Army Reporter information
for 101 ABN
For date 710308
101 ABN was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
South Vietnam
Location, Camp Eagle
Description: 08Mar71 Linguistics lag looms large
CAMP EAGLE - It's sometimes a wonder that we understand one another at all. The jargon of servicemen in Vietnam varies from those in the armed forces back in the States. Perhaps the greatest difficulty in understanding comes when an aviator, an artillery cannoneer and an infantryman are rapping to each other. When the aviator talks about the "blue" or "blues" he is referring to infantrymen or "Blue legs." But when an infantryman talks of the "blue" he is referring to a water feature, a stream, pond or river, on a map. The same thing happens with "packs." To an infantryman, a pack is his rucksack. The aviator's "pax" is anyone who is a passenger on an aircraft. Now, the poor cannoneer is really confused - so he reaches for his pocket and a "pack" of cigarettes. The artilleryman gets back by talking about a "Joe." The "blue leg" thinks of his buddy in the bush. The aviator thinks of "a regular joe," but the "gun bunny" is talking about a "pro-joe" or projectile. Of course there is a whole set of special terms that make up any group's language. For the aviator and artilleryman, when an infantryman "dances" or "humps" it means he is moving across the terrain on foot. When the cannoneer talks of "Delta Tangos" or "DTs" he isn't speaking of a dance of the shakes. "DTs" are defensive targets which are fired for "H&I" or harassment and interdiction. And the aviator's "chicken plate" isn't his supper meal nor does it have anything to do with food. The "chicken plate" is a flak-stopping material either in the form of a vest or a seat which protects the men in the air. Now then, if we can still all get together and forget the "funny papers" (maps) and the "ball games" (operations) for a little while, maybe someone will be able to explain the "Nam" to the folks back in "The World."
The source for this information was 7103AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023