What does GI stand for in the military?
General Issue Originally, GI stood for “Galvanized Iron”, the primary material used to make military items, i.e. buckets. However, as the military grew and evolved over time, GI took on multiple meanings, including “Government Issue”, “General Issue”, and even “Ground Infantry”.
What does GI mean in GI Joe?
general issue By World War II, soldiers were called other names. The one most often heard was “GI,” or “GI Joe.” Most people say the letters GI were a short way to say “general issue” or “government issue.” The name came to mean several things: It could mean the soldier himself.
What does GI stand mean?
cans." Also during that war, "G.I." started being interpreted as "Government Issue" or "General Issue" for the general items of equipment of soldiers and airmen. The term "G.I." came into widespread use in the United States with the start of the Selective Service System ("the draft") in 1940, extending into 1941.
Why are soldiers called GI’s?
When this happened, GI was reinterpreted as “government issue” or “general issue.” The prevalence of the term led soldiers in World War II to start referring to themselves as GIs. Some servicemen used it as a sarcastic reference symbolizing their belief that they were just mass-produced products of the government.
What is a GI Marine?
G.I. is a noun used to describe the soldiers of the U.S. Army and airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces — and occasionally for U.S. Marines and shorebound sailors — and also for general items of their equipment.
What did Vietcong call American soldiers?
Number-One GI– A troop who spends a lot of money in Vietnam. Number-Ten GI – A troop who barely spends money in Vietnam. Ok Sahlem – Term American soldiers had for villagers' children who would beg for menthol cigarettes.
Where does Gi come from?
Going back to World War I, many of the items made for and used by the government of the United States for military purposes were stamped “GI” – but not because it was Government Issue. It was government issue, but that's not the reason for stamping it. That's like stamping your jeans with “Purchased at Wal-Mart.”
Are Marines GI’s?
G.I. is a noun used to describe the soldiers of the U.S. Army and airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces — and occasionally for U.S. Marines and shorebound sailors — and also for general items of their equipment.
WHAT DID number 10 mean in Vietnam?
The name comes from the shorthand of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam – ARVN. Number-One GI – A troop who spends a lot of money in Vietnam. Number-Ten GI – A troop who barely spends money in Vietnam. Ok Sahlem – Term American soldiers had for villagers' children who would beg for menthol cigarettes.
Who did the Viet Cong fear the most?
TIL That during the Vietnam War, the most feared soldiers by the Vietcong were not US Navy Seals but Australian SASR. The VC referred to SEAL's as "The men with Green faces" whereas SASR known as "The Phantoms of the Jungle. A much more dangerous arena.
What is a G.I. Marine?
G.I. is a noun used to describe the soldiers of the U.S. Army and airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces — and occasionally for U.S. Marines and shorebound sailors — and also for general items of their equipment.
What does Buku Dinky Dow mean?
very crazy Boocoo Dinky Dow" is how American GIs heard the French/Vietnamese phrase "beaucoup dien cai dau" for "very crazy."
What did soldiers call Vietnam?
American soldiers referred to the Viet Cong as Victor Charlie or V-C. "Victor" and "Charlie" are both letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet. "Charlie" referred to communist forces in general, both Viet Cong and North Vietnamese.
Did they use snake pits in Vietnam?
Snake Pits Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like. Viet Cong guerrillas would often carried Bamboo Pit Vipers in their packs to (hopefully) kill anyone who searches through them. They would also tie the deadly snakes to bamboo and hide them throughout their tunnel complexes.
What was the most feared unit in the Vietnam War?
Surprise attacks by elite Communist units known as sappers were one of the most serious—and feared—threats to Americans in Vietnam.
What does Boo Koo mean in Vietnam War?
the number of enemy killed, wounded, or captured during an operation. The term was used by Washington and Saigon as a means of measuring the progress of the war. boo-coo. bastardized French, from beaucoup, meaning "much" or "many".
What is Di Di Mau mean?
Borrowed from Vietnamese đi đi mau (“get lost!”). Borrowed into English by American military personnel returning from the Vietnam War, as well as by Vietnamese immigrants; popularized by the movie The Deer Hunter. This is an uncommon way to say "Hurry up!" in Vietnamese.
What does Dinky Dau mean?
Boocoo Dinky Dow" is how American GIs heard the French/Vietnamese phrase "beaucoup dien cai dau" for "very crazy." For more information, visit www.shortcrazyvietnam.com.
Are there still boobie traps in Vietnam?
The Vietnamese did not put up well with the invasion, and did everything in their power to defend against the Americans. One strategy was booby traps, and there are still many tunnels and traps that have survived. Interesting vid.
What unit lost the most soldiers in Vietnam?
US units with most casualties per conflict
| Unit | Conflict | WIA |
|---|---|---|
| Harlem Hellfighters | World War I | |
| 3rd Infantry Division | World War II | 18,766 |
| 1st Marine Division | Korean War | 25,864 |
| 1st Cavalry Division | Vietnam War | 26,592 |
What was the deadliest job in Vietnam?
Overall, the U.S. military used nearly 12,000 helicopters in Vietnam, of which more than 5,000 were destroyed. To be a helicopter pilot or crew member was among the most dangerous jobs in the war.
Who was the most decorated soldier in Vietnam?
His name is Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie Hooper, and not only was he a hero in the Vietnam War; he is also the most decorated soldier in American international combat, even eclipsing both York and Murphy.
What does Buku Dinky Dow mean in Vietnamese?
very crazy Boocoo Dinky Dow" is how American GIs heard the French/Vietnamese phrase "beaucoup dien cai dau" for "very crazy."
What does Boku mean in Vietnamese?
much, very much, a lot.
How many soldiers got bitten by snakes in Vietnam?
The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness.
What was the toughest unit in Vietnam?
| Tiger Force | |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 |
| Part of | U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Campbell (1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade) |
| Engagements | Vietnam War |
What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam?
1968 Battle of Khe Sanh The 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War, pitting the U.S. Marines and their allies against the North Vietnamese Army.
What was the life expectancy of a door gunner in Vietnam?
Over 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. The average lifespan of a door gunner on a Huey in Vietnam was just two weeks.
What unit saw the most combat in Vietnam?
# 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. The Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division) was formed from elements of Task Force Oregon in Chu Lai, Southern First Corps, Republic of South Vietnam on 26 September 1967.
What does Di Di Mau Beaucoup Dinky Dau?
A note on the title: "Boocoo Dinky Dow" is how American GIs heard the French/Vietnamese phrase "beaucoup dien cai dau" for "very crazy."