Glossary

81 mm HE – A high explosive 81 mm mortar round.

A camp – a camp staffed by an SF A team.

A1E – A now obsolete propeller driven aircraft that carried large loads of ordnance and could remain in the target area for long periods.

AC-130 – See C130.

AC-47 – A twin reciprocal engine aircraft modified to carry three 7.62 mm rotary miniguns. Rate of fire of each gun approximately 6,000 rounds per minute. Also called Puff The Magic Dragon.

AFB – Air Force Base.

AO – Area of Operations. A physical area assigned to a military unit in which it is to conduct operations.

BG – Brigadier General, a one star general.

C-123 – A high winged, two reciprocal engine cargo aircraft. Sometimes fitted with two additional jet engines to improve takeoff ability on short runways.

C-130 – A four turbo prop engine, high wing, cargo aircraft. The AC-130 has been converted to carry 20mm rotary cannons and other larger weapons used for close ground support.

Caribou – A high winged, two reciprocal engine cargo aircraft manufactured by De Havilland in Canada. Operated by the Army when I was in Vietnam. Had especially effective short take off and landing capability.

Ch-47 Chinook – A large twin rotor cargo helicopter operated by the Army.

Charlie – Same as Viet Cong.

CIDG – Civilian Irregular Defense Group. These are usually local civilians who are recruited, armed, trained, paid and advised by SF personnel. Same as striker.

Claymore – A small antipersonnel mine usually detonated by a defender with a small electrical generator. The mine has a curved front that is pointed toward the enemy. The explosion propels many steel balls in a fan shaped pattern.

CO – Commanding Officer.

Concertina wire – Barbed wire in a coil configuration.

Cratering Charge – An explosive device designed to create a deep, narrow crater in the earth, concrete, etc.

CSM – Command Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank.

DCO – Deputy Commanding Officer.

Deflection – The horizontal angle from a reference direction in which a mortar or cannon is pointed to hit the target.

FAC – Forward Air Controller. Pilots of high performance aircraft trained to fly small aircraft like the O-1 and to communicate with ground forces. They identify targets for high performance aircraft with white phosphorus rockets.

FDC – Fire Direction Center. The activity that computes the firing data sent to mortars and artillery.

Gunship – An armed helicopter. This can be a Huey (UH-1) helicopter that has been modified to carry exterior armament, or one designed to carry armament (Cobra). Sometimes used to refer to armed fixed wing AC-47 or AC-130 propeller driven aircraft.

Hooch – A primitive dwelling.

Howitzer – A short barreled cannon.

Klick – One kilometer, about 1,100 yards.

KPs – Kitchen police, or cooks and other kitchen personnel.

LZ – Landing zone.

M-16 – The standard infantry rifle firing a 5.56 mm projectile.

Mil – The measure of the angle that has a width of one yard at a thousand yards. There are 6,400 mils in a circle.

Montagnards – See ‘Yards.

NCO – noncommissioned officer, a sergeant

NVA – North Vietnamese Army. Usually refers to well trained and armed troops sent from North Vietnam to do battle in the south.

O-1 – A small two place aircraft, high wing, single engine.

OCS – Officer Candidate School.

Piaster – Vietnamese currency equaling approximately one U. S. cent.

Punji sticks – Sharpened bamboo sticks hardened by fire placed in the ground to injure personnel on foot. Sometimes contaminated with human feces to cause severe infections in a wounded soldier.

SF – United States Army Special Forces, the Green Berets

SFOC – Special Forces Officer Course.

Slick – A cargo helicopter without exterior mounted armament.

SOG – Studies and Observations Group, an organization that conducted highly classified missions.

Striker – Same as CIDG.

USAF – United States Air Force.

VC – Same Viet Cong.

Viet Cong – South Vietnamese citizens who wish to replace the South Vietnamese government with a communist dictatorship. They typically hold jobs during the day and perform anti government activities, including combat, at night.

VNSF – Vietnamese Special Forces, the SF counterpart. Also called LLDB.

White phosphorus – a munition that contains phosphorus. When detonated, it creates a dense cloud of white smoke. Burning particles of phosphorus can severely injure unprotected personnel.

World – Capitalized, meaning the United States.

Yards – A contraction of Montagnards, a French word meaning Mountain People. ‘Yards are ethnically different from Vietnamese and typically live in remote highland areas.