Vietnam Vet’s Take on “Going Commando”

In an earlier episode, we speculated about the origin of the phrase go commando, which means to go without underwear. We suggested that it was somehow associated with being “tough as a commando,” gritting one’s teeth through the attendant chafing. But a listener who served as an infantryman in Vietnam has a different take. After a comrade suggested he “go commando,” he discovered that opting out of his army-issued boxer shorts actually made him more comfortable in the tropical heat. We love these firsthand reports about language, so keep ’em coming. This is part of a complete episode.