USO Canteen FReeper Style... Dog Tags... September 25, 2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

Dog Tags
Past, Present and Future

Arlington National Cemetary is not the only resting place for "Unknown Soldiers." Countless American soldiers have died defending our way of life throughout the history of this great nation; many of their graves are marked with a single word,"unknown."

The American Civil War (1861-1865) provided the first recorded incident of American soldiers making an effort to ensure that their identities would be known should they be killed on the battlefield. 42% of all Civil War dead remain unknown.

Their methods varied, and all were taken on by the soldier's own initiative. In 1863, before the battle of Mine's Run in northern Virginia, troops wrote their names and units on paper tags and pinned them to their clothing. Many soldiers took great care in marking all of their personal belongings. Some troops made their own id tags out of wood, boring a hole in an end so that they could be worn on a string.

The commercial sector saw the demand for an identificatuion method and provided products. Harpers Weekly Magazine advertised "Soldier's Pins" which could be mail ordered. Made of silver or gold, these pins were inscribed with an individual's name and unit designation. Private vendors who followed troops also offered  id tags for sale just prior to battles. Soldiers also fashioned tags out of  coins by scraping one side smooth and engaving or stamping name and unit.

A 18 x 35 mm German silver pin Spanish-American War dog tag from 1898. It contained unit, company and individual number.

An ID tag made from a coin

Despite the fact that fear of being listed amoung the unknowns was a real concern among the rank and file, no reference to an official issue of identification tags by the Federal Government exists from the Civil War.

The first official advocacy of issuing id tags took place in 1899. Chaplain Charles C. Pierce recommended that a "identity disc"be included in the standard combat field kit, though the first official introduction of one tag didn't happen until December of 1906.

The Army Regulations of 1913 made a identification tag mandatory. In July of 1916 a second tag was added, and by 1917 all combat troops wore aluminum discs on rope or chain. In February of 1918 the official introduction of Serial Numbers started. 

An aluminum WWI set with Serial Number on back
Two-time winner of the Metal of Honor USMC SgtMaj Dan Daly's tag	WWI USMC Lt.Gen Holland Smith's brass tag
An example of the stamping set used on early tag sets.

Next in the evolution of dog tags came what is known as the Navy/Marine style of tag (as seen above) a more oblong shape with more uniform printing. First made of brass and then a "Monel" metal (a patented corrosion-resistant alloy of nickel and copper, melded with small amounts of iron and manganese ) proved to be more corrosion resistant. In  October of 1938 the start of tests for a new identification tags started, and by 1940 it was adopted.

The M-1940 "notched" dog tag

By the early 70's the "notch" was removed to the present day tag.

The United States Armed Forces is currently developing and testing a new tag , which will hold 80% of a soldiers medical and dentail records on a mircochip known by several names: The Individually Carried Record, Meditag, The Tactical Medical Coordination System and Personal Information Carriers (PIC). It is not intended to replace the present tag, but rather to augment it as part of the "paperless battlefield" concept.

The yellow TacMedCS being tested by the Marines uses radio frequency technology, electronics and global-positioning systems to pin-point wounded.

The black rubber encased PIC is currently under DoD testing.

Tags from Other Countries

A Czarist Russia, WWI tags aid to be found at the 1914 Tannenburg site.	A French WWI bracelet id tag	British WWI ,brass, Dog Tag
An Austrian WWI brass locket with paper information inside with the owner's name engraved on the outside

Dog Tag Chains

There have been several different types of chains used during the evolution of the U.S. dog tag, every thing from shoe laces to the current ball chain.

Early 1940's monofilament plastic with metal ends, yellowed with age.	simple rope	1943 issue cord
These two types solved the major problem with soft cord, metal chains will withstand fire, above is a reprint of a quartermaster manual showing the first of the metal chain set with what are referred to as sister hooks small clasps on the end of the chains.

This silver set was favored by officers

The Military has come a long way from
hanging pieces of wood around our necks.

[MoJo2001]

Thanks, Tonkin! *HUGS*

[MoJo2001]

*HUGS* Kathy that is soooooo cute!! Thank you, Mom!

[MoJo2001]

Howdy, Tom!! Is that me? Nope, TOO SHORT! LOL!

[MoJo2001]

Good evening, Cote!! God Bless our Canadian neighbors!! *HUGS* Hope you are having a great day!! You have mail!

