1st Battalion 6th Infantry Daily Staff Journal     Abbreviations, Call Signs, Weapons (and capabilities), etc

      Daily Staff Journal or Duty Officer Log forms were maintained on a continuous basis by the
1st Bn 6th Inf  to record combat operations and plans while the unit was in Vietnam.  The
“S2/S3/S5" log recorded intelligence (S2), operations and planning (S3), and civil affairs (S5)
matters.  Sometimes information about resupply and logistics was included (S4).

     These forms were filled in at the 1st Bn 6th Inf Tactical Operations Center (TOC) by staff
officers, and "watch officers" or radio operators who usually pulled a twelve hour shift.  Continuously
updated entries with exact unit locations were made as events unfolded in combat.   The original
forms, now located at the National Archives II, Textual Reference Section, in College Park, MD.,
may be the best historical reference for detailed information about combat in Vietnam.

     Many entries in the journals were abbreviated to save time and improve accuracy by ensuring
standard entries.  The following abbreviations were used in the 1st Bn 6th Inf Tactical Operations
Center during 1970-1971 and before.

AK           AK 47 or AKM–Soviet or Chinese 7.62mm automatic assault rifle for VC & NVA

AMB       Ambush; platoons in 1st Bn 6th Inf usually occupied two positions per night.

Animals   U.S. Infantry Aero Scout soldiers inserted from unit lift helicopters from B Co.,
                123d Avn Bn

AN/TPS-25 Ground surveillance radar used to detect movement of VC and supplies

AO Box    Area of Operations, denoted by four map grid coordinates making a box on a map

APC           Armored Personnel Carrier M113–a lightly armored personnel carrier with a crew of
two; could carry 11 or more soldiers.  Inside was covered with sandbags to minimize effect of mines.

APD          Anti-Personnel Detector–a people “sniffer” carried by helicopter to detect hot spots

ARVN       Army of Viet Nam (friendly to US)

B40 or B50     NVA shoulder or ground launched anti-tank grenades able to penetrate 10"
armour; 100 m range; same as RPG-2

Binh Son   A small town south of Chu Lai at BS 601 922; GVN District Headquarters for the
area encompassing the northern part 1st Bn 6th Inf TAOR on the Batangan

Blue Ghost     A night-flying helicopter from Troop F, 8th Cavalry, with infrared search capability
and a bright light to isolate and identify targets; generally assigned an AO that contained no friendly
personnel; those seen could be engaged fire for fire

Blue Line   Reference to a stream or river, shown on a map as a blue line

Blues          A quick reaction force of US Infantry soldiers, the Aero Rifle Platoon, F Trp, 8th
Cav, air lifted into battle

Bouncing Betty Land mine used by VC/NVA–when a trip wire or pressure fuse is hit, a
projectile bounds 3 ft upward and explodes w/a 15 meter casualty radius

Boxcar       Radio call sign for the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company flying CH-47
Chinook helicopters

BT             Booby trap–a hidden explosive device designed to kill or maim

Call Sign   Name used for identification in radio communications

CAP          Civil Assistance Program–usually Marines at small hamlets assisting local forces

CAS          Close Air Support provided by the US Air Force

C&C         Command and Control–usually an aircraft with a commander on board for
coordination of ground forces tactical operations

Chicom 54 An 8 shot 7.62mm pistol used by VC

Chicom     Usually referred to VC/NVA hand grenade

Chinook    CH-47 helicopter

Chip          FSB CHIPPEWA at BS 485 967, west of Chu Lai, and home of Co E, 1st Bn 6th
Inf 4.2" mortar and IOS; also home to D/1-14th Arty (3 tubes of 105mm howitzers) and
AN/TPS-25 surveillance radar

Chi Hoi     Enemy soldier who surrenders (a Hoi Chan); also the name of the program to
encourage VC to change sides

CIA          Enemy soldiers or equipment Captured In Action (does not refer to Intelligence
Agency with the same initials)

Claymore  US M-113 Anti-personnel mine.  A directional mine that projects 700 steel balls
in a lethal swath above the ground; 100 ft wire and firing device (clacker)in M-7 bandoleer

C4           A military plastic high explosive packaged in 1" x 1" x 6" blocks

Combat Center  Americal Combat Center-the incountry orientation and replacement training
center for individuals assigned to the division.

