WW2 Era U.S. Army Terms and Definitions
This is a short list of some of the more commonly used terms in the Army of WW2. We'll keep adding to it as we go along. The core of the list was adapted from a WW2 recruit pamphlet.
AWOL. Absent without leave.
Bust. To reduce a noncommissioned officer to grade of private.
Chow. Food..
CO Commanding officer.
Dogtags. Identification disks.
Doughboy (dough). An infantryman.
Field, in the. Campaigning against an enemy under actual or assumed
conditions.
File. A column of men one behind the other.
Foxhole. Pit dug by a soldier to protect his body.
GI. Government issue (This later came to mean a soldier - in that even he
was G.I.)
Guard house lawyer. A person who knows little but talks much about
regulations, military law, and soldiers' "rights."
Hash mark. A service stripe.
Hike. To march.
Hitch. An enlistment period,.
Interval. Space between elements in the direction parallel to the front.
Jawbone. Credit, To buy without money. KP. Kitchen police.
Lance jack. A temporary or acting corporal with the same duties and
authority of a regularly appointed corporal but without the pay of the grade.
Mess gear. A soldier's individual mess kit, knife, fork, spoon, and cup.
MP. Military police.
Mule skinner. A teamster.
Noncom or NCO. A noncommissioned officer.
OD. Olive drab or officer of the day.
On the carpet. Called before the commanding officer for disciplinary
reasons.
Over the hill. To desert
Pup tent. Shelter tent.
Reup To reenlist.
Shave tail. A second lieutenant.
Skipper. The company commander.
Sniper. An expert rifle shot detailed to pick off enemy leaders or
individuals who expose themselves.
The old man. The company commander; commanding officer
Top sergeant or top kick. The first sergeant.
Piece. The rifle or weapon.