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.

[SAMWolf]

Your right it is a groaner. LOL

[SpookBrat]

Thanks for the beautiful Autumn flowers. I'm homesick for my flowers lately.

[SpookBrat]

What an awesome, fascinating thread. I can't wait to read it. The kids are calling, but I'll be right back. You did a wonderful job. Thank you so much!

[SAMWolf]

Note To Self: Check to see what Victoria posted before postingyourself.

[SpookBrat]

Good morning and thank you!

[Soaring Feather]

~~Good Morning Troops & Canteen Guys

Thank you for the lovely flowers, you are true gentlemen! Have a great day!

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division search through documents in a compound found to be hiding weapons, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan. As the efforts approach the one year anniversary, U.S. and coalition forces continue operations in Afghanistan aimed at eliminating remaining al-Qaida and Taliban forces. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division take a local Afghan suspected of sheltering al-Qaida members into questioning, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan. As the efforts approach the one year anniversary, U.S. and coalition forces continue operations in Afghanistan aimed at eliminating remaining al-Qaida and Taliban forces. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division look through a box of confiscated hand grenades from a house suspected of sheltering al-Qaida members, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

After the search of a compound, U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division take a local Afghan suspected of sheltering al-Qaida members into questioning, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division cuff a local Afghan suspected of offering shelter to al-Qaida members at his home, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

A U.S. Army soldier of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division secures a compound suspected of holding armaments as a boy tending his goats looks on, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan

A villager is searched after U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division found weapons and a picture of Osama bin Laden at his home, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

An Afghan man stands by as U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division search a room in a village compound found to be hiding artillery, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan

[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning SpookBrat!

Thanks so much for the light house and Count Basie this morning!

I love light houses!

[MeekOneGOP]

Fiend alert !!:

FIENDS' TORTURE CHAMBERS (Saddam & Sons)

---

Saddam, with sons Uday, left, and Qusay, right, has put a command structure in place that transfers to Qusay the authority to use weapons of mass destruction.

September 25, 2002 -- WASHINGTON - Saddam Hussein and his evil sons operate a network of torture chambers in which thousands of Iraqis are kept in small metal boxes, have their tongues cut, and get their hands mutilated with electric drills, according to a British intelligence report released yesterday.

The shocking allegations, contained in the 50-page dossier presented to parliament by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, say repression in Iraq is so pervasive that 40 members of Saddam's own family including women and children have been put to death because of suspected plotting against his regime.

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division make radio communications after finding hidden weapons and artillery during a patrol through a village, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

Afghan men stand by as U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division search rooms in a village compound found to be hiding artillery, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

A U.S. Army soldier of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division lets an Afghan local win during a friendly hand wrestle during a patrol on the outskirts of a village, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division walk a patrol through a river on the outskirts of a village, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

[vetvetdoug]

Nice tags. I still got mine from active duty. Have a nice day!

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division rest against a wall as another views a confiscated Pakistani flyer with a picture of Osama bin Laden, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, at a suspected compound in the southeast region of Afghanistan

A U.S. Army soldier of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division gives a young Afghan boy his pen during a patrol on the outskirts of a village, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division secure the outer walls of a compound suspected of holding armaments as a young boy tending his goats looks on, Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan.

U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Panther 82nd Airborne Division stand guard on the tarmac of a forward military base during sunset, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, in the southeast region of Afghanistan

[ValerieUSA]

Good Morning Canteen

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for Count Basie !!