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Deadeye Glossary WWII Army Jargon |
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Click on any red letter to go to words beginning with that letter. |
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| A–bomb | Atom bomb, atomic bomb - an explosive device based on nuclear fission, splitting of the atom, producing massive destruction | ||||||||
Able |
... Baker... Charlie... the phonetic alphabet used to distinguish letters spoken over radio, and other transmissions. (Click to see the whole phonetic alphabet used during WWII) | ||||||||
| ammo | short for ammunition | ||||||||
| aperture | a small slot opening from where a weapon protruds | ||||||||
| army | a group of corps, HQ Company and more supporting troops (see chart below) | ||||||||
| artillary | Large caliber mounted cannons, usually cal.105 or cal.155, also known as Ordinance
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| ASTP | Army Specialized Training Program | ||||||||
| attention | command to stand in a formal position, body erect, head and eyes staight ahead and arms to the side. | ||||||||
| BAR | Browning Automatic Rifle | ||||||||
| barracks | a military or army dormitory - a place to sleep | ||||||||
| barrage | a heavy, long lasting attack of continuous fire to protect advancing troops or stop hostile attacks | ||||||||
| battalion | Three rifle companies plus HQ company totaling 871 men (see chart below) | ||||||||
| battery acid | Slang - fake lemonade made of powder and warm water | ||||||||
| bayonet | a blade that can be attached to the end of a rifle: used for stabbing | ||||||||
| bazooka | a small rocket weapon used by infantry | ||||||||
| beachhead | the gained footing on enemy shores by an army | ||||||||
| bivouac | temporary encampment with little or no shelter | ||||||||
| Bolt Action 03 | WW I Army Rifle Also known as Springfield .03 | ||||||||
| brevet | a temporary promotion of a military officer without an increase in pay | ||||||||
| buck | Lowest grade of a military rank. i.e. buck private or buck sargeant. | ||||||||
| bunker | an underground shelter, especially one built for troops, with a fortified gun position above ground | ||||||||
| butt can | a hanging can used for extinguishing cigarettes | ||||||||
| C-Rations | Food in cans that WWII troops carried;six for a day. The C was for "combat" The meal was known officially as Field Ration, Type C |
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| C-2 or C-3 | paste explosive in satchel charge. | ||||||||
| cadence | the beat used to keep a unit marching in precision: may be kept by a drum beat, or drill chant | ||||||||
| cadre | the staff of skilled military who train and/or assume control of new recruits. | ||||||||
| carbine | small rifle | ||||||||
| casualty | any person who is lost by having been declared dead, duty status - whereabouts unknown, missing, ill, or wounded | ||||||||
| chaplain | a member of the clergy who gives spiritual support to troops | ||||||||
| chicken s*** | Slang - strict adherence to rules by a superior officer. Also known as BS | ||||||||
| chow | any food | ||||||||
| civies | clothes civilians wear | ||||||||
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| CO | Commanding Officer | ||||||||
| Cosmoline | a greasy substance applied to guns and other equipment to keep them from rusting, a very smelly waterproofing | ||||||||
| company | three rifle platoons plus weapon platoon totaling 193 men (see chart below) | ||||||||
| corps | a group of divisions (see chart below) | ||||||||
| creed | the strong belief that guides one's life | ||||||||
| D-day | landing day H-hour: landing hour | ||||||||
| Dear John | a letter from a wife or girl-friend from home telling the serviceman that she no longer loves him and has dropped him for someone at home. | ||||||||
| defilade | a military position protected from fire | ||||||||
| debark | to get off a vehicle, most often a ship | ||||||||
| depot | a storage place | ||||||||
| division | a major ground combat unit of WWII totaling 14,253 men (see chart below) | ||||||||
| dogfight | the activity of fighter planes engaged in combat | ||||||||
| dog robber | Slang - personal orderly for an officer | ||||||||
| dogtags | a soldier's identification tags | ||||||||
| Dogface | ( Dog Face or Dog-Face) an Army Infantryman WWII | ||||||||
| dose | the acquisition of a venereal disease | ||||||||
| dry run | to practice without weapons | ||||||||
| Duck | + Nickname for a DUKW -a 2 ½ ton amphibious truck | ||||||||
| DUKW | an amphibious truck nick-named "Duck" Made by General Motors.