[Kathy in Alaska]

That, of course, is one of the goals of the Canteen: to make sure that our military, past and present, are not forgotten and you sure are doing your best to make sure it doesn't happen. Thank you so much for all you are doing by finding these pictures and posting them. I have to believe that they WILL be seen. And we already know that the troops like your jokes. And so do I!

[MoJo2001]

Thanks for the ping the other day. If you have any advice or any ability to suit up for the Bengals, LET ME KNOW! You could play about a million times better than Gus Fererrotte anyday. Goodness. I just wanna scream watching him. UGH!

[Radix]

I really enjoyed your post today.
Sometimes I try to imagine what it was like back in those days when these machines were still new. I can picture seniors citizens reflecting on their memories of the days when heavier than air flight was stilll considered a dream.
I think about these heavily armed fighter craft being able to go 400 Miles per hour. Boy, that must have seemed fast back then. I find it all amazing.
The United States sure has been the point in the inventing of new machines and ideas since it`s inception in the 18th century.
Even today when I see the new stuff I am mind boggled. I marvel that there are those fools who would ever tangle with the United States. We have saved the World from all sorts of evil. Facism, Communism, starvation and many other threats to Man have been bent to the will of the American Idealogy and it`s innovations. We are not just going to stop being the greatest. We set the pace and we will determine our destiny. Not only that , but we are going to determine the destiny for a lot of them as well. As The Prez said last year, "They will hear us."
We make the best stuff and we can and do and we will continue to take the best care of our Military and the Veterans. You volunteers in the Military can count on us to get these bone head Politicians to stand up and do the right thing for all Americans. We are going to rattle their cages big time. This being campaign time doesn`t hurt the cause either.
I think that there is finally an outcry from just enough of where we will get their attention and they will comply with what we Americans demand from them. You will have the best of everything.
You will always have the finest equipment and the enduring support of all the freepers as well as many many others.
I did not mean to begin to start rambling here. It is just that when I consider all tha Americans have actually accomplished, it indeed makes me feel proud. I honestly believe that this will be our finest hour.
I talk with my son now and then about his role in the Military. I have seen the kind of dedication that he has. I have been made very aware of some of the training that he has undergone. I have no doubt whatsoever about the efficiency of our Miltary.
You all need to know that even though we are not there with you, we are indeed in a more important way very much so with you.
Thanks for letting me ramble!

-Radix

[SpookBrat]

<----------click on the picture

[HiJinx]

Wow...I just snuck back in for a peek, good timing?
Let's see how the new kid works out next week!

[larryjohnson]

Not a ping list,FRiends,just feeble memory. Snowbuns,thanks for the thread and the USO homeawayfromhome. Jen,I read the linked dog tag collection by this wonderful gal. I read jus yesterday on a D-Day page that one tag was buried with the KIA for later reinternment.My WWII child hood friend,P1C Christian F. Birx I learned yesterday was buried in Baltimore National Cemetary in Sep 1949 ,5 years after KIA...I have one tag left and it hangs on a chain over my jungle fatigue shirt in this den... One day I ran out the MACV gate by mistake into Siagon with only shoes,running shorts and my dogtag on a chain around my waist. I circled the base,ran in the 7th AF gate,stopped to show my tag and was waved thru(no salute).

[Kathy in Alaska]

to the Canteen.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[HiJinx]

Happy Anniversay Mr. and Mrs. MoJo2001

^==Click Me...Please?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks for visiting the Canteen, where we daily honor our troops, veterans, their families, and our allies. The Welcome Mat is always out.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Girlz, look at today's transportation. I wonder if it comes with a driver? Or, are you up for driving today, Jen? I know it's a little more sedate than the last few days, but relaxing is good.

[GatorGirl]

Hello everyone!

I'm very tired tonight after a day at "school." Sorry I can't spend longer.

God Bless our Troops and God Bless the USO Canteen!

Uhh, Kathy...we're going to have to make that...

401

Don't think I feel like counting anymore!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Dakmar]

Check out #59, you like Count Basie, don't you?

Thanks SpookBrat!
Thanks SnowBunny!
Thanks Victoria DelSoul!
Thanks SAMWolf!
Thanks KathyInAlaska!
Thanks 68_69TonkinGulfYatchClub!