SKS: A Russian 7.62 mm semi-automatic carbine – not too many were used by the enemy.
Slackman: The second man on a patrol, following behind the point man to cover his back. He usually scans the treetops and flank areas; takes compass readings and counts steps.
Slick: UH-1 helicopter used for transporting troops in tactical air assault operations. The helicopter did not have protruding armaments and was, therefore, "slick".
Smoke grenade: A canister, armed similar to a grenade, emits brightly colored smoke after the contents are ignited by the blasting cap. They are available in various colors and used for signaling.
Spec-4: Specialist 4th Class. An Army rank immediately above Private First Class. Most enlisted men who had completed their individual training and had been on duty for a few months were Spec-4s, the most common rank in the Vietnam-era Army.
Spider hole: Camouflaged enemy foxhole with an overhead cover that raises and lowers after firing – sniper is well hidden and hard to find. Sometimes these holes are connected to small escape tunnels.
Squad: Small military unit consisting of less than ten men
Staff sergeant: E-6, the second lowest noncommissioned officer rank
Stand-down: An infantry unit's return from the boonies to the base camp for refitting, training and resting.
Starlight scope: An image intensifier using reflected light to identify targets at night
Steel pot: The standard U.S. Army helmet. The steel pot is the outer metal cover that is sometimes used as a sink.
Steel Helmet insert: Fiberglass insert with straps and cushions that rest on a soldier’s head – similar to a football helmet’s inside. The steel pot fits over the top of this insert.
Strobe: Hand held strobe light for marking landing zones at night or identifying friendlies to overhead aircraft
Ti-ti: Vietnamese slang for a small amount or a little bit
Top: Nickname for a First Sergeant, the second highest non-commissioned officer rank
Tracer: A round of ammunition chemically treated to glow or give off smoke so that its flight can be followed. Belts of ammunitions for machine guns normally have every fifth round in the belt a tracer. When firing long bursts, the lighted round helps in adjusting the aim toward targets. Infantry soldiers usually load a couple of tracer rounds in their magazines; some only use them as a last round to signify an empty magazine. VC and NVA tracers are mostly green and USA is red.
Tracks: Any vehicles which move on tracks rather than wheels
Tree line: Row of trees at the edge of a field or rice paddy
Trip flare: A ground flare triggered by a trip wire used to signal and illuminate the approach of an enemy at night.
Tropic Lighting: The U.S. 25th Infantry Division
USO: United Service Organization. Provided entertainment to the troops, and was intended to raise morale.
VC: Viet Cong, the National Liberation Front
Victor Charlie: Military phonetic spelling for Viet Cong; the enemy.
Viet Cong: The Communist-led forces fighting the South Vietnamese government.
Wake-up: As in "13 and a wake-up" -- the last day of a soldier's Vietnam tour.
Walking wounded: Soldiers injured but still able to walk without assistance.
Web gear: Canvas belt and shoulder straps for packing equipment and ammunition on infantry operations – similar to a belt and suspenders.
Weed: Marijuana
White phosphorus: A type of explosive round from artillery, mortars, or rockets. The rounds exploded with a huge puff of white smoke from the hotly burning phosphorus, and were used as marking rounds or incendiary rounds. When white phosphorus hit the skin of a living creature it continued to burn until it had burned through the body. Water would not extinguish it.
WIA: Wounded in action
Willy Pete: Slang for white phosphorus
World, the: How soldiers referenced the United States and back home.
XO: Executive officer; the second in command of a military unit
Zapped: Killed
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel - Revised Edition Page 48