A DUFFLE BAG DRAG AND A BOWL OF CORN FLAKES: The final meal at Ton Son Nhut Air Force Base prior to boarding the Big bird for the flight back to the land of the big PX.
A LAUGH A MINUTE: Similar to the Naval Aviators "Walk in the Park," but it meant going up a river.
A SHAU VALLEY: The A Shau Valley is located in Thua Thien Province of I Corps near the Laotian border. Actually several valleys and mountains, the A Shau Valley was one of the principal entry points to South Vietnam of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It was an area that was critical to the North Vietnamese since it was the conduit for supplies, additional troops, and communications for units of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) operating in I Corps. Because of its importance to the NVA and VC, it was the target of repeated major operations by allied forces, especially the U.S. 101st Airborne Division. Likewise, it was defended vigorously by the NVA and VC. Consequently, the A Shau Valley was the scene of much fighting throughout the war, and it acquired a fearsome reputation for soldiers on both sides. Being a Veteran of A Shau Valley operations became a mark of distinction among combat Veterans. The most famous battle of the A Shau Valley was Operation Apache Snow, also known as Hamburger Hill.
A TEAM: 12-man Green Beret unit.
A.I.T: Advanced Individual Training: specialized training taken after Basic Training
A-1E - Single engine, propeller driven, Douglas built Korean era dive bomber used extensively in Vietnam by both the U.S. Air Force and the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). Nicknamed the Skyraider. Also were commonly called Sandy's.
AAA: Antiaircraft artillery.
AAR: After action report.
AB: Air Base - Normally used for those Air Force bases outside the continetal U.S.
AC: Aircraft Commander
AC of S: Assistant Chief of Staff.
ACAV: Armored cavalry assault vehicle.
ACTUAL: The unit commander. Used to distinguish the commander from the radioman when the call sign is used.
ADSID: Air-delivered seismic intruder-detection device; microphone and transmitter dropped into suspect areas
ADVANCE GUARD YOUTH VIETNAMESE: Student social and sports organization that evolved into a non-Communist nationalist movement by 1945.
ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING: Specialized training taken after Basic Training, also referred to as Advanced Infantry Training
AF: Air Force.
AFB: Air Force Base.
AFSC: Air Force Specialty Code. The Air Forces designation of the job you had; one's job title.
AFT: From AFTer...directional--in, at, toward, or close to the back or stern of a vessel or tail of an airplane.
AFVN Armed Forces Vietnam Network radio station
AGENCY: The Central Intelligence Agency.
AGENT ORANGE: Dioxin. A powerful herbicide and defoliant sprayed on the landscape in Vietnam from aircraft, to kill the vegetation and destroying it, thus giving the Viet Cong fewer places to hide and move supplies and troops unseen. Was later discovered to be very toxic to humans.
AGL: Above Ground Level
A-gunner: Assistant gunner.
AH-1G - Bell manufactured attack helicopter nicknamed the "Cobra". Was used extensively in Vietnam. Nickname for the AH-1G "attack helicopter." Also called by some the "Shark" or "Snake." The Cobra carried 2.75s, mini-guns, and a 40mm gun mounted in a turret under the nose of the aircraft. There were other configurations, also. The old "D" model Hueys were fazed out and the Cobras used in greater strength around 1968. Most of the Cobras were painted with eyes and big, scary teeth like a shark for psychological impact.
AHB: Assault helicopter battalion.
AHC: Assault helicopter company. (Hueys and gunships)
AID: Agency for International Development.
AIDS-TO-NAVIGATION: Refers to all elements relating to functions of maritime navigation such as buoys, range markers, wreck markers, lights and lighthouses, including maintenance.
AIR CAV: Air cavalry, referring to helicopter-borne infantry.
AIRBORNE: Paratrooper or parachutist-qualified.
AIRBURST: Explosion of a munition in the air.
AIRMOBILE: People or material delivered by helicopter.
AIT: Advanced Individual Training, the period following Basic Training, specialized training given each soldier based on his MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).
