NVA — North Vietnamese Army.
OP — Observation post.
Point of origin — Method of referencing a location on a map.
Punji stakes — Bamboo spikes emplaced as booby traps by the Viet Cong.
Push — Radio frequency.
PZ — Pickup zone.
R&R — Rest and recuperation.
RDC — Rear detachment commander. The officer—usually the S-1—in charge of the battalion’s rear area while the rest of the command fought Charlie.
Red leg — Artillery.
Red line — Highway or road. (Rivers were indicated by blue lines.)
RON — Remain overnight.
RP — Registration point. A pre-fired reference point from which an artillery forward observer could rapidly adjust artillery fires in an emergency.
RPG — Rocketpropelled grenade (launcher).
RTO — Radio telephone operator.
Ruff Puffs — Regional-Popular forces. Montagnard peasant militia—a paramilitary force fighting on the side of South Vietnam.
S-1 — (Staff) personnel officer.
S-2 — (Staff) intelligence officer.
S-3 — (Staff) operations officer.
S-4 — (Staff) logistics officer.
Search — Army postal service’s code word for “killed in action.”
Sitrep — Situation report.
Six — Commander of a unit.
SKS — The enemy’s standard semiautomatic weapon (7.62mm).
Slick — HU-1D troop transport helicopter, the “Huey.”
Snuffie — U.S. infantry soldier.
starlight scope — Capable of intensifying low light, allowing its user to see at night.
Strike Force — Offensive arm of the CIDG program.
Striker — Strike Force soldier.
TOC — Tactical operations center.
TOT — Time on target. A devastating artillery strike in which the firing batteries of several units are concentrated simultaneously on a single target.
Train fire — Infantry marksmanship training.
Trick or treat — An ambush or ambush site.
VC — Viet Cong.
WIA — Wounded in action.
XO — Executive officer.
DMZ — demilitarized zone.
Copyright
Presidio Press
Novato, CA
Copyright 1991 by James L. Estep
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the Publisher. Inquiries should be addressed to Presidio Press, 31 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949.
Typography by Prolmage Printed in the United States of America