CP           Command Post, a unit commander’s location, frequently without adequate forces
to engage a sizeable enemy force; Also used for Check Point–a predetermined location that
could be called in over the radio without fear of disclosing a unit location while on they were
on the move; for example, CP1, CP2 etc; these could be close together or far apart

C-rats     C-rations; US issue canned food in several flavors:  beef w/noodles; beef stew;
spagetti w/meatballs; boned chicken; scrambled eggs; and, ham & lima beans.  Package included
gum, utensils, etc.

CS           Tear gas, non-lethal; available in persistent form; use of gas mask required.  Available
in two forms:  CS-1; and CS-2 (lower flash point and more persistent).

CSS        Combat Sky Spot USAF bombing mission based on radio signal beacon locations

Daisy Cutter   10,000lb bomb usually dropped from a C-130 aircraft; bomb explodes above the
ground, creating an LZ for one or two helicopters

DDP        Day Defensive Position or Perimeter

DO, Dust Off        Dust Off or Urgent Dust Off; an emergency medical evacuation by
helicopter; also used for the call sign of medivac aircraft

Donut Dollie   Red Cross female volunteer, usually young (& thought to be pretty).  Came in three
versions: SMH-service to military hospitals; SMI-service to military installations; SRAO-supplemental
recreational activities overseas.

DOP         Daylight Observation Post, a location where a unit hid in daylight, watching for
enemy activity

DTG         Date Time Group; eg. 6am 12 June = DTG 120600 Jun

Dung Lai  Vietnamese words for "stop"

Eagle Flight   A tactical operation involving the sudden insertion of a small unit of infantry into a
suspected enemy location; a quick search of the area w/ or w/o combat; followed by prompt
extraction, usually to attack another suspect location; sometimes identified as PZ1-LZ1; PZ2-LZ2, etc.

EOD         Explosive Ordinance Disposal–a bomb removal expert

ETA          Estimated Time of Arrival

Firebird    Radio call sign for armed helicopter unit–71st Avn Co (Aslt Hel), usually in
support of 196th Infantry Brigade

Firecracker    An Improved Conventional Munition (ICM) artillery round composed of hundreds
of small explosive charges that scattered over a wide area; an antipersonnel round

FO           Forward Observer–soldier or pilot/observer who adjusts artillery fire

FSB         Fire Support Base

GS           Gunship-an armed helicopter, either UH-1C or UH-1G

GVN        Government of Viet Nam–i.e friendly personnel

Handpop   A hand-operated parachute flare for short-term local illumination

H&I          Harassment and Interdiction–US Artillery and mortars fired into suspect enemy
locations, usually at night

Helix         Radio call sign for an Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC) to adjust air strikes

Hill 43       BS 685 916; Reputed HQ area for 48th VC Bn; NDP base for 59th Engr Co (Land
cearing) 20 Aug-22 Sep 70; site of assault LZ during Operation Starlight with 3rd Marines, 18-19
Aug 1965–first regimental-size battle since the Korean War

Hill 69      BT 467 068; firebase and headquarters for 1st Bn 6th Inf from

Hill 76      BS 683 836; NDP base for land clearing (16 Dec 70 - 1 Feb 71)

Hill 109    BS 701 828; NDP base for land clearing (1 Feb - 9 Mar 71)

Hill 128    BS 688 870; NDP base for land clearing (22 Sep - 1 Nov 70)

Hill 270    FSB at BT 421 047 with 4.2" and 81mm mortars, night vision device, and ground
surveillance radar AN/TPS-25 to detect and fire upon moving enemy

Hill 411   FSB at BS 547 730

Ho Chi Minh    NVA leader; also sandals made out of old tires and worn by VC

Hooch    A small thatched or wooden hut; also a shelter built of ponchos for use by soldiers

Hornets Call sign for 116th Aslt Hel Co.  On 5 July 70 the unit moved from Chu Chi and was
under the operational control of the 16th Combat Aviation Group (Americal)  at Chu Lai.  Gun-
ships call sign was "Stinger."

