-- F --

F-4 - Twin jet engine, all-weather fighter. Nicknamed the Phantom. The F-4 was the plane used in the initial response

to the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. Five Phamtoms were deployed from the aircraft carrier, USS Constellation,

to attack North Vietnamese patrol boats. Fifty F-4’s were the planes used in the first strike into North Vietnam on

April 3, 1965. Their target was a road bridge south of the capital of Hanoi.
FAC - Forward Air Controller – usually flew at low levels at low speeds in Cessna O-1 “Bird Dog” spotter planes to better

                                 see and call in air strikes on enemy positions.
FANK -             The Cambodia Army (Forces Armies Nationals Khmeres).
Farewell gesture –       Toss a smoke grenade from exiting chopper when leaving a firebase to catch a freedom bird.
Fart Sack -    Sleeping bag.
Fast Burners –       (or Fast Movers) Jjet aircraft called in by Forward Air Controllers (FACs) to bomb, strafe or napalm enemy

                         positions.
Fat Albert – Air Force C-5 cargo plane.
Fat City -         MACV Head Quarters in Vietnam.
Fatigues -         Standard issue field or work uniform (usually olive drab).
FIGMO –       Slang – “F**k it, I got my orders.”
Fire Base -       (FB) A bunkered, fortified area. Firebases were temporary sites where artillery guns were stationed in support of

area ground operations. The 105mm guns were usually brought in by helicopters– the firebases were

                                             secured by infantry troops. The firing crews normally consisted of four guns/howitzers.
Fire Mission –        Artillery fire.
Firefight -         Confrontation with the enemy in which a minor, or major battle takes place.
Fire For Effect – When this is called all guns are aimed directly at the enemy and fire continually until told to cease firing.
Fishhook -              See: Operations.
Fishing Trawlers –       The Russian’s monitored B-52 bombing runs from Guam to North Vietnam from these craft.
Flak Vest / Jacket –       A protective vest worn by U.S. military personnel. Many personnel when flying sat on them (folded) for more

                                   protection.
Flexgun -          7.62mm, M60 CA1 machine gun.
Flight Time –    From Vietnam to a US military hospital in Japan 5-7 hours (to the Continental United States - CONUS) was 23+

                                    hours).
Flower Children –       The non-violent hippie movement of the sixties and seventies.
Flowers -          A Vietnamese girl would put flowers in her hair if she wanted to be dressed up.
Flying Boxcar –    C-119 (Also Combat Hornet).
Flying Telephone Pole –        The slang name of the Russian-built SA-2 rocket used in Vietnam.

FNG – “Fucking new guy” – a negative name for all new replacements.
FO - Forward Observer. Calls in adjustments for artillery and mortar fire.

FOB - Forward Operating Base

FOM (long) - French River Patrol Boat
FOM (short) - French River Patrol BoatFOM - French River Patrol Boat

Foo Gas - A combination of jet fuel and explosives in a 50-gallon drum usually buried in a berm used to defend a perimeter

from VC assault.
Fonda, Jane – Went to North Vietnam because of her political beliefs in July 1972. However, American POWs were severely

beaten when they refused to talk to her. Jane Fonda is still held in low-esteem by the majority of

Vietnam-era and other veterans.
Formaldehyde – A chemical in Vietnamese beer(Bier 33 – Ba Moi Bah)) used as a preservative in Vietnam (gave a kick if you

                                  weren’t expecting it).
Forward Observer –       (FO) The person who calls in fire missions to the nearest artillery base or to a Navy ship
Frag -                Short for fragmentation grenade.
Fragging (or Frag) – Intentional killing of someone, usually by his own troops, usually by means of a grenade.
Fraternization –          Prohibited socialization between officers and enlisted personnel.
Freak -              The slang term for a drug-addict, pothead, or society dropout in Vietnam and the US.
Freak Flag -    Long hair.
Free Fire Zone –       The name of the area where anything moving could be fired upon during the Vietnam War. Usually a

                                      no-man’s land.
Freedom Bird – A US bound plane that returned troops to the “world.”
Freedom Fighter –    F-5. This jet was tested in Vietnam - built up to squadron level.
Frequent Wind –   See: Operations.
Friendly Fire –       Euphemism used during the war to describe air, artillery, or small-arms fire from friendly forces mistakenly

              directed at friendly positions.
Friendlies -       US soldiers, allies – all forces on our side.
FSB –                Fire Support Base
FTA –           Slang expression meaning “F**k the Army.”
FTX -               Field Training Exercise.
FUBAR –           An expression from WWII meaning “F**ked Up Beyond All Repair/Recognition.” The term is used to describe

situations or events that are out of control.
Fulbright, Senator William F. – US Senator from Arkansas. Became critical of US involvement in Vietnam when he realized the US

wasn’t going to win with its employed military tactics.
Funny Money – (MPC) Military Pay Certificate. This was also known as “script” and used by US/Allied forces to pay the soldiers –

the idea being to help slow down or help eliminate the thriving black market.

Alphabetical Index

(Click on a letter.)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Numbers

An "Unofficial" Vietnam

Dictionary

Written by Paul Kasper

Edited by Bob Nelson

Dedicated to all Vietnam Veterans--"Especially those who didn't come home."

Alphabetical Index

(Click on a letter.)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Numbers