Part of Speech: n.
Quotation: The individuals who work at the depot are mortuary affairs specialists, referred to as “92-Mikes” in Army parlance.
Author:
Steven Donald Smith
Dateline:
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
Date of Publication:
Mar. 17, 2006
This catchword has yet to be researched.
Comments:
92-Mike, or 92M, is a military occupational specialty (or “MOS") for people doing mortuary work. Each MOS has a 2-digit front part followed by a one-letter ending, and everybody in the US Army has one. They range from “rocketry guidance engineer” to “cook, mobile mess.” A book titled “84 Charlie Mopic”, which is about Viet Nam and came out in the late ‘70’s (I think) refers to an MOS of “84C” (cameraman) with specialty of “moving pictures.” 11B (one-one bravo) is a light-weapon infantryman, or a basic grunt. Googling on any of these brings up a generous number of online cites, some leading to reliable cites offline. ehr
by Edward Rice 24 Mar 06, 0121 GMT
Thanks, Edward. Your information gibes with what I found myself.
by Grant Barrett 24 Mar 06, 0127 GMT
More discussion of the 92-Mikes in this New Yorker piece from Aug. 2004.
by Ben Zimmer 29 Mar 06, 0838 GMT