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.

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Chicago

Chicago class protected cruiser
Displacement: 4,500 t.
Length: 342’2”
Beam: 48’3”
Draft: 19’
Speed: 14 k.
Complement: 409
Armament: 4 8”; 8 6”; 2 5”
Commissioned on 17 April 1889
Foundered in mid-Pacific in July 1936

The USS CHICAGO, a protected cruiser, was launched 5 December 1885 by John Roach and Sons, Chester, Pa.; sponsored by Miss E. Cleborne and commissioned 17 April 1889, Captain H. B. Robeson in command; classified CA-14 on 17 July 1920.

On 7 December 1889, CHICAGO departed Boston for Lisbon, Portugal, arriving 21 December. The cruiser served in European and Mediterranean waters as the flagship of the Squadron of Evolution until 31 May 1890 when she sailed from Funchal, Madeira, to call at Brazilian and West Indian ports before returning to New York 29 July.

CHICAGO operated along the east coasts of North and South America and in the Caribbean as flagship of the Squadron of Evolution and, later as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, until 1893. After taking part in the International Naval Review in Hampton Roads in April, she left New York 18 June 1893 to cruise in European and Mediterrranean waters as flagship of the European station. She returned to New York 20 March 1895 and was placed out of commission there 1 May. Recommissioned 1 December 1898, CHICAGO made a short cruise in the Caribbean before sailing for the European Station 18 April. She returned to New York 27 September and participated in the naval parade and Dewey celebration of 2 October 1899. CHICAGO sailed from New York 25 November for an extended cruise, as flagship of the South Atlantic Station until early July 1901, then as flagship of the European Station. With the squadron, she cruised in northern European, Mediterranean, and Caribbean waters until 1 August 1903 when she proceeded to Oyster Bay, N.Y., and the Presidential Review.

Between 3 December 1903 and 15 August 1904, CHICAGO was out of commission at Boston undergoing repairs. After operating along the northeast coast, the cruiser departed Newport News 17 November 1904 for Valparaiso, Chile, arriving 28 December. There, on 1 January 1905, she relieved NEW YORK (ACR-2) as flagship of the Pacific Station and for 3 years operated off the west coasts of North and South America, in the Caribbean, and to Hawaii.

On 8 January 1908, CHICAGO departed San Diego for the east coast and in May joined the Naval Academy Practice Squadron for the summer cruise along the northeast coast until 27 August when she went into reserve. CHICAGO was recommissioned the next summer (14 May-28 August 1909) to operate with the Practice Squadron along the east coast, then returned to Annapolis. On 4 January 1910, she left the Academy for Boston arriving 23 January. She then served in commission in reserve with the Massachusetts Naval Militia until 12 April 1916 and with the Pennsylvania Naval Militia between 26 April 1916 and April 1917.

On 6 April 1917, CHICAGO was placed in full commission at Philadelphia and reported to Submarine Force, Atlantic, as flagship. On 10 July 1919, she departed New York to join Cruiser Division 2, as flagship in the Pacific. She was reclassified CL-14 in 1921. From December 1919 until September 1923, she served with Submarine Division 14 and as tender at the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor.

CHICAGO was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor 30 September 1923; served as a barracks ship there until 1935; renamed ALTON 16 July 1928 and reclassified IX-5; and sold 15 May 1936. ALTON foundered in mid-Pacific in July 1936 while being towed from Honolulu to San Francisco.

[leadpenny]

Thanks for the jokes and history lesson.

These are taken from real Resumes and Cover Letters, and were printed in the July 21st issue of "Fortune" Magazine:

1. "I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet pogroms."
2. "Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details."
3. "Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year."
4. "Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions."
5. "Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave."
6. "Failed bar exam with relatively high grades."
7. "It's best for employers that I not work with people."
8. "Let's meet, so you can 'ooh' and 'aah' over my experience."
9. "I was working for my mom until she decided to move."
10. "Marital status: Single. Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments."
11. "I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse."
12. "I am loyal to my employer at all costs... Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail."
13. "My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in Meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage."
14. "I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant."
15. "Personal interests: Donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far."
16. "Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chainstore."
17. "Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as 'job-hopping'. I have never quit a job."
18. "Marital status: Often. Children: Various."
19. "The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers."
20. "Finished eighth in class of ten."
21. "References: None. I've left a path of destruction behind me."

