paddies Rice fields.
pagoda In India and the Far East, a temple in the form of a pyramidal tower of several stories, usually an odd number, commonly built over a sacred relic or as a work of devotion.
perimeter A boundary strip where defenses are set up.
PFC Abbreviation for Private First Class.
Phi Beta Kappa An honorary society of U.S. college students in liberal arts and sciences with high scholastic rank; a member of this society.
platoon A military unit composed of two or more squads or sections, normally under the command of a lieutenant: it is a subdivision of a company, troop, and so on.
Plato's Republic Central text of Western thought in which the Greek philosopher Plato outlines the construction of the ideal political city and leader.
Poppa-san An old Vietnamese man.
puffery Exaggerated praise.
pull guard To be assigned to a sentinel shift, to keep watch.
Purple Heart A U.S. military decoration awarded to members of the armed forces wounded or killed in action by or against an enemy: established in 1782 and re-established in 1932.
Quang Ngai City and province near Da Nang.
R & R Rest and recuperation, leave.
Radio Hanoi Like National Public Radio in the U.S., Radio Hanoi was a national radio broadcast. Jane Fonda spoke on Radio Hanoi during her visit to Vietnam in 1972.
rear-echelon A subdivision of a military force, farthest from the enemy.
reserves Personnel or units in the armed forces not on active duty but subject to call; last resort troops, usually remained in the U.S.
RFs, PFs Regional forces of S. Vietnam, also called Ruff-Puffs.
ribbons Strips of cloth, often of many colors, worn on the left breast of a military uniform to indicate an award of a decoration or medal.
rigged mortar round A short-range weapon that fires a shell on a high trajectory.
RTO Radio telephone operator who carried a lightweight infantry field radio.
rucksack A kind of knapsack strapped over the shoulders.