IOS        Integrated Observation System GVQ-10–a tripod mounted large night vision
scope with laser range finder effective to 2,000 meters and 50 power binoculars
effective to 10,000 meters used to detect enemy personnel and movement

IPW       Interrogation Prisoner of War–US and Vietnamese unit for interrogation and
translation

KAC       A daily code book based on a letter and number substitution wheel; both sender
and receiver had to have the same code sheets to decipher the code; used at platoon leader
level to communicate with the company

KHA       Killed Hostile Action.  Sometimes referred to casualty of a friendly non-combatant.

KIA        Killed In Action.  KHA

KBA       Killed By Artillery (refers to VC and NVA casualties)

KCS       Kit Carson Scout–former VC soldier who changed sides to work for US forces.
The use of Chu Hoi returnees as KCS was originated by the III Marine Ampibious Force.
Prospective KCS were spotted at Chu Hoi centers, recruited, and hired.

KY38     The hardware code mechanism to implement the NESTOR radio voice security
system based on a punched code; available down to company level communication

K9          Military dog and team

LAW      See M72 rocket launcher

LN or Line Number   Method of referring to a specific soldier by using a number unit roster.
For example, LN 26 could be KIA or WIA or merely need new boots of a particular size.

LOC       Location

LOH       Light Observation Helicopter–pronounced “Loach”–the OH6A “Cayuse” carries
pilot and three others

LRRP     US long range reconnaissance patrol of five to seven soldiers; in the Americal
Division, this function was performed by Co. G, 75th Inf (Rangers); teams took state names
Ark, Texas, etc.

LURP     US food ration packed in foil packages

LZ           Landing zone (PZ= pickup zone) for aircraft

LZMM LZ Minuteman–BS 786 857, small LZ and FSB home to Co E mortars for a time;
first LZ built on the Batangan Peninsula; base for land clearing operations by 59th LCC, 1-20 Aug 70

M or m   Usually refers to distance in meters; 75m = 80+ yards

MA        Mechanical Ambush–a US directional mine, usually a claymore mine, under US
control and plotted on a map to ensure recovery

MAM    Military Age Male–frequently detained to determine identification

Medivac   A dust-off medical evacuation

Minuteman Radio call sign for UH1 helicopter from 176th Avn Co (Aslt Hel), 14th Combat Avn
Bn, 16th Combat Avn Group used to transport soldiers, usually from the 198th Infantry Brigade

Monastery      Hill east of LZ Dottie and site of a Buddhist temple BS 675 860

Musket  Radio call sign for an armed helicopter from 176th Avn Co (Aslt Hel).

M14       US made 7.61mm rifle w/effective range 460m; 700m with tripod

M16       US made 5.56mm automatic rifle w/effective range 460m; 250 rd basic load per
man; soldiers carried bandoleers of magazines wrapped around waist and chest

M26       US lemon shaped grenade w/casualty radius of 10m; basic load 4 to 6 per man;
four and 1/2 second fuse.

M33       US baseball shaped grenade w/casualty radius of 15 m; 4 to 6 per man basic load;
four and 1/2 second fuse.

M34       US White Phosphorus coke-can shaped grenade w/incendiary filling w/25 m
casualty radius

M39       US grenade designed to explode on impact; 2 sec delay; red handle and safety
lever; actually an M33 baseball grenade with an M2-17 fuze

M60       US made 7.62mm machine gun; 23 lbs, 200 rd per minute w/effective range of
1,100m; 1,000 rd basic load for ground troops; also used by helicopter door guns

M72       US light anti-tank weapon (LAW) ; 66mm; w/effective range 230m; basic load–2 per
squad; one shot disposable launcher; used against fortified ground positions; 40m backblast

M79       US single shot grenade launcher for 40mm grenades w/effective range 300m area
targets and 150m point targets; basic load 40 rds HE (Ft. Benninf Infantry School taught 18 rds
as basic load--not nearly enough for a real fight!!), 8 illumination (w/60 second under small
parachute 600 ft up), 4 buck shot (some carried more).  Replaced by M203.

M113      US lightly armored personnel carrier

M203      US over/under 5.56mm rifle over single shot 40mm grenade launcher; these were
distributed starting in September 1970 to replace the M79 grenade launcher

M551      Light US “General Sheridan” tank, 4 man crew, 152mm main gun (20 rounds
load); used by H Trp, 17th Cav to secure land clearing opeations

M1911A1   US pistol; 45 cal.; effective range 50m or less; 40 rd basic load

NDFF      ARVN force, well trained and armed

NDP        Night defensive position

NDP Wrong Hole  The name for a 39th Engr Co. operational base at BS 742 608 in 1970.

