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.

[Johnny Gage]

Good morning everyone.

Snow Bunny thanks for the nice history of the "dog tag"
One question I have:
What was the "notch" on the dog tags?

ok.. back to work for me.
Later!

[Dick Bachert]

OUTSTANDING WORK, LADIES!

Bunny Bump and thanks from all of us.

[Valin]

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot
Shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
and I'll cut a rug 'til I'm snug in a jug
A slice of onion and a raw one,
Draw one!
Waiter, waiter, percolator!

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me,
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup!

Boston beans (soy beans)
I said the little itty-bitty green bean
(cabbage n' greens)
You know that I'm not keen about a bean, unless it is a
chili chili bean! (Talk it, boy!)

I love java sweet and hot,
Whoops, Mister Moto, I'm a coffee pot (yeah)
You shoot me the pot, and I'll pour me a shot,
A cup, a cup, a cup, 'an dat zat bootle!

Blow me a slug from that wonderful mug
And I'll cut a rug that's snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in my pot - Joe
Takin' it slow
Waiter, waiter percolator

I love coffee, I love tea,
I love the Java Jive an' it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup - BOY!

[deadhead]

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS

Have a wonderful day all!

[Valin]

Go to your room!

[tomkow6]

I warned you! Don't blame me if you read it!

[JustAmy]

A guy walks into a bar and there's a woodchuck sitting there drinking a 7&7. He sits down next to the woodchuck and says, "So, tell me something I've always wondered about. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

The woodchuck snapped his swizzle stick in half and waved it in the guy's face. "I've got half a mind to remove your sinuses with this swizzle stick. Do you realize you are the tenth guy to ask me that since I came into this bar? Do you really think that just because I am a woodchuck I have nothing better to do than sit around all day chucking wood?"

The guy was somewhat taken aback and quickly apologized. Then he scratched his head. "So tell me, what does a woodchuck do all day?"

"Around here - answer stupid questions."

[Valin]

It's stupid question!(my specialty)
What the heck is the Squadron of Evolution?

[SassyMom]

Hi, friends! I'm getting just a minute to make a quick post. I hope y'all have a really great Wednesday.

God bless all of you! God Bless our troops! LET'S ROLL!!!!

[Valin]

You'd think by now I'd have learned.

Of course you'd be WRONG! But you could think that.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Morning Troops, families, veterans, and Canadian and Israeli allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 7:52am
Sunset 7.47pm

Hi 57F
Lo 48F
Cloudy; rained all night and still raining

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 50F
Lo 48F

State Hi 61F
State Lo 19F

[tomkow6]

If you ask my wife, she'll tell you I'm ALWAYS wrong!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Happy Anniversary!
*HUG*

[Valin]

Rule #1 the wife is always right.
Rule #2 in the unlikely event that the wife is wrong..see rule #1

By the simple application of these 2 rules you will find (I believe) that life is much more peaceful.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House listened to, and hummed along with for effect, and Prayer of Protection said. Now on with my day.

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.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Today's transportaion for you and the Girlz.
For those who don't know I drove a cab in Hollywood CA for several years.
I also have many years as a cab driver and dispatcher.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I have to leave early today.
I'll be back tonight.
Woo Hoo, it's "my Fri" today!
God Bless and protect our military and our allies military.

[aomagrat]

The Squadron of Evolution was the 19th century version of The Great White Fleet. The Squadron of Evolution was made up of the United State's first modern steel warships, USS Atlanta, USS Boston, USS Chicago and USS Dolphin. They were also the first US ships designed with electric lighting. The squadron of evolution toured Europe and the Mediterranean in 1889.