part mounted over the road wheels as a mudguard or splash guard witchetty (witjuti) grub : a large white grub (the thick wormlike larva of certain moths and beetles) that's typically barbecued, and sometimes eaten raw, by those who prize its acquired taste wobbly : excitable behaviour; also, a tantrum wonky : crooked; unreliable; shaky, unsteady Woop Woop : invented name for any unimportant small town wop-wops : situated in an out of the way location, being off the beaten track worry : a vexatious person or troublesome event, as a bit of a worry wowser : an excessively puritanical person; a straight-laced person, prude, puritan, killjoy or spoilsport; known as a straight arrow or straight shooter by Americans wuckas : worries, troubles, difficulties, as got no wuckas wuss : a coward; any nervous person or animal XXXX (four eks) : a brand of beer made in Queensland yabber : rapid or profuse talk; indistinct or incoherent speech; derived by probable alteration of jabber yabby : crayfish; also spelled yabbie; called crawdad, crawdaddy, or spiny lobster by Americans yak : slang for gab, chatter, or talk; to idly converse with a friend; also spelled yack yakka : work or labour (e.g. bloody hard yakka) yippee : a paperback book with a fictional cowboy or Old West theme yobbo : an uncouth person; lout or hooligan; also represented as yob yonks : a long time ago; so long ago as to be out of mind; ages or eons, forever yowie : a mythical creature; see Bunyip zack : sixpence (5 cents), as used in the context of dire poverty, being flat broke (e.g. He didn't have a zack to his name!); also spelled zak zed : the letter z [Gk zeta] Zippo : US model Cigarette lighter