What is a charli?

Answer 1

The US Military alphabet is (or was during the Viet War) Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, etc. Charlie was for the letter "C", which stood for either "Commie" or "Cong" (Viet Cong). Over the radio if a US unit was in contact with a North Vietnamese Army unit or a VC unit, the radio transmission would be, "CONTACT!...November Victor Alpha at Golf Charlie (Grid Coordinates) 123456..." if in contact with VC, "CONTACT!...Victor Charlie, Golf Charlie 123456...". When just talking with the men, the word Victor might be left out of the conversation...everyone knew who "Charlie" was anyway. But if requesting an airstrike, high command (just called "higher" during the war) might specifically WANT TO KNOW who you're in contact with! VC units might not rate a jet air strike...NVA units might certainly need to have some heavy ordnance dropped on them!