-Z-

Zap

To shoot or hit with a bullet.

Zeilin, Jacob

Seventh Commandant of the Marine Corps. A Philadelphian born July 16, 1806 he had fought Mexicans in California and was a company commander at the First Battle of Bull Run before becoming Colonel Commandant on June 10, 1864 following the death of Harris. He became the first Brigadier General Commandant and was responsible for the creation and adoption of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem of the U. S. Marine Corps.

Zero

To set the sights of a weapon so that a proper sight picture will obtain a bull on the rifle range.

Any officer. Taken from the pay grades (O-1 to O-10). Also a Japanese aircraft in World War II.

Zip

(World War II thru early Vietnam). Orientals.

Zipper Head

(Vietnam) Vietnamese.

Zips

Locals in the war zone. From the derisive term zipperhead.

Zippo

(World War II to present) A cigarette lighter made in Bradford, PA and prized by all military personnel because of their rugged construction and ability to stay lit in a typhoon. Also a derogatory term for a flame-thrower tank.

Zoomie

A pejorative term for Marines assigned to an aviation unit or all members of the Air Force.

Zulu Time

Greenwich Mean Time.  The time at the observatory at Greenwich England.  Used to standardize time for exercises or missions.