During the Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 to 1975, there were a few common nicknames used for American soldiers who fought in the conflict. Some of the most well-known nicknames include grunts, GI Joes, diggers, dogfaces, and jarheads.
Grunts
One of the most commonly used nicknames for American infantrymen in Vietnam was “grunt.” This nickname likely originated from the sounds soldiers made while working in the field, hefting their heavy packs and equipment. The term “grunt” conveys the strenuous physical nature of the infantryman’s job in Vietnam.
Robert Barrett explains the origins of the term “grunt” in his book Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II Through Iraq:
Vietnam helped revive “grunt,” which seems originally to date from World War II. Derived from the physical exertion of soldiering, it suggests the hard work, common tasks, and dirt of combat more than do such World War II nicknames for infantrymen as “dogface” and “doughfoot.” Grunts in Vietnam had long periods of routine patrols, guard duty, and labor.
So “grunt” was used to reflect the grunt work and physical demands placed on the American infantrymen fighting the war on the ground in Vietnam.
GI Joe
“GI Joe” was another common term for American soldiers in Vietnam. GI stands for “Government Issue” or “General Issue,” referring to equipment and supplies for soldiers. The name “GI Joe” originated during World War II when the first American action figures were created to look like and represent American GIs.
The term GI was used to refer to any American soldier, and continued to be a popular nickname during the Vietnam War era. However, because of the unpopularity of the Vietnam War back home, the term “GI Joe” lost some of its heroic and patriotic luster from World War II.
Diggers
Some American infantrymen in Vietnam referred to themselves as “diggers,” likely originating from the amount of time spent digging foxholes, tunnels, and trenches. Bartholomew H. Sparrow explains in Heart of the Warrior:
By the mid-1960s GIs in Vietnam had taken up this self-description [diggers] for the opposite reason: they dug into the earth and “popped up like moles” to survey and engage the Viet Cong.
Paul Dickson’s War Slang: American Fighting Words and Phrases also indicates the term “digger’ was used by soldiers:
…who spent weeks at a time “digging holes” in their attempts to avoid injury and death.
So the digging and trench warfare prominent in the Vietnam War led some soldiers to refer to themselves as “diggers.”
Dogfaces
“Dogface” was a term that originated in World War II but carried over as a nickname for American soldiers in Vietnam. It refers primarily to Army infantrymen. The exact origins of why infantrymen were called dogfaces is unclear, but some theories suggest:
- Infantrymen worked and lived in the muck like dogs
- Foot soldiers were commonly known as “mudfoot” which transformed into “dogfoot” then “dogface”
- The uncomplaining but obedient nature of infantrymen was like dogs
Dogface conveyed the grit and toughness of the infantrymen fighting on the frontlines in Vietnam jungles and rice paddies. The dogface belonged to an exclusive club reserved for those who engaged directly in combat.
Jarheads
“Jarhead” was a nickname used primarily for Marines serving in Vietnam. It referred to their buzzcut haircuts that made their heads look like jars. Some sources suggest the nickname jarhead dates back to World War II.
The term jarhead could sometimes be used in a derogatory sense by soldiers of other branches. But Marines embraced the nickname with pride. Being a jarhead meant being tough enough to withstand the intense mental and physical rigors required of the Marine Corps.
Conclusion
Nicknames like grunts, GI Joes, diggers, dogfaces, and jarheads reflected the experiences and identities of American soldiers fighting on the ground in Vietnam. These nicknames highlighted the physical demands of infantrymen, as well as their mental toughness and resilience. The different nicknames help capture the realities of service and sacrifice made by soldiers on the frontlines of combat.