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Da Nang
Major Marine
base and seaport on the China Sea in southern I Corps.
(origin)
Vietnam
Dailey, Joseph
W.
Fifth Sergeant
Major of the Marine Corps from Aug 1, 1969 until Jan 31, 1973, he was born Feb
17, 1917 in Black Mountain, Arkansas.
Daily Seven
Physical
Training exercises expected of every Marine.
Dap
A complicated
and unique hand shake devised by African American Marines in Vietnam as a
demonstration of racial pride. Quickly picked up by non-African Americans and
eventually a common form of greeting. It came back to the United States with
many of the veterans and became widespread for more than a decade.
Date of
Enlistment
For enlisted
personnel, this is the third level used to determine precedence among
individuals of the same rank. The first level is earliest date of rank (DOR) and
the second level is earliest date of enlistment (DOE).
Date of
Commissioning
Date of
Enlistment for officers. Seldom used as precedence among officers.
Date of
Promotion
The date a
promotion warrant or order is signed.
Date of Rank
The date a
promotion is effective. Usually the date of rank is prior to the date of
promotion (sometimes by days, weeks or years depending on the requirements of
the promoting authority). Date of rank is used to establish precedence for
promotion to the next higher rank and to establish seniority among individuals
of the same rank (see
General of the Armies).
DD Form 4
The enlistment
contract. All promises made by recruiters MUST be listed on the Form 4 or they
are not enforceable.
DD Form 214
The certificate
of service issued upon discharge. It lists all pertinent service information
such as rank, date of rank, awards, special education and nature of service
(honorable, bad conduct, dishonorable).
Dead Horse
In the sailing
Navy, the period of time a sailor worked to pay off advance pay.
(see Beating
a Dead Horse.)
Deck
Naval term for
floor.
Deck Ape
Anyone in the
Deck Force (those sailors who chip paint, swab decks, mend canvas and create
ornamental rope work) onboard ship. Generally a Boatswain's Mate or Boatswain's
Mate striker.
Deep Six
To throw
something overboard or away.
(origin)
Call a sailor made to the bridge that the depth of the water is more than six
but not quite seven fathoms.
DEERS
Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (used to register dependents for
CHAMPUS/TRICARE and numerous other programs).
Defilade
A cut or low
spot in the ground used for cover by tanks and personnel.
Delayed
Enlistment Program
A recruiting
procedure which allows a person to enlist in the inactive reserve prior to being
ordered to active duty. It legally binds the person to enlistment and gives them
seniority when ordered to active duty.
(see
Poolee.)
DELTA
(Commtalk) The
letter “D”.
Delta Delta
Dependent
Daughter (see Dependent Wife)
Delta Hotel
Dependent
Husband (see Dependent Wife)
Delta Sierra
Dumb Shit. Also
Dependent Son (see Dependent Wife)
Delta Whiskey
Dependent Wife.
(see
Alpha Unit)
DEP
Delayed
Enlistment Program.
Department of
the Navy
The unit, under
the Department of Defense, that manages the Navy and Marine Corps. There are
also Departments of the Army and Air Force.
Dependent
Military
member’s spouse and children. Others can be dependents if they meet the
dependency criteria of the service.
Deployment
Leaving the
normally assigned duty area, usually as a unit, to serve temporarily in another
area, normally on board ship. (see
Float.)
DEROS
Date of
Estimated Return from Overseas.
Desertion
Absent without
official leave (AWOL) for more than 30 days.
Deuce and a Half
A two and a half
ton truck.
(synonym)
Six-By (it had six wheels on each side and each was
a drive wheel).
(see
Multi-fueler)
Deuce Gear
(see 782 gear.
)
Devil Doc
Nickname for
Navy hospital corpsmen assigned to Marine Corps field units.
Devil Dog.
A Marine.
(background)
The name “Teufel Hunden” was given to the Marines by their German enemies in
World War I, probably as an insult since hunden translates more correctly as
"bitch". It has come to be considered a sign of respect for the dogged
determination of Marines.
DI
Abbreviation for
drill instructor. Also a mid-20th Century movie about a drill instructor at
Parris Island, SC starring Jack Webb.
Di Di
From the
Vietnamese term Di Di Mau which was loosely translated to mean "move quickly".
(pronunciation:
“D-D”.)
Dick Cheese
Someone of
little or no value as a person or a unit/team member.
Dick Holster
Mouth. Usually
used in reference to Women Marines.
Dick Skinners
Hands.
Diddy Bop
To move in such
a manner as to be extremely cool. Diddy; to move on, usually quickly.
Dink
Enemy or,
generically, Vietnamese.
Dinky Dau
A Vietnamese
term translated by Americans to mean crazy.
Dinged
Wounded.
(Origin)
Vietnam
Ditty Dot
Radio operator,
from Morse Code, dit and dot.
Division
A unit
containing multiple (usually three) regiments plus supporting units, commanded
by a major general.
Dixie Cup
Headgear worn by
enlisted sailors through the grade of E-6 (first class petty officer). (see
White Hat.)
Dixie Station
One of two
positions typically occupied by an aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam.
Dixie was the southern station and was charged with troop support.
DMZ
Demilitarized
Zone. Area where the presence of soldiers or weapons are prohibited.
