queen for a year n.— «“Queen for a Year.” You won’t find the phrase in the dictionary or any compilation of military terms. But say it among soldiers, and they’ll know immediately what you mean. That’s what we’ve called American...
Phrog n.— «With protruding side wheels and a nose-up attitude on the ground, the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter has the appearance of a frog ready to hop—some would say it certainly does, especially when moving forward on the deck. Since the...
rice cooker n.— «In the vernacular, Vietnamese frequently refer to helmets as “noi com dien” or “rice cooker” because they are hot and uncomfortable.» —“High road toll pushes Vietnam towards helmet...
thunder run n. a high-speed military convoy using offensive tactics and heavy weaponry to reach a destination; generally, a route or trip involving extreme effort or danger. Editorial Note: This term dates from at least as early as the Vietnam War...
thunder run n.— «“Looks to me like a ‘Thunder Run,’” I said, recalling reconnaissance-in-force operations of that name I’d seen near the Y Bridge in Vietnam in 1968.…A “Thunder Run” was a unit of armor and...
tea money n.— «While Vietnam operates in a very centralized, federalist system, with little variance in local laws, a much greater variance exists in the application and enforcement of national laws. “Tea money,” common...