James Estep: Comanche Six

Log bird — Resupply helicopter.

LP — Listening post.

LT — Lieutenant.

LZ — Landing zone. LZ Green is a secure landing zone. LZ Red, or a “hot” LZ, is one defended by the enemy.

M-16 — U.S. soldier’s standard infantry weapon (5.56 mm).

M-60 — U.S. infantry’s standard machine gun (7.62 mm).

M-79 — 40mm grenade launcher, often referred to as a “thumper.”

MACV U.S. — Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

MIA — Missing in action.

NDP — Night defensive position.

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.

Presidio Press

Novato, CA

Copyright 1991 by James L. Estep

All rights reserved.

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