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| embark | to go on board a ship, or to be put on a ship | ||||||||
| enfilade | A vulnerable or exposed forward position of troops to receive enemy fire |
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| fart sack | Slang - a canvas cot or sleeping bag | ||||||||
| fatigues | army uniforms with metal buttons and bulgy side pockets - worn in combat or work assignments | ||||||||
| field strip | 1.the way a cigarette is broken down into bits 2.how a weapon is torn down and cleaned. | ||||||||
| flagship | the ship where the commander is running the operations | ||||||||
| flank | the right or left of a command in line, also a type of attack from the side. | ||||||||
| flyboy | any pilot | ||||||||
| force march | a fast long hike with packs and weapons with little rest | ||||||||
| foxhole | a small dugout with a pit for individual shelter against enemy fire | ||||||||
| furlough | an official leave of absence from duty | ||||||||
| garrison | the post, or position where troops are stationed |  |
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| garrison belt | a webbed belt with sliding amunition pockets - worn byArmy soldiers as part of their uniforms | ||||||||
| Garrison cap | A soft military cap without a visor. usually with colored piping that identifies the group. i.e. infantry, artillery |
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| GI | Government Issue - anything making reference to a government item. All troops were GIs. | ||||||||
| G.I. Joe | any American service man | ||||||||
| gopher match | book matches- When you light one and it goes out, you GO-FER another | ||||||||
| grease gun | a lightly constructed fast shooting .45 cal weapon | ||||||||
| H-hour | landing hour etc. D-day: landing day |
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| Halazone tablets | bitter pills used to water to make it safe for drinking | ||||||||
| HBT | Herring-Bone Twill - the pattern of the fabric of the WWII U.S. Army uniform, which were often called "HBTs." | ||||||||
| head | the toilet | ||||||||
| Higgins boat | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel, or LCVP | ||||||||
| Honorable Discharge | official discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record - given as a release from the obligation to serve | ||||||||
| Infantry | soldiers who are primarily trained for the role of fighting on foot | ||||||||
| IRTC | Infantry Replacement Training Center | ||||||||
| jeep | a small four wheeled vehicle used extensively in the US Army | ||||||||
| kamikaze | a Japanese suicide bomber | ||||||||
| KIA | Killed In Action | ||||||||
| knee mortar | a very small mortar used by the Japanese | ||||||||
| KP | workers in the mess hall, chow hall - also Kitchen Police -also "Kill Privates" | ||||||||
| L Day | Landing Day on Okinawa | ||||||||
| latrine | the toilet: may be a hole in the ground, with little privacy | ||||||||
Lyster Bag |
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| Lyster bag | a large rubber bladder used for water storage to use for drinking, that is usually hung from a tree or a frame - Water tastes like rubber (also Lister) | ||||||||
| LST | Landing Ship Tank | ||||||||
| LVT | Landing Vehicle with Tracks | ||||||||
| LCVP | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel. Or Higgins boat | ||||||||
| Maggie's Drawers | a red flag meaning that you have missed the target | ||||||||
| maneuvers | the placement of forces in a position of advantage over the enemy | ||||||||
| Medal of Honor | The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally, it is presented to its recipient by the President of the United States. | ||||||||
| mess | the place where food is eaten, the troups who share a meal together, or the meal shared are all referred to as "mess." | ||||||||
| M1 Garand | the standard US Army rifle used by riflemen |  |
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| MIA | Missing In Action | ||||||||
| midnight req | an operation where objects are stolen. | ||||||||
| mortar | a small cannon 60mm, 81mm or 4.5 chemical. A smaller weapon than artillery, has a base plate, a tripod with adjusting rods and a tube. It is for closer range. | ||||||||
| MOS | a military designation for a serviceman’s job specialty | ||||||||
| nambu | a fast air-cooled Japanese machine gun (numbu) | ||||||||
| NCO | Non-Commissioned Officer | ||||||||
| newsreel | a short film about recent events, During WWII, were often shown before a feature film; a major form of communicating about the events of the war and recruiting public support | ||||||||
| nomenclature | the names of the parts of any weapon | ||||||||
