AIT Abbreviation for advanced individual training.
AK47 The assault rifle of the communist bloc, first developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. By 1967 the AK47 was standard equipment for Viet Cong units in the Mekong Delta.
Ammi barge A pontoon-type barge moored alongside the barracks ships of the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF). Used for docking and loading of the Armored Troop Carriers and for storing ammunition.
Area of Operations (AO) The area assigned in which a military unit operated. Often an area around a major emplacement like Dong Tam or an area assigned for a specific military operation or sweep.
Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) Known by the troops as “Tango Boats,” the ATCs carried the men of the MRF from the base ships into battle. Each platoon had its own Tango Boat, a converted World War II landing craft, which was 56 feet in length and had a top speed of 6 knots. Each ATC was armed with one 20mm cannon, two 50-caliber machine guns, and two grenade launchers.
Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) The proper name for the South Vietnamese Army, the armed forces of South Vietnam that fought as allies of the United States.
Bear Cat A brigade base camp for the 1st Infantry Division 10 miles south of Long Binh that became the temporary home for the 9th Infantry Division while Dong Tam and the Mobile Riverine Base were under construction in early 1967.
Berm The raised area of earth, usually studded with bunkers and defensive emplacements, that surrounded military instillations such as Dong Tam.
Booby trap In the Mekong Delta booby traps were normally explosive devices set by the Viet Cong along trails frequented by US troops or as defensive measures near Viet Cong base camps. The most common types included grenades fixed to a monofilament line that hung slack in the water or on the ground. When a passing soldier’s leg caught the line, the pin would be pulled from the grenade.
Brown Water Navy A term used to refer to naval forces that operated in riverine environments, as opposed to blue water navy forces that operated at sea.
C 4 A plastic explosive commonly carried in Vietnam that was impervious to shock and had to be set off using a detonator. When set alight it burned hot and slowly and was often used to heat C Rations.
C Rations Individual meals, usually containing canned, pre-cooked food, for use by US soldiers in the field. Came in several varieties, many of which were detested by the soldiers, and were often heated by burning C 4.
Ca Mau The southernmost province in Vietnam, which was heavily infested with Viet Cong during much of the Vietnam War.
Cam Son Secret Zone One of the main bases of operation for the Viet Cong in Dinh Tuong Province in the Mekong Delta south of Saigon.
Camp Zama A major US Army post located 25 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan. Location of a major military hospital that housed many of the casualties of the Vietnam War who required treatment beyond that normally available in country.
Claymore mine A command-detonated mine, fired by remote control, that fires a pattern of steel balls like a shotgun.
Cloverleafing The practice of sending patrols out from the main line of advance in a cloverleaf pattern to avoid ambushes.
Date Eligible to Return from Overseas Service (DEROS) In Vietnam most soldiers served one-year tours of duty and counted down the days until their DEROS, after which they would return to the United States.
Dong Tam The main operations base of the MRF (and for much of the 9th Infantry Division) in Vietnam. Located 50 miles southwest of Saigon, Dong Tam (which means “United Hearts and Minds”) was created by dredging silt from the My Tho River and creating a new, vast expanse of mud.
Dustoff A term that usually means a helicopter extraction mission to remove wounded men from the battlefield.
F4 McDonnell Douglas fighter/fighter bomber (often referred to as the Phantom) widely used by the US Navy and the Marines in Vietnam.
F100 North American Aviation fighter/fighter bomber widely used by the US Air Force in Vietnam. Often referred to as the Super Sabre.
Forward Air Controller (FAC) Circling above battlefields in a light aircraft, the Forward Air Controller was tasked with directing close air support strikes in aid of ground forces involved in combat.
Gravy Army slang for “easy”, used in the context of an easy assignment such as Dong Tam duty.
Hooch The term used by many Americans in Vietnam to refer to almost any rural Vietnamese structure, which most often were the ubiquitous wood and thatch homes of the Vietnamese peasants that dotted the countryside.
Huey (Chopper) The common name used for the Bell UH1 helicopters that were widely used in Vietnam for troop transport, medical evacuations, and fire support.
Infusion The practice of shifting men around in the 9th Infantry Division to avoid too many men from any one unit having the same DEROS, which would have gutted units like Charlie Company of their veteran cadre.
KIA Abbreviation for killed in action.
Landing Ship, Tank (LST) A class of vessel originally created in World War II to allow for landing armor or other vehicles in support of amphibious operations. In Vietnam the LSTs were remodeled to serve as the barrack ships of the Mobile Riverine Base.
Light Anti-Armor Weapon (LAW) Shoulder-fired, single-shot anti-tank weapon. Fires a rocket carrying an armor-piercing warhead. Also used for dealing with hardened bunkers.
Long Binh A major US logistics center located just north of Saigon.
M16 The 5.56mm standard issue service rifle of the Vietnam War. When first introduced the weapon was notorious for jamming.
M60 The 7.62mm standard issue general-purpose machine gun used by American forces in the Vietnam War. Served by a crew of two or three: gunner, assistant gunner, and ammunition bearer.
M79 Single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher. Fires 40mm rounds. Was known in Vietnam as the “blooper” for the distinctive sound it made.
Medevac In Vietnam the term generally meant evacuating wounded via helicopter.
