A compilation of the slang unique to the Vietnam War, how it was used by the soldiers and Marines and its relation to the war.

Finalist, 2020 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards

The slang, the unique vocabulary of the soldiers and Marines serving in Vietnam was a mishmash of words and phrases reaching back to the Korean War, World War II, and even earlier. At the same time it used words and phrases reflecting the country's changing protest culture at home, ideological and poetical doctrine, ethical and cultural conflicts, and racialism and the drug culture. The slanguage in Vietnam was made even more complex by the Pidgin Vietnamese-English used by Americans and Vietnamese alike. American culture and society were changing rapidly and drastically at home and this bled into Vietnam. In the jungles, swamps, and hills of Vietnam soldier and marine slang also followed the traditional path of what was important to their daily lives: their leaders, the harsh environment, food, uniforms, weapons, equipment, and how they fought and lived in the country.

"The book has a likable tone and is accessible to anyone trying to better understand the special language of the Vietnam War as spoken by American service members....I highly recommend Grunt Slang in Vietnam for reference collections at the community college and university level."

"...Rottman, a former career soldier and Vietnam veteran with a string of books to his credit, gives us more than just 'Grunt slang' from 'The Nam'...While no work of this nature can cover every possible neologism or usage, this is a very useful reference for anyone with an interest in the armed forces during the Vietnam era."