Dear Gang,
You know, call signs and acronyms are abundant in the Military and the Marines so I thought I would talk about that today for those of you new to my blog. This will help you non-military types understand the lingo that you may encounter out there in Cyberland when reading other MilBlogs.
As a pilot, you usually get a call sign for doing something stupid or its part of your name somehow. I think I could write a book based solely on this topic. As a former KC 130 pilot with the last name of Bell, and the type guy whose love of Mexican food causes massive odiferous odors to exude from my orifice, well, there you go…TacoBell. There is a flight surgeon running around out there named “Warf” because of his bad hair transplant, his head looks like the security officer from Star Trek TNG. Poor guy never figured out why he was always losing at poker when it was his night to host the game… in his office and his examination mirror was right behind him.
We had a Sgt. named Reilly, but we called him ripsaw because he could tear through anything and get the job done. Of course there was Major Ward, “Wardo”, and his constant copilot, “Muscles” (liked to work out and he was big too). Then it’s not to hard to imagine why some are called what they are, there is “Toecheese” (smelly boots-socks-feet, “Cocheese” (part Indian), and “Chowhound” (would eat your hand if it’s too close to his tray). With a last name like Flanagan, of course his call-sign is “Father” but we can’t forget the best one like “Wedge” (because he was the simplest tool known to man). Others I recall were “Rainman”, “Sticks”, “C.B.” (chatter box, she talks a lot), “HeHaw” , “Chuckles”, “Chunky” (puked in his helmet bag in flight school and it’s stuck since). I always liked my buddy Malcolm’s callsign “Roth La Doad”, (red on the head like a dick on a dog) or my old roommate at another base, “YFB” –Young Fighting Blanch. Then my other buddy there “Tattoo” a Huey pilot, remember fantasy Island (ZZZeee Plane Boss). We call our young lance Cpl “Leg Hound” because he’s like my Colonel’s old dog, which would take off chasing the UPS van and not come home for hours. This kid will get the keys to our vehicle to make a short errand, then three hours later he’ll be spotted on the other side of the base with the windows down, head bouncing up and down, cover tilted to the side and country music blaring. We were just short of having the QRF (quick reaction force) plant him down face first on the deck for grand theft auto. We ended up putting a BOLO (Be on the look out) out on all the radios for our LegHound.
Then you are running around trying to figure out the chat stuff on the computer such as “Mams” military aged male suspect and BB’s are Burka Babes. BBGW’s refers to the gals washing their clothes along the river banks but that is in hopes that they would take it off and go swimming (never happens) then they would be Burka Babes gone wild. “Tits” (kids who are doing the dirty work digging IED holes hence Terrorist in Training), “NP” no problem, “TY” thank you, “C/S” call sign, “ISO” in support of, and of course ETD/ETA not to be confused with IED or IDF (Improvised Explosive device/In Direct Fire). SAF should sound like special armed forces but means Small arms fire while the “TIC” is troops in contact and CBRU is cancelled by requesting Unit.
The “head” is a bathroom, “deck” is floor, “hatch” is a door, “butts” are cigarettes, “Smoking deck” is a place to smoke said cigarettes. The chow hall is just that, the hodgies (really Hadji’s but Hodge is a buddies name) are either the name of the guys working in the chow hall who are really “TCN’s” (third world country nationals) and the “LCN’s” (Local country Nationals, Iraqi’s in this case) or the guys lobbing rockets at you. I prefer Chucklehead for the bad guys, although, Ass clowns has been tossed around a lot. The Hodgies or TCN’s who have the market on the haircuts here are really from Tibet and nice guys. They give you a hair cut and short massage which we call the Hodgie Man Massage, not to be construed with “HML” Hodgie Man Love stuff that goes on, another subject. (read a book called the Arab mind)
Skids are Hueys, and slicks are Cobra’s and the CH-46 is called a Phrog (Frog) and they are all located on the Lilly pad, their tie-down area. You’ll hear guys talk about the “Big Voice” which is the alarm that goes off when we get rocket attacks. All time is in the 24 hours fashion 0100 is 1am thru 12pm then add 12 to the twelve hours so 1pm for you is 1300 for us. We run on Zulu time which is English time but we’re 3 hours ahead here so “C” time is Zulu plus three, most confusing if someone tells you the VIPs are showing up at 1300 and the entire staff is out waiting for Senator X to arrive only that was really 1600 local… you can see the problems that arise from that. Well I hope you gained a better understanding of our language here, not as hard as say German, but it does takes a bit of getting used to. Everything here is “GTG” good to go, so you guys have a “kick butt” day and I’ll talk to you soon.
Semper Fi,
Taco
The SandGram 
January 30, 2006 at 4:38 pm
What does “kick butt” mean? Who’s the butt, and who’s the kicker?
Haha! Do you also have a secret handshake?
God bless you!
Semper gratus,
Donna
January 30, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Thank you, for the picture. I just spit coffee all over my monitor. Then I did it again when I read about the “Leg Hound.” You need a disclaimar when you put this funny shit up. OK, now I’m GTG with my computer. This was a absolutely hysterical read.
Semper Fi!
January 30, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Informative and funny at the same time. School should be like this. Leghound deserves a promotion, though I’d be tempted to keep him away from my neices.
God bless our troops!
