"LET’S SAY IT RIGHT"
[ From a flyer distributed to new U.S. arrivals in Vietnam ( circa 1970 ) ]

INCORRECT TERMS

CORRECT TERMS

Ruff Puff Regional Forces / Popular Forces ( or RF/PF )
VC Tax Collectors VC Extortionists
National Liberation Front Viet Cong (VC)
South Vietnam Republic of Vietnam
People’s Liberation Army Viet Cong, or if appropriate, North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
Five O’clock Follies MACV Daily Briefings ( or Daily Press Briefings )
Democratic Republic of Vietnam North Vietnam
People’s Army of North Vietnam (PAVN) North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
South Vietnamese Army Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
Mercenary Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) soldier or volunteer
Search and Destroy Search and Clear
Body Count Enemy deaths or EN killed
5th VC Division ( also 9th VC Div ) Do not use unless clarified in the same sentence that these divisions are 80% to 90% NVA
Hamburger Hill Hill 937
U.S. Troop Withdrawal Redeployment ( or replacement )
Hearts and Minds of the People Develop community spirit or equivalent descriptive phrases
Troops used to bait the enemy Never to be used
Special Forces Camp ( Vietnamese ) CIDG Camp
Deserter / Defector Rallier or Returnee
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