ARMORED FRIGIDAIRE—taken from the name of a commercial refrigerator manufacturer, the name implies the conditions suffered by a tank crew sitting in freezing weather without the heat provided by the engine running to save needed gas. “I thought I would freeze to death last night in that ARMORED FRIGIDAIRE.”
AWOL BAG—a small handbag large enough to carry a few personal items such as a shaving kit and a change of underwear, clothing, and socks—the basic needs for a soldier going Absent without Leave (AWOL). Soldiers going on weekend leave commonly put all of their needed items for a couple of days in their AWOL bag. “Private Belton placed a few needed items in his AWOL BAG and picked up his weekend pass.”
BASIC—The initial basic combat training received by a new recruit. “I completed my BASIC at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.”
BATTLE FATIGUE—A severe physical and emotional debilitating reaction to the stress of combat. Commonly referred to as “shell shock” in World War I. “The third platoon was not at full strength due to several cases of BATTLE FATIGUE.”
BAZOOKA—A shoulder fired anti-tank rocket launcher named after a musical instrument invented by radio comedian Bob Burns during the late 1930s. “He used his BAZOOKA to knock out the German tank crossing the bridge.”
BEDPAN COMMANDO—A derogatory term for a medical corpsman working in the safety of a rear area hospital. “A BEDPAN COMMANDO finally showed up to give me a morphine shot for the pain.”
BLISTER FOOT—An infantryman. “That BLISTER FOOT complained his squad had marched twenty miles before stopping for the day.”
BOUNCING BETTY—A German land mine, which when tripped pops up to waist level before exploding. “A BOUNCING BETTY exploded and took off his right leg.”
BUTT CAN—A large tin can used as a receptacle for cigarette butts in a military building. “He placed his cigarette in the BUTT CAN as he entered the barracks.”
CHAIRBORNE COMMANDO—Office personnel such as a clerk or typist. “I had to see a CHAIRBORNE COMMANDO to get a copy of my medical records.”
CIB—Nickname for the Combat Infantryman’s Badge given to soldiers for ground combat. “He wore that CIB proudly on his chest when he returned home.”
D-BAR—An emergency high-energy chocolate bar eaten in the field when regular rations weren’t available. “We were each given a D-BAR to eat until we got back to our lines.”
DEAR JOHN LETTER—The letter from the girl back home saying she had found someone else and wouldn’t be there when the soldier returned. “Henderson sulked for weeks after he got that DEAR JOHN LETTER.”
DEUCE-AND-A-HALF—The standard military 2½ ton cargo truck. “A DEUCE-AND-A-HALF dropped us off in front of the headquarters tent.”
DZ—A drop zone where troops and supplies are brought in by parachute. “He hit the DZ too hard when he landed and broke his ankle.”
FEATHER MERCHANT—A soldier promoted far beyond his mental capabilities. “That new FEATHER MERCHANT in the supply room doesn’t know which form to use.”
FLUB THE DUB—To foul up or make a mess of your assignment. “I did a real FLUB THE DUB trying to drill the new recruits today.”
GENERAL’S CAR—An army wheelbarrow. “Okay, who wants to push the GENERAL’S CAR today?”
GI GUNBOATS—Black military service shoes. “Those new GI GUNBOATS gave him blisters.”
GOONY BIRD—The C-47 transport plane, highly prized for its ruggedness and reliability. “That GOONY BIRD just brought in our supplies and the mail.”
GORGEOUS GEORGIE—A contemptuous term for the flamboyant General Patton. “Did you see GORGEOUS GEORGIE with his pearl handle revolvers?”
GREASE GUN—The nickname for the US M3 and M3A1 submachine gun that resembled an auto mechanic’s grease gun. “I fired a quick burst from my GREASE GUN into the woods.”
HIGH BALL—A salute given by a soldier with flair and vigor. “I gave the captain the best HIGH BALL I could give.”
IKE JACKET—A snug waist-length military jacket. “I had to sew the new unit patch on my IKE JACKET before I could go on leave.”
JACKSON—A form of address among enlisted soldiers when names are not known. “Hey, JACKSON! How about moving that Jeep out of the way.”
JODY OR JODIE—A mythical civilian male who avoids military service and often gets a soldier’s girlfriend. “I went home on leave and found my girlfriend with some JODY.”
K-BAR—A large marine utility knife named after the company that manufactured it. “He used his K-BAR knife to clear a path through the jungle.”
LITTLE FRIEND—Name given to the P-51 Mustang fighter by bomber crews who enjoyed the protection service of the long-range Mustangs on bombing runs. “That Nazi pilot stayed away from our plane because of our LITTLE FRIEND.”
LUGER HEAD—A derogatory term for a German civilian. Taken from the name of a German pistol. “That LUGER HEAD wanted me to give him a cigarette.”
MILK RUN—An easy bombing run without opposition from enemy planes or antiaircraft fire. “We were really lucky with that MILK RUN over Berlin last week.”
OUTSIDE MAN—A soldier with KP (kitchen police) duty outside a mess hall. “Have that OUTSIDE MAN wash out those garbage cans.”
P-38—A small military can opener than can be carried on a key ring or dog tag chain. Generally considered one of the best military inventions ever. “He got out his P-38 to open the can of C-rations.”
RETREAD—A soldier who has retired or been discharged, but then called back to active duty. “We’ve got one poor soldier in our unit who's a RETREAD.”
RONSON—Nickname for the M4 Sherman tank that had a tendency to catch on fire when hit by artillery due to its use of gasoline instead of diesel fuel. Ronson comes from the brand name of a popular cigarette lighter. “That RONSON caught on fire as soon as it was hit by German artillery.”
RUPTURED DUCK—An eagle lapel pin worn to show an honorable discharge from active military service. “My father still has his RUPTURED DUCK that he received when he was discharged from the army.”
STEEL POT—The metal helmet worn by American soldiers. “The bullet bounced off his STEEL POT and left him with a terrific headache.”
STRAIGHT LEG—A paratrooper’s derisive term for a non-airborne soldier since paratroopers bend their legs before hitting the ground. “Last night a STRAIGHT LEG tried to break in front of me in the chow line.”
SUMMER SOLDIER—A derisive term by a regular army soldier for a national guardsman since they only see brief active service during annual summer camps. “I stopped that SUMMER SOLDIER and ask him where he was going.”
TOWED-TARGET-INFANTRY—The paratrooper term for glider infantrymen since they traveled in slow, bulky gliders that made easy targets. “I’m sure glad I’m not part of the TOWED-TARGET- INFANTRY.”
YARDBIRD—A recruit. “Get that YARDBIRD over here to clean up this mess.”
From John R. Elting, Dan J. Cragg, and Ernest L. Deal, eds., A Dictionary of Soldier Talk (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1984).