What is a "boony-rat buddy" and where did it come from?

boonie rat n: A combat infantryman., from the following Site

You also have a boonie hat, which was used by infantrymen (and branched off to non-infantry) in Vietnam, and is still used during jungle training today, when in a ‘non-combative’ atmosphere.
[Picture](www.camo-store.com/ images/ACU%20Boonie%20Hat.gif)