cannon cocker

English

Noun

cannon cocker (plural cannon cockers)

1. (US, military, slang, sometimes derogatory) A member of the military who fires guns; a soldier involved in gunnery.
   • 2009, Billy Hall, Bulletproof: In Vietnam, page 103:

     A 'Cannon Cocker' is the lowest form of existence that there is in the Army. It is hot, dirty, dangerous, loud and continuous.

   • 2011, Kris Alexander, Servants of the Light:

     “I guess we need to take these guys in,” a cannon cocker said. I met Smith's eyes, and he shook his head. Neither of us was much interested in taking the prisoners back to base.

   • 2012, Dr. George A. Baker III, The Making of a Marine-Scholar, page 561:

     I subsequently taught enough artillerymen at Quantico, and the Naval War College to make that statement, and today, even in the war on terror, I would ensure that my chief of staff was a cannon cocker!