Death in the Jungle by Gary Smith (most inspirational books .txt) 📕

the captain as to how the ship should be conned (manipulated); also a man at the controls of an aircraft.

Pipe down: An order to keep silent; also used to dismiss the crew from an evolution (activity).

Pipe the side: Ceremony at the gangway, in which sideboys are drawn up and the boatswain’s pipe is blown, when a high-ranking officer or distinguished visitor comes aboard.

Pitch: The heaving and plunging motion of a vessel at sea.

Plan of the day: Schedule of day’s routine and events ordered by executive officer; published daily aboard ship or at a shore activity.

Plank owner: A person who has served aboard ship, or command, from its commissioning.

Platoon: Generally consisted of fourteen SEALs, with twelve enlisted men and two commissioned officers. Each platoon was made up of two squads.

PLO: The Patrol Leader’s Order, given prior to the conduct of each mission, which contains detailed instructions concerning the conduct of the mission. The basic outline is: 1) situation; 2) mission; 3) execution; 4) administration and logistics; 5) command and signal.

Point man: Responsible for navigating the best and safest route for the patrol. He is to maintain an appropriate distance forward of the patrol leader, yet maintain visual contact with him, unless instructed otherwise. He must be ever watchful for booby traps and signs of enemy activity. He should be a good tracker, preferably a country boy with a lot of hunting experience.

Pollywog: Person who has never crossed the Line (the equator).

Poop deck: Partial deck at the stern over the main deck.

Port: Left side of ship facing forward; a harbor; an opening in the ship’s side, such as a cargo port. The usual opening in the ship’s side for light and air is also a port. The glass set in a brass frame that fits against it is called a port light.

POW: A prisoner of war.

Pricker: Small marlinspike.

Principles of War: Mass: The concentration of means, at the critical time and place, to the maximum degree permitted by the situation. Objective: The destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight is the ultimate military objective of war. Simplicity: Uncomplicated plans clearly expressed in orders, promoting common understanding and intelligent execution. Surprise: Striking the enemy when, where, or in a manner for which he is unprepared. Unity of Command: Obtains unity of effort by the coordinated action of all forces toward a common goal. Offensive: Permits the commander to exploit the initiative, and impose his will on the enemy. Maneuver: Positioning of forces to place the enemy at a relative disadvantage. Economy of Force: To conserve means. To devote means to unnecessary secondary efforts, or to employ excessive means on required secondary efforts, is to violate the principles of both mass and objective. Security: Those measures necessary to prevent surprise, avoid annoyance, preserve freedom of action, and deny to the enemy information of our forces.

Property pass: Signed, printed form authorizing a person to remove personal property from a ship or station.

PT: A series of physical training experiences designed to maintain maximum strength and stamina of all muscle groups. Regular PT would last approximately thirty minutes followed by a four- or six-mile run. Occasionally there would be a “burn-out” PT which lasted forty-five minutes to one hour. These usually occurred on Friday mornings, which gave the old timers Saturday and Sunday to recover.

Punt: Rectangular, flat-bottomed boat usually used for painting and other work around the waterline of a ship.

Pyrotechnics: Chemicals, ammunition, or fireworks that produce smoke or lights of various colors and types.

Quarterdeck: That part of the main (or other) deck reserved for honors and ceremonies, and as the station of the OOD in port.

Quarters: Living space; assembly of the crew (all hands assembled at established stations for muster, drills, or inspection).

Radar (radio detection and ranging): Principle and method whereby objects are located by radio waves. A radio wave is transmitted, reflected by an object, received, and the results displayed on an oscilloscope or cathode ray screen.

Radioman: Located directly behind the patrol leader. He is responsible for maintaining communications with support elements, as directed by the PL.

Radio direction finder: Apparatus for taking bearings on the source of radio transmissions.

Rake: Angle of a vessel’s masts and stacks from the vertical.

Rakish: Having a rake to the masts; smart, speedy appearance.

Rally point: Usually designated, on the spot, by the patrol leader by pointing his index finger toward the sky and moving his hand in a circular motion. In the event individuals within the squad or platoon later become separated, they will regroup and reorganize at that rally point.

Rank: Grade of official standing of commissioned and warrant officers.

Rate: Grade of official standing of enlisted men. A rate identifies a man by pay grade or level of advancement; within a rating, a rate reflects levels of aptitude, training, experience, knowledge, skill, and responsibility.

Rat guard: A sheet metal disc formed into a conical form, with a hole in the center, and slit from the center to the edge. It is installed over the mooring lines to prevent rats from boarding ship from the shore over the mooring lines.

Rating: Name given to an occupation that requires basically related aptitudes, training experience, knowledge, and skills. Thus, the rating of yeoman comprises clerical and verbal aptitudes, filing, typing, and stenographic skills, and knowledge of correspondence, reporting forms, et cetera. Men in pay grades E-1, E-2, and E-3 are not considered as possessing ratings.

Ready room: Compartment on aircraft carriers in which pilots assemble for flight orders.

Rear security or rear point: Usually a rifleman who provides rear security, and is the last man in the patrol. He and the point man will generally alternate. He is responsible for insuring that no enemy forces are tracking the patrol, and he covers the patrol’s tracks when necessary.

Recon by fire: A technique of firing to draw fire, in order to locate an enemy’s position.

Reef: Chain or ridge of rocks, coral, or sand in shallow water.

Reefer: Refrigerator vessel for carrying chilled or frozen foodstuffs.

Relative bearing: Bearing or direction of an object, in degrees, in relation to the