American military slang of WWII

Toptomcat · 26-04-2006, 06:10 AM

I've had a devil of a time trying to find a comprehensive online resource on American military slang of World War II (and, to a lesser extent, general American slang of the same era). Can you fellas help me find something, or, failing that, create one in this thread?
Thanks a bunch!

The harvest of the thread so far:

Big Red One The First Infantry Division, so noted for the unit insignia of a single red 1.

SNAFU Acronym, Situation Normal all F****d up

TARFU Acronym, Things are really F****d up

FUBAR Acronym, F****d up beyond all recognition

Herroberst · 26-04-2006, 06:28 AM

Type in Snafu, fubar,kilroy was here, GI slang of WWII in google.

Toptomcat · 26-04-2006, 06:38 AM

I wouldn't be trying you folks if the magic of Google hadn't already failed me. Give me some credit, I don't want to waste anyone's time.
I did try your individual search terms, though, with no dice.

51highland · 26-04-2006, 07:18 AM

Don't know of a full list but, American forces I worked with would use words for various cock-ups.
SNAFU = Situation Normal all F****d up
TARFU = Things are really etc
FUBAR= F***** up beyond all recognition

Herroberst · 26-04-2006, 07:34 AM

http://www.combat.ws/S4/MILTERMS/INDEX.HTM

Has some WWII slang terms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_slang

Ya'll need a little elbow grease in your research that has many terms in about two minutes of search.

39thmilitia · 26-04-2006, 10:46 AM

Kilroy was here rocks.

Toptomcat · 26-04-2006, 03:39 PM

I found those and discarded them: they're both modern era. The only bit of positively-identified World War II AMERICAN slang in the Wiki article is 'Big Red One', for the First Infantry Division. The rest is largely undated. I'm interested in authenticity.

39thmilitia · 26-04-2006, 04:24 PM

Kilroy is real. He was a little cartoon thingee that turned up where ever US troops went.

Herroberst · 27-04-2006, 04:11 AM

Um try cross referencing your questionable terms to gain more info...Or is this a classic example of the Dog Ate My Homework.

von Poop · 27-04-2006, 10:18 AM

What? No Beer?

I'm also convinced He was a ww2 character I went looking, loads of possible etymology (can a scrawl have etymology???)on the web.This one's quite convincing. http://www.kilroywashere.org, haven't yet seen an actual photo with Kilroy in it yet (though i'm sure I have in the past.)
The above site claims this as from a ww2 photo album. Something to do with a shipyard inspector of that name seems the most common story.

26-04-2006, 06:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Toptomcat Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3	American military slang of WWII I've had a devil of a time trying to find a comprehensive online resource on American military slang of World War II (and, to a lesser extent, general American slang of the same era). Can you fellas help me find something, or, failing that, create one in this thread? Thanks a bunch! The harvest of the thread so far: Big Red One The First Infantry Division, so noted for the unit insignia of a single red 1. SNAFU Acronym, Situation Normal all F***d up TARFU* Acronym, Things are really F***d up FUBAR* Acronym, F***d up beyond all recognition Last edited by Toptomcat; 26-04-2006 at 03:44 PM.*

26-04-2006, 06:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Herroberst Very Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the tree line Posts: 1,160	Type in Snafu, fubar,kilroy was here, GI slang of WWII in google. __________________ Coir a glaive *Nemo me impune lacessit*

26-04-2006, 07:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
51highland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich Posts: 812	Don't know of a full list but, American forces I worked with would use words for various cock-ups. SNAFU = Situation Normal all F**d up TARFU = Things are really etc FUBAR= F* up beyond all recognition __________________ 51 highland www.keep-em-moving.com Là á Bhlàir's math na Càirdean (Friends are good in the day of battle) Na diobair caraid's a charraid (Forsake not a friend in the fray) Cuimhnichibh na suinn nach maireann . Mairidh an cliu beo gu brath. (In memory of the Heroes who are no more. May their Fame live on forever)**

26-04-2006, 07:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Herroberst Very Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the tree line Posts: 1,160	http://www.combat.ws/S4/MILTERMS/INDEX.HTM Has some WWII slang terms. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_slang Ya'll need a little elbow grease in your research that has many terms in about two minutes of search. __________________ Coir a glaive *Nemo me impune lacessit*

26-04-2006, 03:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Toptomcat Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3	I found those and discarded them: they're both modern era. The only bit of positively-identified World War II AMERICAN slang in the Wiki article is 'Big Red One', for the First Infantry Division. The rest is largely undated. I'm interested in authenticity. Last edited by Toptomcat; 26-04-2006 at 03:43 PM.

26-04-2006, 06:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Toptomcat Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3	I wouldn't be trying you folks if the magic of Google hadn't already failed me. Give me some credit, I don't want to waste anyone's time. I did try your individual search terms, though, with no dice.

26-04-2006, 10:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
39thmilitia Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 76	Kilroy was here rocks.

26-04-2006, 04:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
39thmilitia Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 76	Kilroy is real. He was a little cartoon thingee that turned up where ever US troops went.

27-04-2006, 04:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
Herroberst Very Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the tree line Posts: 1,160	Um try cross referencing your questionable terms to gain more info...Or is this a classic example of the Dog Ate My Homework. __________________ Coir a glaive *Nemo me impune lacessit*

27-04-2006, 10:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,369	What? No Beer? I'm also convinced He was a ww2 character I went looking, loads of possible etymology (can a scrawl have etymology???)on the web.This one's quite convincing. http://www.kilroywashere.org, haven't yet seen an actual photo with Kilroy in it yet (though i'm sure I have in the past.) The above site claims this as from a ww2 photo album. Something to do with a shipyard inspector of that name seems the most common story.

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