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.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Tonkin thank you for the wonderful HUG......giggle

(((((( hug ))))

NEW THREAD

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks Kathy!
Yes I must go to sleep now.
Thank You for all you do to support the Canteen
and make it such a magical place.
God Bless You.
*HUG*

[Jen]

My mom is doing much better. Thanks for asking. The docs switched her meds and then increased the dosage of some and her heart finally switched over into a normal heartbeat. We hope and pray that the meds continue to work, but if not, a pacemaker is the next option. Thank you for your prayers and your concern! {{{NHH}}}

[Jen]

Yawn! Bedtime for me. Good night everyone.

Good night Troops! Love ya!!!

[BringingUpPatriots]

(((((((((((((((((USO CANTEEN))))))))))))))))))))

Good Evening Troops! Thank you for protecting us! Not a day goes by that I don't think of our military and you are the reason I am here in the USO Canteen. I have been in chatrooms before and it has been "okay". In USO Canteen, there's a common bond and mission to show our appreciation for the ones who are are risking life and limb for our country's security and freedoms. This isn't JUST a "chatroom".. as you know,this is a "HOME". The Canteen attracts the most patriotic, generous, funloving group of brothers and sisters one could ever know in a lifetime. It's not unusual to get the warm fuzzies or goosebumps regularly here. (Am I alone in this sentiment?)

---

I have been surrounded by inspiration(in a concentrated form) all last night and all day today. And what a full day it has been too! WOW! Snow Bunny, Sassy, and Kneezles and I had lunch (Fall Guy joined us later in the afternoon). I tell you this not to stir up feelings of envy, as I believe you were all there in spirit.

It has been really special to have the opportunity to meet SassyMom and Kneezles and to spend more time with Snow Bunny and FallGuy. This was a day where I wanted to be cloned! I wanted to continue the Canteen Adventure but I also wanted to be a part of my regular Wednesday night spot too.

P.S. I try to remember everybody in the ping list but sometimes the synapses don't fire properly...please forgive and don't feel slighted. Can't you smell the smoke from my brain activity? (I also stayed up til 2am this morning so I'll be totally worthless tomorrow).

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night, Jen and sleep well. God bless you for your service to our country, and thanks for all you bring to the Canteen. Thanks also today for the link to Stacey and her quest for dog tags in Vietnam.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Buppy, how are you this fine evening. Can you see little green eyes glaring at you? LOL!

[firewalk]

Thanks for the post at #250.

[MistyCA]

Glad to see you and I, for one, would have loved to be with you guys today! And yesterday! And the day before! :0) thanks for telling us about your visit and I am glad you all had such a good time! Thanks for sharing your time with us at the Canteen! You are all awesome!

[firewalk]

Hey Spookie, just came by to lurk/read the thread. Hope you had a nice day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

How are you this evening morning, for you? How is your drywalling coming along?

[firewalk]

Thanks for the welcome (:

[BringingUpPatriots]

Hey! We finally meet up after a week or so! How's it going? It would have been great to have you there too! I have been advertising Canteen a lot lately and so it was exciting to share that I got to spend time with great group of people. I look forward to many more opportunities of meeting more Canteenies.

Love,
BUPPY

[BringingUpPatriots]

Little green eyes are glaring at MOI?

BUPPY

[Kathy in Alaska]

My bed is calling me. Hope to see y'all tomorrow.

God Bless all our troops, their families, our veterans and our Canadian and Israeli allies. We pray for your safe and soon return. Thank you for doing the jobs you do to keep this UNITED STATES OF AMERICA safe. We love all of you.

Thank you Lurker, Toby, Tom Cat, Kyle, Joe, Jake, the Z-Tar, Sneakers, Scully and the Pirates, Brook, Leatherneck Rangler Jody, Cory, Jimmy, Winky, Chez, Martin and John for being part of our family. Thank you to all who enter the Canteen. Salute!

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you

The love of God enfold you

The power of God protect you

The presence of God watch over you

Wherever you are, God is,

And all is well.

Amen.

And thanks to Scully and the Pirates, TSgt Munnell, Peter and Greg for your support.

[BringingUpPatriots]

Good Night Kathy! I hope to see you tomorrow!

BUPPY

[redhead]

"I love your doll. She doesn't look like she's dressed for fishing tonight! Are you ready to party?"

LOL! I'd fish in ANYTHING if it was in Alaska. But this is the only doll I can get to show up on my posts. I'm really html impaired.

[blackie]

The pleasure is mine !!

Fire Democrats, hire Republicans !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

Death To all Tyrant's !!

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[LaDivaLoca]

Hello! I'm Ok just busy. Thanks for asking. Hope to catch you sometime soon.