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.

[radu]

Hello, hello! I've missed y'all terribly and wish this thing was behaving. I just managed to get to the Canteen and this still isn't acting right. But I wanted to at least get a greeting in before I turn it back off for the night.

To the troops, veterans, and allies, thank you so much for your service! mmmmmmwwwaaaah! that Dinah Shore thang again

I'm dying to stick around but I just don't like the way this is acting tonight and had better get off. I don't want it to go haywire and make a gajillion posts again like it did yesterday! LOL! I love you all, Canteeners and lurking troops alike, and miss ya terribly. With luck the computer will be on the 'net soon so I don't have to depend on this thing. I'll try to get here again tomorrow. :-))

[HiJinx]

We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow, and I'm sure our lurkers do too!
You bring a lot to our Canteen family, even when you can only be here for a coupla posts!!
Sleep well, Radu!! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello and good night. See you later!

[Soaring Feather]

Good Night Troops, Canteeners, All

May God Bless You and Keep You All in His Loving Hands.
Sleep well and stay safe.
Remember the light house.
It is the beam which warns of dangerous shores.
Walk in light.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hey Brother
It's "my Fri" night
Of course I have to get up at 5AM LOl

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Sweet Dreams
God Bless You

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Sweet Dreams
God Bless You

[HiJinx]

So, if you have a 'Friday' night, but have to 'work' on 'Saturday', does that really mean you get two 'Friday' nights?

That's the way I'd look at it, LOL!!!!

[HiJinx]

Good Night...
Thank you for spending time with us...I've really come to look forward to your verse.
I'm sure the troops do, as well!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good bless you bentfeather and thanks for joining us here at the Canteen and bringing us such beautiful poems. And "bentfeather" is beautiful. Sleep well.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"but have to 'work' on 'Saturday'"

"Saturday" is my weekly date with Miss Liberty.
That's not work, just love for my country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh boy, there IS always room for jello. Thank you. I found something to go with it too. *HUG*

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

My barber's daughter only has 3 more weeks to go in Coast Guard Boot Camp.

[HiJinx]

Oh, I know, Bro!!
Just trying to make light of you having to get up at 5AM on your Saturday!
You really do have my respect for what you're doing. I love to tell others about my 'friend' who volunteers with the CG 30+ years after serving with the Navy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

So when does one find out where they will be stationed?

[Jen]

Hi Tonk! Thanks for the flowers and the transportation! You are so thoughtful to think of us Gurlz every day.

{{{{{HUG}}}}}

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"So when does one find out where they will be stationed?"

A few days before graduation.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"You are so thoughtful to think of us Gurlz every day."

How could I not think of all of you? LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Since you have to get up before the sun, I don't want to miss you. Thank you and God bless you good for your service to our country, both in the past, and now with the Coast Guard. Have a really good day tomorrow. You already got everything shipshape, so now you are ready to go. *HUG*

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey, Jen, how is your Mom doing?