| Officer and a Gentleman | a misnomer for a demanding officer who doesn't deserve respect. | ||||||||
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| olive drab | the color of the standard army uniform | ||||||||
| OP | Observation Post | ||||||||
| Operation Iceberg | the military codename for the WWII Battle of Okinawa, Japan. Considered the bloodiest and most bitterly fought battle of the Pacific, it was also the last great battle in the Pacific. | ||||||||
| orderly room | office where company business is performed | ||||||||
| parry right | a defensive physical fighting technique used in rifle/bayonet combat (also parry left) | ||||||||
| piece | rifle |
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| pineapple | hand grenade | ||||||||
| piss pot | Slang - standard Army helmet | ||||||||
| pith helmet | protective hat - strong, lightweight, and comfortable Similar to a safari hat but made of pith (cork) | ||||||||
| platoon | three squads totaling 41 men (see chart below) | ||||||||
| pogey bait | Slang - candy | ||||||||
| PX | a store nearby where servicemen can buy things | ||||||||
| quarters | the building or rooms where troops live | ||||||||
| QM | QuarterMaster = a place where supplies are stored | ||||||||
| quonset hut | a structure used for housing in both world wars - made of curved corrugate steel sheets and shaped like a semi-circular | ||||||||
| raincoat parade | a "parade" of men in raincoats on the way to an examination, also known as a "short arm inspection." | ||||||||
| reconnaissance | exploration of an area, especially to gather information about the strength and positioning of enemy forces | ||||||||
| recruits | new soldiers who have recently enlisted | ||||||||
| regiment | three battalions and support troops total 3,113 men (see chart below) | ||||||||
| re-up | to reinlist in the army - to sign up for more service | ||||||||
| repple-depple | replacement depot - a spot were replacements assemble for assignment | ||||||||
| retreat | bugle call at end of day and to retire the flag | ||||||||
| reveille | the signal for the start of the official duty day | ||||||||
| req | short for requisition = an official triple page request in document form | ||||||||
| RSC | the 96th Division serving today - the Regional Support Command | ||||||||
| sachel charge | an explosive devise packed in a cloth satchel to blow open and/or close caves or apertures where enemy weapons are firing from | ||||||||
| salute | a precision ritual performed by members of the military when in uniform: a sign of respect for an officer's rank, a courteous exchange of greetings | ||||||||
| shave-tail | A brand new 2nd LT. Came from the days of mule skinners in the Army. A brand new untrained mule was a dangerous and unpredictable creature so they shaved the tail to identify it | ||||||||
| shelter half | ½ of a pup tent | ||||||||
| s**t on a shingle | dried beef gravy on toast for breakfast | ||||||||
| short arm inspection | a parade of men in raincoats on the way to an examination, or a "rainbow parade" |
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| shrapnel | metal shard from an explosion of an artillery shell, or hand grenade | ||||||||
| SNAFU | military term defining chaos - ”Situation Normal: All Fouled Up” | ||||||||
| squad | the smallest ground unit of 12 men (See Chart Below) | ||||||||
| SOL | S*** Out of Luck | ||||||||
| soupee soupee soupee | the bugle call for mess | ||||||||
| spigot mortar | large mortar used by the Japanese Army | ||||||||
| Springfield.03 | Bolt action standard WWI rifle | ||||||||
| stateside | usually a military term meaning in the United States | ||||||||
| Taps | the bugle call for lights out, bedtime or death |
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| “Tell that to the Army" | "Tell it to the Navy, and tell it to the Marines” - a subtle public reference about how our military forces would respond to a statement that is an absolute lie or an oversimplification | ||||||||
| tracers | every third or fifth bullet fired by a machine gun that leaves a fiery trace so that the trajectory will prove where bullets are going | ||||||||
| trip ticket | an signed authorization to use a vehicle from the motor pool | ||||||||
| troops | a body of soldiers, also refers to the count of soldiers with each soldier counting as one | ||||||||
| TS | Tough Stuff | ||||||||
| TS Card | a card taken to the chaplain who punches it whenever a person has been treated unfairly, in jest. | ||||||||
| v-mail | letters sent overseas that are photographed to save space | ||||||||
| WAC | Women's Army Corps - pronounced "Wacs" | ||||||||
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