FIRST TO FIGHT USEFUL TERMS AND INFORMATION Many battles in Vietnam took place around or over hills in certain valleys. The hills were frequently distinguished and identified by the U.S. military by their heights in meters. So, Hill 881 was 881 meters high. DMZ is an abbreviation for the demilitarized zone. NVA is an abbreviation for the North Vietnamese Army. ARVN is an abbreviation for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, or South Vietnam’s Army. House-to-house fighting occurred in a number of battles in Vietnam; some cities and villages in Vietnam consisted of thick-walled buildings with walls around them. The NVA went into the buildings, using the walls as defensive and offensive shields. This forced the South Vietnamese and U.S. troops to deal with the enemy building-by-building, hence “house-to-house.”		TEACHER PACKET CONTENTS United States Marine Corps (USMC) History Useful Terms and Information The Marines in Vietnam: A Timeline Student Gallery Activities Bibliography and Sources