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 (also called C Rats)
C-Rations
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
cantonment
military garrison or camp
cadre
the staff of skilled military who train and/or assume control of new recruits.
cantonment
temporary quarters for troops
M1 Carbine USA .30
cat's beer
milk
carbine
small rifle used in the US Army in WWII and beyond
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
chest candy
slang for ribbons and medals worn on a uniform can be insulting or applauding
chicken s***
Slang - strict adherence to rules by a superior officer. Also known as BS
"Leyte Chow Time"
chow hound
person who always gets ahead of the line in the mess hall.
Chow time in Leyte
chow time
a time to have food
civies
clothes civilians wear
CO
Commanding Officer
coconut log bunker
a reinforced underground shelter made from coconut logs often used in tropical climates
camaraderie
feeling of beloning in a group, sharing experiences
Cosmoline
a greasy substance applied to guns and other equipment to keep them from rusting, a very smelly waterproofing
Cosmoline
company
three rifle platoons plus weapon platoon totaling 193 men (see chart below)
conscientious objector
a person who claims the right to refuse to do something that is against their belief system.
publication for the troops serving in the Philippines
Dear John
a letter from a wife or girl-friend from home telling the serviceman that she hashim and has dropped him for someone at home.
Deadeye
a member of the 96th Infantry in the US Army - a sharpshooter, marksman, crack-shot: a name given tothe 96th Infantry by General Easley, who valued excellent marksmanship
General Claudius Easley
Dexter vx Sinister
WWII Army Dogtags
debark
to get off a vehicle, most often a shipa military position protected from fire
defilade
a military position protected from firing
depot
a storage place
devil's piano
machine gun
dexter
to left side from the front
ditty-bopper
radio operators using Morse Code
division
a major ground combat unit of WWII totaling 14,253 men (see chart below)
do one's bit
to serve in the military in time of war
dogfight
the activity of fighter planes engaged in combat
dog food
corned beef hash canned
dog robber
personal orderly for an officer
dogtags
a soldier's identification tags
"Dogface Deadeye"
Dogface
Dog Face or Dog-Face: an Army Infantryman WWII
dog show
foot inspection for infections
dose
the acquisition of a venereal disease
Draft
"The Draft" also called Selective Service, is when the government mandates young men over the age of 18 to serve in the military. They have no choice. During WWII more than 60% of soldiers were draftees.
dry run
to practice without weapons
Duck
+ Nickname for a DUKW -a 2 ½ ton amphibious truck
duck soup
an easy task to accomplish
Duffle Bag
duffel bag
a large cylindrical bag made of heavy water resistant cloth (with a drawstring closure at the top often used in the Army.
the post, or position where troops are stationed, a contonment or camp
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
Garrison Cap in HBT Olive Drab
The Geneva Convention
The subdued double diamond patch of the 96th Infantry
gasoline cowboy
tank driver
Geneva Convention
Very important international agreement that established civilized rules of war including protection of the injured, civilians, captured during, and other situations during and after a war. GO TO Geneva Convention
get crackin'
get started, to get a move on
Geronimo
word yelled when jumping off of something
Ghostriders
the HHC 191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion deployed in Kuwait wearing the Double Diamond Patch
GI
Government Issue - anything making reference to a government item. All troops were GIs.
Gibson Girl
emergency hand crank radio
This G.I. Joe toy represents the American soldier during the Battle for Okinawa
G.I. Joe
any American service man. Ernie Pyle is often credited with coining the term G.I. Joe. There have been many toys made to exemplify the military
Got Your Six
soldier is told he is covered from the back, "Watch your Six" that they need to watch out for an enemy attacking from behind
gopher match
book matches- When you light one and it goes out, you GO-FER another
gravel agitator
infantryman
grease gun
a lightly constructed fast shooting .45 cal weapon
gremlin
mythical creature who causes mechanical failures or other mishaps
gun
mortar artillery piece - NEVER to be used within the military for a pistol or rifle
official discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record - given as a release from the obligation to serve
Honorable Service pin
Button awarded to US military service members who were discharged under Honorable Discharge. Worn on the lapel Also called the "Ruptured Duck."
Hooah
Oral response used for anything: showing motivation, demonstrating that you are understand, or that one has no idea what was just said, yet look like you did. This is the informal motto of the US Army!
