No animals involved.

[Burning Billy]

Looking back over the thread, I'm surprised shitbird hasn't been mentioned yet.

 

[Jimklag]

My Dad told me that when he was in the Navy in WWII, the guys that stayed ashore and did all the mundane stuff were called yardbirds.

 

[major bill]

Probably came from the Air Force but if you "Blue Falcon" someone you stab them in the back or mess them up.
"Eagle Keepers" maintain planes.

An older term (Vietnam era) is "Long Pig". Referring to having to eat humans to stay alive, the human become long pig.

"Snake Eater"

 

[mofederal]

Junior Birdmen aren't birds or juniors.

 

[major bill]

Once the captain tried to turn me in to a "Trench Monkey" and I asked him to reconsider because as gentleman I was not about to crawl into some bunker like a terrified animal slinking into its filthy den. The captain wisely allowed me walk about and force enlisted men and women to become "Trench Monkeys".

 

[mofederal]

Dogfaces aren't about long faced dogs. Ground pounders, use boots to hit the ground. Beetle crushers don't kill bugs.

 

[major bill]

Pup tents or Dog Tents?

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Vietnam - White Mice aren't mice.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Tunnel rats aren't rats.

 

[Burning Billy]

Once the captain tried to turn me in to a "Trench Monkey" and I asked him to reconsider because as gentleman I was not about to crawl into some bunker like a terrified animal slinking into its filthy den. The captain wisely allowed me walk about and force enlisted men and women to become "Trench Monkeys".

Sort of related to that...

Powder monkeys.

That term didn't die out in the 19th Century either, it's still used for the artilleryman that prepares/handles the powder for the cannon.

My Dad told me that when he was in the Navy in WWII, the guys that stayed ashore and did all the mundane stuff were called yardbirds.

Also sort of related...

A person in the military who spends all their liberty (time off) in the barracks is referred to as a barracks rat.