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.

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Snow! Good morning, EVERYBODY!

Happy WEDNESDAY!

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:
(GROAN ALERT!)

A woman had identical twins, and gave them up for adoption.
One of them went to a family in Egypt and was named Amahl. The
other went to a family in Spain; they named him Juan. Years
later, Juan sent a picture of himself to his mother. Upon receiving
the picture, she told her husband that she wished she also had
a picture of Amahl.

Her husband responded, "But they're twins.......... if you've seen
Juan, you've seen Amahl."

[tomkow6]

At sea aboard USS Essex, Sept. 23, 2002 — Bathed in the blue light of the helicopter direction center aboard USS Essex (LHD 2), an Air Traffic Controller monitors the AN/SPN-43 Precision Approach Radar during flight operations off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. The AN/SPN-43 is the Navy's marshalling air traffic control (ATC) radar system used on all aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships for vectoring aircraft into final approach. Essex is underway with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participating in a Special Operations Capable Exercise (SOCEX). SOCEX is designed to certify that Special Operations Capable Teams are capable of executing several diverse missions from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts to full-scale combat operation. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Gary B. Granger. [020923-N-8590G-001] Sept. 23, 2002

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Tomkow!! You may call it a "feeble attempt" I call it absolutely funny!

[MoJo2001]

Linda, thank you so much for the thread. You've really outdone yourself today!! I'm looking forward to reading it more indepth later. *HUGS*

I hope everyone enjoys the thread today.

[MoJo2001]

It's OVER THE HUMP DAY!! Woohoo!! And, it's a special day today for MoJo! I was married on this day 8 years ago! Woohoo!!! Only 8 more years to go with my other marriage. LOL!(That would be the Navy for those of you out there that think I'm into that polygamy kind of thing..silly!!LOL!)

[tomkow6]

Morning, MoJo! Did you note the "groaner" warning?

[MoJo2001]

I noted the groaner alert. As usual, I just ignored it and laughed at the "feeble attempt" you always claim to give. You are funny, mister!! GET THAT THROUGH YOU BURKA HEAD!! Hey, where's my Adam pose of you??

Hope you have a grand day, tomkow!*HUGS*

[tomkow6]

Happy Anniversary, MoJo!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good morning, everyone.

Glad you guys had a good time, Bunny. Hope to see you later.

[MoJo2001]

<---Click for John Wayne

[Severa]

Hey neighbor *living in NAS Oceana base housing* Where in VA are ya?

[MoJo2001]

Thank you. Talk to me after I've finished my second marriage to see how happy it is. LOL!!! Actually, the Navy has been really good to my family. There are the usual annoyances, but overall it's been a great experience for my family. God bless our Sailors serving away from home today.

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, I'm on the Peninsula! Woohoo! Have a great day! Thanks for supporting our troops!! God Bless your husband and his service to our country. God Bless you for supporting your husband and keeping the home front going while he's defending our freedom!!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Lady Victoria! Hope you have a wonderful day.

[HighWheeler]

Canteen Jokes of the Day:

------------Before the Jokes, we will have a History Lesson--------------

Next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be...

Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children -- last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it--hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

------------ Pay Attention --------------

The math teacher saw that little Johnny wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and said, Johnny! What are 3, 24, 38 and 44?"

Little Johnny quickly replied, "NBC, MTV, HBO, and the Cartoon Network

-------- Top 10 Things Only Women Understand -----
1. Cats' facial expressions.
2. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors.
3. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds.
4. Fat clothes.
5. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time.
6. The difference between beige, off-white, and eggshell.
7. Cutting your bangs to make them grow.
8. Eyelash curlers.
9. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.
10. Other women.

[MoJo2001]

10. Other women.

That is an understatement!!LOL!

[tomkow6]

...they took their yearly bath in May...

I find every OTHER year works best! LOL!

[B4Ranch]

Shortly after President Bush took office, an old man approached the White House from the park across Pennsylvania Ave where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U. S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Clinton." The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Clinton is no longer president and no longer resides here." The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Clinton." The Marine again told the man, "Sir, Mr. Clinton is no longer president and no longer resides here." The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U. S. Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Clinton." The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Clinton; I've told you already that Mr. Clinton is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"

The old man looked at the Marine, smiled, and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it." The Marine snapped to attention, saluted and said, "See you tomorrow, Sir.

[MoJo2001]

This is for others who need deodorant!

This is for those of you who like Burka Man's bathing habits: