[Quix]

Whether such a person would use "wreck" vs wreckage etc. DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS.

1) What was the preferred vocabulary in the family he grew up in . . . in the region he grew up in . . . among the friends he played with . . .

2) How much of an independent personality was he in terms of his lifestyle, word uses etc.

3) What era he grew up in.

4) What post was he stationed at in what year. How rural was it etc.

5) Many military message writers naturally and others were so encouraged to use short words where possible to speed communications. . . . a practice Radiomen typing on clunky teletypes greatly appreciated.

[harrowup]

5) Many military message writers naturally and others were so encouraged to use short words where possible to speed communications. . . . a practice Radiomen typing on clunky teletypes greatly appreciated.

All of your points have merit but this one I have an answer for...crash and wreck are both short and I've seen enough klunky teletype machines to agree with your thoughts on the matter.