In Vietnam, a
section of Vietnam between the Marines of I Corps and North Vietnam. In Korea,
the line drawn at the 38th Parallel. Any point between two belligerent camps.
DO
Duty Officer.
The Marine equivalent to Officer of the Day.
Doc
A term reserved
for Navy enlisted medical corpsmen assigned to duty with Marine Corps combat
units. These sailors are generally given the same respect that one Marine gives
to another Marine. In fact, Navy corpsmen who earn service medals during duty
with the Marine Corps are authorized to wear a miniature eagle, globe and anchor
on their ribbon; this is something not even authorized for Marines.
Doctor
A commissioned
officer in the Navy with a degree in medicine, dentistry, psychology or other
allied profession, usually referred to by their military rank.
Dog Robber
An aide to a
general officer whose duties are so varied, they defy explanation.
Dog Tags
Originally metal
disks embossed with personal information that could be left with a body on the
field of battle for identification. Eventually it evolved into a rounded
rectangle with a small indentation on one side so that it could be set on the
teeth of a deceased soldier and kicked into the head so that the enemy could not
strip the dead soldier of his identity (this info confirmed with HQMC Casualty
Branch). Current versions do not have the notch.
(see also
Toe Chain.)
Dog Watch
The normal watch
from 1600 until 2000. It is broken into two smaller watches (first dog and
second dog) so that everyone has the opportunity to eat the evening meal.
They change the
rotation of the watches where there are only two groups of watch standers
(mostly from the days of smaller wooden ships).
Doggies
Pejorative term
for soldiers.
Dogs
Feet.
Donkey Dick
Long, flexible
metal spout for attaching to Jerry Cans.
Dope
Sight
adjustments made to a Marine's rifle to make its firing more accurate. Usually
in reference to marksmanship training or qualification. Also, any adjustment
made to improve the outcome of any event.
Dope on a Rope
(see
Spy Rigging.)
Double Easy-8
Term used for
the field telephone used in World War II and Korea.
(background)
Actually the official term was Telephone, Field, EE-8. After telling a young
Marine to go get a "Double Easy-8 a few times, it was inevitable that sooner or
later he would be sent to find a "TR- Double-E”. After a time he would be
laughed at for searching for a "tree."
Double Time
A marching pace
which is double “quick time”, in which the arms are bent at the elbow and the
troops run in step.
Dragon Antitank
Weapon
(see
M47.)
Dress Blues
The famous blue
uniform of the Marines with a standing collar. The uniform is similar to the one
worn by Marines in the Civil War. The "sky blue" infantry trousers are adorned
by a red "blood stripe" down the outside seams on commissioned and
non-commissioned officers. This uniform is worn with medals (without medals it
was at one time called Undress Blues). Current usage refers to: Blue Dress A
(with medals), Blue Dress B (with ribbons), Blue Dress C (sky blue trousers with
khaki shirt, field scarf and ribbons) and Blue Dress D (short sleeved khaki
shirt and ribbons).
Dress Blues,
Tennis Shoes, and a Light Coat of Oil
A flip response
to the question, "what is the uniform?" or "what will you be wearing?"
Drill Injector
Pseudo-humorous
replacement for Drill Instructor, sometimes acceptable in informal speech.
Drill Instructor
A
noncommissioned officer charged with the training of Marine recruits and the
making of Marines. Each recruit platoon usually has three drill instructors, a
senior drill instructor and two junior drill instructors.
Drill
Instructor’s Hut
The office and
duty quarters of the drill instructors, it is located within the recruit squad
bay.
Drill Sergeant
An Army recruit
instructor similar to a Marine Drill Instructor.
The first batch
of modern Army Drill Sergeants were trained at the Drill Instructor School at
MCRD Parris Island, SC.
Drilling Holes
in the Sky
Flying. Usually
flying without a mission often simply to obtain the necessary monthly flying
time to be eligible for flight pay.
Drooping Turns
Helicopter pilot
term for "I'm getting tired" or when a helicopter is unable to maintain the
necessary rotor RPM for whatever reason.
Drownproofing
Survival
swimming taught to every recruit.
Drum Major
The musician in
charge of a band or musical unit. Usually elaborately dressed and carrying a
baton, used to signal changes in march and to provide tempo. Usually a staff
noncommissioned officer.
Dry Fire
Simulated rifle
fire used to teach correct positions for firing on the rifle range. A shooter
would be in position and a buddy would slam the bolt to the rear when he or she
heard the pin forced front.
Dubbing
(From WWI to
Vietnam) A concoction issued with boots and boondockers intended to clean them,
since the footwear was made with the rough side out (much like the modern Desert
Boot). By the late 1950s, it was not being used; Marines were using bottles to
force shoe polish into the nap so that the boots and boondockers could be
spit-shined. This all came to an end when Defense Secretary McNamara forced
Marines to give up their comfortable "Marine Corps last" footwear and replaced
it with the Army Munson last which was much less comfortable, but cheaper.
Duty
At work (on
duty) or having special requirements after normal working hours. Units will have
a Duty Officer, Duty NCO or Duty Driver.
DVA
Mistaken
abbreviation for Department of Veterans Affairs.
(see
VA.)
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