NH or Night Hawk    The name for the area and the armed helicopter patrolling it with night
vision capability, a large xeon searchlight, a 7.62mm mini-gun, and M-60 machine guns; flown
by F Trp, 8th Cav (Blue Ghosts)

NVA       North Vietnamese Army

Nui Pho Tinh   FSB at BS 648 936, opened in May 1970, NE of LZ Dottie, home of E Co 4.2"
mortars, and until 8 Nov 70, two 105mm howitzers (D/1-14th Arty).

OH/EX     On hand and expended amounts of ammunition, usually by type and location

OP1          A FSB at BS 516 778 with ground surveillance radar, IOS, and counter-mortar
radar; 251st FA Detachment (CM)

OP George FSB at BS 470 867

OP Lundy Lane  FSB at BS 360 921

OP Midway A RF/PF hamlet at BS 518 886

OP Shaw   FSB at BS 670 874 with 4.2" and 81mm mortars from E Co, 1/6 Inf; named after
the B Co Commander KIA

PAX         Packs, ie personnel to be carried

PDO        Priority dust off–a request for aeromedical evacuation

Pelican    Radio call sign for helicopter unit; A Co 123rd  Avn Bn in general support of the
Americal Division; usually C&C personnel; previously referred to 161st AHC

People Sniffer  The MPD E-63 "People Sniffer" a device used in an airborne mode with
the sensor hanging below a UH-1D flying at treetop level.  Capable of detecting small groups
of people concealed under vegetation.  Also used in E-63 Manpacked Personnel Detector mode.

Petna      A plastic high explosive, frequently packed into booby traps by the VC

PJ           Usually black pajamas worn by VC; other VC wore light blue night uniform
that was practically invisible in moonlight; also light green uniform

PF           Popular Forces–a local, lightly armed, poorly trained village self-defense force
(friendly); sometimes bore the brunt of Viet Cong attacks

Point(man)     The first soldier in a single file of soldiers; looks for booby traps; followed by
“slack”–the second soldier in file who may open fire before the pont man on suspected enemy;
“drag”–the last soldier in the file for rear security.

PRC25     A small tactical radio carried by infantry platoons and higher; 920 preset FM channels
of 30-75 mhz; five mile range; 25 lb weight w/battery

Prox        Proximity–distance to an target or event

PRU        Province Reconnaissance Unit-well trained and armed Vietnamese light infantry
unit; reportedly armed and trained by the CIA as part of the Phung Hoang (Phoenix) program

Push        A specified radio frequency

PZ            Pickup zone for aircraft (see LZ)

QL1         The main paved highway approximately 10 miles inland or less running paralled to
the coast

Quad 50   Four 50mm heavy machine guns fired simultaneously from a heavy duty mount;
located at FSB Chippewa, Hill 270, and OP Shaw

Rattler     Radio call sign for lift helicopter unit–71st Avn Co (Aslt Hel), usually in support of
196th Inf Bde

RF            Regional Forces of the Vietnemese government, similar to National Guard troops,
who defended their local area, generally without being deployed too far from their local area;
contrasted with PF or village defense forces

Red Baron Radio call sign of an artillery forward observation aircraft

Refit          Re-fitness and retraining; an old Hawk anti-aircraft missile site in Chu Lai was
converted to a refit and retraining area for clean-up, food, movies, etc.; site of a VC commando
raid 31 July 1970

RPG-2      NVA/VC 40mm rocket launcher, same as B40, 100m range

RPG-7      NVA/VC 40mm rocket launcher w/80mm rocket; shoulder launched, spin-
stabilized, anti-tank round; can penetrate 14" steel and 96" of sandbags; anti-air
capability to 2,300ft; best defense–kill the gunner.