Medical Civil Affairs Program (MEDCAP) A civic action program in Vietnam that involved doctors and specialists setting up a field clinic to offer medical care to local civilians.
Mekong Delta The area south of Saigon in Vietnam, dominated by the nine channels of the Mekong River. Comprised of 15,500 square miles of wetlands and traversed by over 3,500 miles of waterways. A very fertile rice-growing region and in 1965 home to over half of the population of South Vietnam.
MIA Abbreviation for missing in action.
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) The unified command structure of all US military forces in Vietnam. Located in Saigon. During Charlie Company’s year in Vietnam, 1967, MACV was headed by General William Westmoreland.
Military units The below figures are general in nature, and, since terminology and practice change over time, are most relevant to the Vietnam era.
Squad Usually composed of two fireteams totaling ten men, led by a squad leader who is a staff sergeant.
Platoon Usually composed of three or four squads roughly totaling 40 men, led by a platoon leader who is a lieutenant.
Company Usually composed of four platoons roughly totaling 160 men, commanded by a captain.
Battalion Usually composed of three or four companies often totaling 500-600 men, commanded by a lieutenant colonel.
Brigade Usually composed of three or four battalions plus supporting elements often totaling 4,000 troops, commanded by a brigadier general.
Division Usually composed of three or four brigades plus supporting elements often totaling 15,000 troops, commanded by a major general. The smallest combined arms unit in the Vietnam-era US military capable of independent operation.
Corps Usually composed of three or four divisions plus supporting elements often totaling 45,000 troops, commanded by a lieutenant general.
Mobile Afloat Force The original name given to the concept of basing a brigade or more of men on ships for mobile operations in the Mekong Delta.
Mobile Riverine Base The barracks ships that housed the afloat forces of the MRF, eventually including the Colleton, the Benewah, and the APL-26.
Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) The combined navy/army force made up of the ships of the River Assault Force and the ground force of one (later two) of the brigades of the 9th Infantry Division designed to contest control of the Mekong Delta with the Viet Cong.
Monitor The main gunship of the Brown Water Navy in Vietnam. Heavily armored and carried a 40mm cannon, a 20mm cannon, an 81mm mortar, and two 50-caliber machine guns.
Mortar Muzzle-loading, high-trajectory small artillery piece. In Charlie Company the 4th Platoon was the mortar platoon, often tasked with providing close fire support for the other three platoons in battle.
MOS Abbreviation for military occupation specialty.
North Vietnamese Army (NVA or PAVN) The term used by most Americans when referring to the troops of North Vietnam. More properly termed the People’s Army of Vietnam, which during the Vietnam War specifically meant the regular military of the state of North Vietnam.
OCS Abbreviation for Officer Candidates School.
Plastic Assault Boat (PAB) 16-foot Boston Whaler fiberglass-hulled boats with outboard motors sometimes used to transport one of Charlie Company’s platoons in the watery terrain of the Mekong Delta.
Post Exchange (PX) A retail store that operates on US military bases.
PRC 25 The major field radio of the Vietnam War, weighing just over 23 pounds and worn on the back of the RTO.
PTSD Abbreviation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Punji trap A decidedly low-tech Viet Cong weapon. Often a hole dug in the ground on or near a heavily used trail with pointed sticks in the bottom designed to injure the unwary.
Purple Heart The medal awarded to members of the US military who are wounded in action.
Radiotelephone operator (RTO) The soldier tasked with carrying the unit’s radio (usually a PRC 25), who served as the indispensable link between the unit in the field and air and artillery support.
REMF Shorthand for Rear Echelon Motherfucker.
Replacement The term used for a soldier who comes in to replace a veteran who has been killed, seriously wounded, or has rotated home.
River Assault Force The naval element of the Mobile Riverine Force, which in 1967 was made up of two River Assault Squadrons.
River Assault Squadron Together two River Assault Squadrons made up the River Assault Force, the naval element of the Mobile Riverine Force.
Rung Sat Special Zone A vast mangrove swamp that borders the Long Tau shipping channel, which connects Saigon to the sea. Was an important Viet Cong base area during 1966–67.
Sampan The common American term for most of the flat-bottomed Vietnamese boats that plied the waters of the Mekong Delta.
Tet Offensive Surprise attack on January 31, 1968, in which the Viet Cong struck most of the major urban areas of South Vietnam.
Toe popper A small anti-personnel mine designed to injure the foot.
United Service Organization (USO) Organization famous for putting on shows large and small to entertain the troops in Vietnam, most famous perhaps for its Christmas shows with Bob Hope.
Viet Cong (VC) The common term for any communist guerrilla forces in South Vietnam. Often made up of southerners, but commanded by the north. More properly the People’s Liberation Armed Forces, the armed forces of the National Liberation Front (NLF). The main enemy faced by US forces in the Mekong Delta. Also commonly known as Charlie or Victor Charles.
Vung Tau Coastal town with beautiful beaches located southeast of Saigon. Was the port of arrival for many Americans in Vietnam and the location of many in country rest and relaxation (R and R) periods.
Webgear The military-issue harness on which troops organized their weapons, ammunition, and other gear.
WIA Abbreviation for wounded in action.