In the trenches
stuck in a drawn out, tough fight
Infantry
Infantry are land based soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. From Wikipedia
The Infantry is the oldest branch of the US Army
Insignia
a medal such as patch or other object that indicates a person's official or military rank, or member in a group.An Emblem is a representative symbol like a trademakr or a badge or logo
IRTC
Infantry Replacement Training Center
Island hopping
strategy of taking important islands tht were not well fortified. "Leapfrogging" rather than just going through one island at a time.
workers in the mess hall, chow hall - also "Kitchen Patrol," "Kitchen Police," -also "Kill Privates" Often thought of as peeling potatoes - mountains of potatoes!
specially designed Deadeye double diamond pin to be worn on the lapel of their Army uniform or other garment
latrine
the toilet: may be a hole in the ground, with little privacy
Lyster Bag
lay an egg
drop a bomb
lost his cookies
vomited
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)
most common of the Browning Automatic Rifles- automatic rifles and machine guns used by the US Army and other Services during the 20th century
Mae West
Mae West
an inflatable life jacket which bulged at the chest when enflated.
Maggie's Drawers
a red flag meaning that you have missed the target
Medal of Honor
Missing in Action
MI Garand (grr-and)
Deadeye DeClay in front of mortar
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 hall
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 (grrr-And')
MIA
Missing In Action
As of 2007 there are still 32 Deadeyes Missing In Action.
Mickey Mouse movies
instructional films about hygiene
midnight req
an operation where objects are stolen.
million dollar wound
a wound that takes a soldier out of combat, maybe to be treated in the US
Morning Report
Daily document accounting for the location of all personel
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
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
Newsreel: Invasion of Okinawa
Nip
slang for the enemy Japanese soldier- short for "Nippon"
a misnomer for a demanding officer who doesn't deserve respect.
Olive Drab, the color of WWII Army uniforms called Shade 44, a mixture of gray, brown and green. Uniforms we often called "brown jobs."There were many shades of Olive drab.
olive drab
the color of the standard army uniform
On the double
moving at twice the normal speed at completing a task
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. The 82-day-long battle lasted from April 1 until June 22, 1945
orderly room
office where company business is performed
ordnance
Military weapons, ammunition and equipment used in connection with them. also a branch of the Army
over -the-hill
same as AWOL - Missing in Action or missing from their post
a structure used for housing in both world wars - made of curved corrugate steel sheets and shaped like a semi-circular. Used for a variety of purposes
Quanset hut
retread
a soldier from WWI also fightin in WWII
means that a message has been received - can mean just "yes"
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
The Red Apple Bill
Red Apple Bill
an incentive program to lure re-enlistment in 1945
regiment
three battalions and support troops total 3,113 men
register
almost all male citizens and male immigrants must "register" for Selective Service - also known as "The Draft."
re-up
to reinlist in the army - to sign up for more service
repple-depple
replacement depot - a spot were replacements assemble for assignment
Reveille Bugle Call
reveille
the bugle call for the start of the official duty day
req
short for requisition = an official triple page request in document form
Riggers
soldiers trained to provide support for troops with general supplies, food, petroleum, water and mortuary affairs supply deliveries by parachute.
The 421st Quartermaster Company are Riggers
Rigger Emblem
roll up your flaps
shut up, stop talking
rooster tail
a high arching spurt of water following an object in the water
RSC
one of 96th Division serving today - the Regional Support Command
Ruptured Duck Pin
Ruptured Duck
nickname for the Honorable Service Lapel Button. It was awarded to United States military service members who were discharged under honorable conditions during World War II.
Ryukyu
(rhee-You-cue) a chain of islands in a row (an archipelago) including Leyte and Okinawa
an explosive devise packed in a cloth satchel to blow open and/or close caves or apertures where enemy weapons are firing from
A Deadeye Salute (Unknown)
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
warding off a gripe, a TS card came from this complaint
“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
That's all she wrote
that's all
tiger meat
beef, sometimes raw
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
trench monkey
derrogatory term for members of the army
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 - Tough Shit
TS Card
a card taken to the chaplain who punches it whenever a person has been treated unfairly, in jest. Print you own TS card. Link from the Musette Bag
Typhoon
the same thing as an hurricane, except it originates in the tropics. Can be more fierce than a hurricane.
letters sent overseas that are photographed to save space "Victory" mail
vectored
Precicely located for target
W, X, Y, Z
The Weasel
WAC
Women's Army Corps - pronounced "Wacks"
walkie talkie
a portable radio
Weasel
The M29 Weasel was a tracked vehicle, built by Studebaker designed for operation in snow, and the the M29C Water Weasel was the amphibious version with buoyancy cells and twin rudders. This version was very useful in Okinawa during the times when even jeeps couldn't get around.
Western Pacific Patch
unique patch worn by the Deadeyes who are entitle to wear on their uniforms, as they fought in Leyte and Okinawa in the Western Pacific region
WWII US Army Forces Western Pacific Shoulder Patch
Wildcat
fighter airplanes used at Leyte
wilco
I will comply
yardbird
troublemaker soldier, also called a "goldbrick"
zombie
a soldier in the lowest class of the army classification test