Replies

This is my take.

There is a perfectly good engineering reason why the tags are asymmetrical.

To avoid sharp edges, the tags edges are rolled over.

This leaves a rim that sticks up on one side.

Now the tag is not symmetrical top to bottom. If stacks of blanks are loaded into the machine that stamps the GIs’ IDs at random sometimes the rim will hold the surface up and sometimes down for best set-up results the machine needs consistent positioning.

If the rim is always down, it can be dropped into a groove in the embossing plate so the the tag doesn’t slip when being stamped with ID information, jamming the machine. It also makes sure the chain hole location is consistent.

The notch makes sure a big stack is properly oriented with the rim. Important when a flood of recruits is being processed in time of war.

IOW it has much the same function as the cut corner on a computer card.

Nobody from graves registration would need to know that.