AK-47 Soviet-manufactured Automatic Kalashnikov combat assault rifle, 7.62-mm; the basic weapon of the Communist forces. Known as the Type 56 to the Chinese, it is characterized by an explosive popping sound. Originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, most the these "Assault rifles" used in the war were made in the People's Republic of China, which was the major supplier of armaments to NVA and VC forces.
AK-50: Newer version of the AK-47. Some have a permanently mounted "illegal" triangular bayonet, which leaves a sucking wound that will not close.
ALCE: Airlift Control Element: A regional Tactical Airlift Command Post Sand Box "ALCE": The "ALCE" at Cam Ranh Bay Rocket Alley "ALCE": The "ALCE" at Bien Hoa.
ALPHA BOAT: Assault Support Patrol Boat (ASPB). A light, fast shallow draft boat designed specifically to provide close support to riverine infantry. Armament consisted of machine guns (M-60 and .50 cal.), plus whatever the boat crew could scrounge. M-79s and LAWs were common.
ALPHA BRAVO: Slang expression for ambush, taken from the initials AB.
ALPHA: Military phonetic for the letter "A".
ALPHA-ALPHA: Automatic Ambush, a combination of claymore mines configured to detonate simultaneously when triggered by a trip-wire/battery mechanism.
AMF: Literally, "Adios, Mother Fucker."
AMMO DUMP: Location where live or expended ammunition is stored
AMMO: Ammunition.
AMNESTY BOX: A bright blue box made of solid steel shaped like a free-standing US Postal box but about half again as high, twice as deep, and maybe four times as wide. It stood in the Rhein Main airbase in front of the customs line so you could dump any contraband (drugs, illegal items, etc.)
AMTRACK: Amphibious armored vehicle used to transport troops and supplies, armed with a .30-caliber machine gun.
ANGEL TRACK: An armored personnel carrier used as an aid station.
ANZAC: Australian and New Zealand Armed Corps Memorial Day on April 25th, Commemorating the devastating losses which Australian and New Zealand forces suffered at Gallipoli in 1915.
AO: Area of operations
AO DAI: Traditional slit skirt and trousers worn by Vietnamese women. A brightly colored silk top worn over loose fitting silk trousers.
AOD: Administrative Officer on duty.
AP ROUND: Armor piercing round.
APC: Armored personnel carrier. A track vehicle used to transport Army troops or supplies, usually armed with a .50-caliber machine gun.
APL: Barracks ship.
APO: Army post office located in San Francisco for overseas mail to Vietnam.
AR: Army regulation.
ARA: Aerial rocket artillery.
ARC LIGHT or ARC LIGHT STRIKE: Code name for the devastating aerial raids of B-52 bombers strikes along the Cambodian-Vietnamese border. These operations shook earth for ten miles away from the target area. They were so accurate that they could bomb within 1000 yards (approx ½ mile) from allied troops.
ARTICLE 15: Summary disciplinary judgement of a soldier by his commander, may result in fines or confinement in the stockade.
ARTY: Artillery.
ARVN (Arvin): Army of the Republic of Vietnam; the South Vietnamese Regular Army, or can be used to identify a member of this army such as he is an ARVN.
ASAP: As Soon As Possible. A request for extreme urgency in a military situation.
ASH AND TRASH: Helicopter term similiar to "Pigs & Rice." Taking on mission flights that are considered non-combative (don't mean you aren't going to get shot at) and generally assigned to an area and taking men from field to rear base camp, taking hot food out to the field, evacuating men, etc. The term was perverted to "Ass and Trash" by many in-country aircrews to differentiate between hauling people and supplies.
ASHC: Assault support helicopter company.
A-Team: Basic ten man team of the U.S. Special Forces. The A-teams often led irregular military units which were not responsible to the Vietnamese military command
ATFV OR ATFG: Australian Task Force, Vietnam.
AWOL: Absent without official leave; leaving a post or position without official permission.
AZIMUTH: A bearing from North.