These quotes were taken from actual Performance Evaluations:

1. "Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and has started to dig."
2. "I would not allow this employee to breed."
3. "This associate is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definitely won't be."
4. "This young lady has delusions of adequacy."
5. "Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap."
6. "When she opens her mouth, it seems that this is only to change whichever foot was previously in there."
7. "He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."
8. "This employee is depriving a village of an idiot."
9. "This employee should go far and the sooner he starts, the better."

These lines are actual lines from Military Performance Appraisals:

1. Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn't watching.
2. A room temperature IQ.
3. Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together.
4. A gross ignoramus -- 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.
5. A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.
6. Bright as Alaska in December.
7. Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.
8. He's so dense, light bends around him.
9. If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.

[Severa]

*looking at the new versions of the dog tags* That's nice...but what about the bubbleheads like my husband who almost never wear their dog tags because of the whole noise issue? *s* I'm sure they have an answer to that.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning MoJo. Thanks, I am great today, (except the part that has to paint the living room today).

[MoJo2001]

Off to my cubicle!! Yeah!! I wish I could have one that looked like this! Actually it's more like this:

Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

[MoJo2001]

OH NO! Not the HONEY DO LIST!!LOL!

Actually, I have a great idea. I'll call my boss and tell him that you really don't want to paint and you'd rather have finish my report that should be on his desk like yesterday. He can then say..WHY THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, MOJO! Why didn't I think of that?

Then I can come over to your house and paint your living room. I actually like painting. I actually don't like writing reports that my boss will just have his secretary read and then give me feedback about what she thinks my boss would have thought. See how that works??LOL! Have a great day! Even if you have to paint the living room!!

[MoJo2001]

Hey! That is why it is so important to STENCIL THE UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS!! They may not have dog tags, but stenciling the socks and underwear can be just as good. I've found that most people who are evil usually refuse to remove the underwear.

[tomkow6]

Does that work on burkas?

[zip]

Good Morning.

God bless our military personnel, past and present AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU to the families of our troops who share in the sacrifices and efforts to protect our Country and our way of life.

Thank you from a mid Missouri veteran and Infinite FReeper.

[MoJo2001]

Sure!! Um, although the burka you have on right now just SCREAMS out to the ENEMY: Shoot me! LOL!

How about something less grease lightning. How about the regular burka outfit. Maybe a camaflauge one. Then we can stencil it for ya!!LOL!

[bluesagewoman]

Fabulous thread. I never realized there was so much history on dog tags, or that their use went back so far. Though dog tags serve a utiilitarian purpose, I know people who have a set, maybe two sets framed in glass boxes, a tribute to their missing or dead loved ones.

One Psalm states that some men search for silver, some men seach for gold. The search for dog tags is a sorrowful one, but a piece of metal with the love and memories attached is way more precious! A diamond necklace could never shine as brightly as the jewel holding a tiny biography of a whole life.

Again, thanks for the research and presentation. Sets up another day of relection for me. Will check back later.

[tomkow6]

Camaflauge? How's this:

[MoJo2001]

Oh yeah! That's an improvement! LOL! Well, I'm off to work! Have a great one, tomkow!!

[SAMWolf]

Interesting history on the dogtag, Bunny

[Cagey]

What an interesting thread!

I still have my Dad's dogtags, and of course my own. My father was a WWII veteran and his tags were notched as the photo in your piece shows. The notch was there to make it easier for the tag to be placed between the teeth of a deceased serviceman for later identification.

[SAMWolf]

Hey RA! Did you leave these at the Canteen last night?

[SAMWolf]

I'm still waiting fro my Army Mailbox.

[SAMWolf]

Happy Anniversary, MoJo!

[SpookBrat]

Good morning Troops! Good morning FRiends!

<--------click on the picture for Count Basie