Karen
January 30, 2006 at 5:09 pm
Well we all remember FUBAR, and SNAFU.
Are these still in play?
*BOHICA Bend over here it comes again.
*WAFWAT What a F**king Waste of Time.
*DILLIGAS Do I look like I give a S**T?
jim b
January 30, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Good stuff sir! Thanks for the lesson. =) Say hi to LegHound for me!
January 30, 2006 at 5:44 pm
The picture is great! What a laugh I had. You should write a book it would be hilarious. I am glad you guys can make some fun. Humor is our best friend even in the worst of times.
Yes I am going to “kick butt” today! I am going to write up a kicker on that beached whale ‘ORCA’, you know who I mean…Teddy et al fool! You have a “kick-butt” day too Taco!
My prayers are with you all!
January 30, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Fun post! But you didn’t tell us what your call sign means…
January 30, 2006 at 8:06 pm
Coffee out my nose! What can I say?
Sam
.
.
January 30, 2006 at 9:07 pm
Thanks for the informative chuckles, Taco!
January 30, 2006 at 11:04 pm
Your book is gonna be awesome! It will come with a *spew alert* in the front pages won’t it?
January 30, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Come on back to Texas and bring your appetite!
Keep the blogs a commin’.
Hugs and prayers to you all, even Leghound !
Barbara
January 30, 2006 at 11:51 pm
Awesome blog! I found out about it through Capt B….another awesome warrior. I can’t wait for your book. Sure to be a bestseller on the NY Times top-10 list. Thanks for doing such a great job defending our freedom.
Stay safe and God bless.
From a grateful American,
Gigi
P.S. Okay, I give up. I gotta ask. What does FUBAR mean? I can figure what the “F” means, but what about the rest?
January 31, 2006 at 12:15 am
Thanks for the lesson. Just got home from a service for a Marine. So sad. Please take care of yourself and the guys. My prayers are with you.
January 31, 2006 at 1:18 am
FUBAR
Fracked up beyond all recognition
Fracked up beyond all repair
January 31, 2006 at 1:43 am
Roth La Doad”, (red on the head like a dick on a dog)
Hahahahahahahaha! I m in pain from laughing this hard! Freaking priceless!!!!!
One of my faves is “GET SOME”!
Stay safe!
January 31, 2006 at 3:05 am
Thanks for the valuable (and hilarious) public service!
You’re the best, Taco!
January 31, 2006 at 6:40 am
Now I can impress some of the Marines I mail to! So many of you Marines are such great writers, surprised you find the time but am happy you do.
Thanks for the info and laughs.
God Bless , Anita
January 31, 2006 at 6:52 am
Taco – you have your own spot on my sidebar now … Keep up the great blogging!!
January 31, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Hi Taco,
Didn’t take long for you to get a following. Great post – deserves a MORP and a stoag. Go have one.
Take care, be safe, God Bless and KYHD.
January 31, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Good read, Marine!
In “the day”, the Hueys were the “slicks”, and the Cobra gunships were “snakes”… Interesting how the lexicon changes over time.
Thanks for the good words! Stay safe!
January 31, 2006 at 7:52 pm
I found you through Samantha West. She said your stories were great and she wasn’t lying. My hats off to you and your Marines, my boy is over there with you. He just got there and he’ll be gone a year.
I thank God for all the supporters at Anysoldier for the guys who don’t have a personal angel. Sam’s been my son’s Godmother since he was born and naturally she’s helping take care of my kid.
God Bless,
Bill
Marine Dad
January 31, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Taco– I quit letting Haji cut my hair (what little I have left) after he started singing Abba’s “Dancing Queen” while he was rubbing my shoulders in a rather uncomfortable way. You should know better than to let Haji cut your hair… shoot me a note and let me know when you make it back to the states-
January 31, 2006 at 9:48 pm
You did it again,Taco,Sue just got home and charged in my office and knocked me off my chair so she could read your latest.I told you ,you built a monster in her.
BIG BRO JIM I
January 31, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Taco, I’ve been enjoying your emails to EmailOurMilitary for a while. I just found your Blog. great. I wanted to take a minute and say a big thank you for your service to our country and your sacrifice. thank you two small words, but I hope you realize they are full of my deepest heart feelings. God Bless you dear Taco, I look forward to your messages, maamawK
February 1, 2006 at 1:33 am
Hey Taco! I have not heard some of those terms in a long time. It was like I was taking a walk down memory lane.
Also , when were at pendleton today my son noticed that the marines were flying a lot. Then he said that Marines are his hero’s!
You guys rock.
kelli
http://journals.aol.com/kamdghwmw/noonmom
February 1, 2006 at 6:45 pm
The picture was taken at Christmas at the chow hall.Not sure what they were thinking. Nice guys…not sure what they were thinking. I forgot my MORP, yes that is Marine Officer Rest Period, a nice nap. I put my Taco Bell back in there to explain the callsign. OOOHHHH RRRRhhhaaa
Taco
February 6, 2006 at 6:48 pm
LOL at the call signs. My dad’s was “Dumbo” because of the way his ears stuck out.
Glad my son didn’t inherit either the ears or the call sign, though he looks a lot like his grandpa other than that, esp in his dress blues.
Love the blog, linked and will be checking back (here, via Capt B and others)