RPK         Soviet 7.62mm light machine gun

Saber        Radio call sign for an armed helicopter team (LOH and gunship) from Trp D, 1st
Sqdrn, 1st Cav, 123rd Avn Bn (Cbt)(Inf Div); aslo known as D/1/1 Cav

SAF          Small arms fire

Sapper     VC/NVA soldier w/mission to crawl undetected into position and blow them up
Satchel charge A powerful pre-packaged bag of explosives weighing about twenty pounds
carried by sappers

SEC         Security–e.g.  B6(-) BS 700806 SEC– means B Co. provided security to that area

SEL         Suspected Enemy Location

Shark       Radio call sign for armed helicopters from 174th Avn Co (Aslt Hel), 14th Combat
Avn Bn; nose art on the gunships included teeth on the chin-bubble

Sheridan   US light tank; see M551

Sky Spot   Name for Combat Sky Spot, a bombing mission for USAF aircraft based on signal
beacon locations; sometimes done in overcast weather with bombing through the clouds.

Slicks       Name for all UH1 lift helicopters to move troops; only had door guns (M60); 90
knots speed;

Snake       UH1G Cobra helicopter gunship; 120 knots speed;

SKS          A Soviet or Chinese 7.62mm semiautomatic rifle

Slow Motion    Radio call sign for a LOH OH6A from the 198th Inf Bde Avn section

Smoke     Usually in reference to –pop smoke–i.e. igniting a coke-can size instant-fuze M-18 hand
grenade w/yellow, violet, red and green color smoke burning for 50-90 seconds color to mark
a location to be recognizable from the air

SOI           Signal Operating Instructions–a classified booklet carried by leaders containing
radio frequencies and call signs; prepared by the Signal Office

Son Tinh   GVN District HQ at BS 643 762 for the area south of LZ Dottie

Stinson      LZ Stinson BS 538 824 base camp for 1st Bn 52nd Inf west of LZ Dottie

TOC          Tactical Operations Center-the location of radios and command & control personnel

UNSEF     Unknown sized suspected enemy force

URI           Unknown Radio Intercept–location of enemy radio transmissions, unit unknown,
category by type unit–e.g.  Larger than code C

VC            Viet Cong soldier, male or female

VCF          Viet Cong female soldier

VCI           Viet Cong Infrastructure–political officers rather than soldiers, blended in with the
people; usually hard core

VNM VNF   Vietnamese male and female–could be friend or foe

VR           Visual reconnaissance, as compared to reconnaissance by fire; also the name for
combat missions flown by US helicopter units

VT            Van Thien pacification hamlet BS 700 806; actual US site was at An Thien BS 691
805

Warlord   Radio call sign for armed helicopter unit from B Co, 123rd Avn Bn (Cbt)(Inf Div)

WIA        Wounded In Action

WP          White Phosphorus an incendiary filler in grenades, artillery shells, and rockets

4.2         US 4.2 in. mortar with HE, Illumination, and WP rounds; range of 5,660m

8 in        US artillery 8 inches in diameter; 16,800 m range; 470 m radius HE shell damage

.45         US .45 cal pistol with effective range of 50m; 21 round basic load (3 magazines)

81mm    US mortar with HE, Illumination, and WP rounds; range 4,737 m

82mm    VC/NVA mortar round; range 3,040 m; 123 lb tube, base plate, and tripod

90mmRR    US 90mm recoiless rifle, weight 35 lbs, effective 450m vs. armor

102mm   NVA electrically fired 34lb HE rocket with range of 5,029m

105mm   US howitzer artillery 11,000 m range; 175m radius HE shell; unexploded shells
were rigged by the VC as booby traps

122mm   NVA electrically fired 48lb HE rocket 6 ft long; 10,973m range

140mm   NVA electrically fired 87lb HE rocket 4 ft long; 10,607m range

155mm   US howitzer artillery 14,600 m range; 360 m radius HE shell; dud rounds were
used by VC as booby traps

175mm   US gun 32,800 m range; 518 m radius HE shell; delay fuze dud rounds used as
booby traps were devastating to land clearing dozers and personnel

1/6 Forward    During 1970-71 usually located at LZ Dottie, the location of the TOC;
also operated out of Nui Pho Tinh

27th Surg 27th Surgical Hospital at Chu Lai, the base camp for the Americal Division

59th Engr 59th Land Clearing Co., 26th Engineer Battalion, and engineer unit with the mission
of clearing the Batangan Peninsula by using large D7 bulldozers

91st Evac 91st Evacuation Hospital at Chu Lai, the Division base camp

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