Wartime Wednesday: Army Slang

Wartime Wednesday: Army Slang

Every generation has its slang, and World War II was no exception. Soldiers had especially creative terms. Here are just a few:

Food: 

• Albatross: Chicken
• Armored Cow: Canned Milk
• Army Strawberries: Prunes
• Battery Acid: Coffee
• Black Strap: Coffee
• Boodle: Candy, cake, ice-cream, etc.
• Duff: Any edible sweet
• Goldfish: Salmon
• North Dakota Rice: Hot Cereal
• Punk: Bread
• Salve: Butter
• Sammy: Syrup

Equipment:

• Ack-Ack: Machine Gun
• Army Banjo: Shovel
• Barker: Heavy Artillery Gun
• Boudier: Squad Tent
• Cans: Headphones
• Cosmolines: Artillery
• Deadlined: Vehicle laid up for repair
• Ether: Radio Telephone
• Flash Gun: Machine Gun used for Training
• Flying Boxcar: A Bomber
• Frog Sticker: Bayonet

People:

• Yellow Legs: Cavalryman
• Yard Bird: New Recruit
• Windjammer: Bugler
• Weather Krock: Meteorologist
• Three Striper: Sergeant
• Third Grader: Staff Sergeant
• Static Bender: Radio Operator
• Shack Man: Married man
• Runner: Messenger
• Red Leg: Artilleryman
• Peep Sight: Expert Gunner

Which of these have you heard before?

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The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects

Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.

Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR

Photo Credits: 

Platter of Chicken: Pixabay/Bernard Post

Jeep: Pixabay/Melk Hagelslag

Radio: Wright Museum Archives