We’re all familiar with dog tags, which are small oval disks on a chain worn by service members to identify themselves in war. Have you ever pondered where and when this custom began, or why dog tags are called that? As per the Army Historical Foundation, publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst was the first to develop the term “dog tag.” Hearst wanted to discredit President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1936. He’d heard that the newly constituted Social Security Administration was proposing issuing personal identifying nameplates. Hearst identified to them as “dog tags” comparable to those worn in the military, according to the SSA.

We’re all familiar with dog tags, which are small oval disks on a chain worn by service members to identify themselves in war. Have you ever pondered where and when this custom began, or why dog tags are called that? As per the Army Historical Foundation, publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst was the first to develop the term “dog tag.” Hearst wanted to discredit President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1936. He’d heard that the newly constituted Social Security Administration was proposing issuing personal identifying nameplates. Hearst identified to them as “dog tags” comparable to those worn in the military, according to the SSA.

10+ Dog Tag Samples

Those metal ovals hung on a chain around the neck are recognizable to anyone who has joined the military for any duration of time. They’re really identification tags, but practically everyone refers to them as dog tags. Dog tags have a shady history dating back to the Civil War. Soldiers would frequently scribble basic information of themselves on a sheet of paper and attach it to their uniform in particular instance they were killed or gravely injured at the time. Some units paid extra for longer-lasting identification. There was no consistency, however, in terms of what was provided. The information on today’s identity tags includes the wearer’s name, Social Security number, blood type, and religious preference.

1. Dog Tag Application

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2. Sample Dog Tag Application

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3. Dog Tag Order Form

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4. Duplicate Dog Tag

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5. Sample Dog Tag

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6. Dog Tag Replacement

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7. Dog Tag Registration

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8. Dog Tag Example

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9. Dog Tag Form

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10. Dog Tag Memorial

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11. Printable Dog Tag

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The question as to whether the two tags should be kept together or separated has been debated by regulators. In 1959, the method was revised to ensure that if a military member died, both dog tags remained with them. However, Vietnam reverted to the previous policy of taking one tag and keeping the other. The size of a person’s gas mask was eventually placed on the tags for Marines.

The Army began to replace serial numbers with Social Security numbers in 1969. The Army began eliminating Social Security numbers from the tags in 2015 and substituting them with each soldier’s Defense Department identity number, which lasted around 45 years. Soldiers’ identifying information was protected as a result of the relocation, which also helped to prevent identity theft.

Since Vietnam, significant technology developments have occurred, including the capacity to identify remains using DNA. Despite these developments, service personnel are still issued dog tags today. They serve as a reminder of America’s efforts to commemorate those who have served, particularly those who have given the great sacrifice.

Military dog tags play a critical role in identifying personnel in the army. The primary aim of military dog tags is to recognize soldiers who are injured or killed while on duty. Because of their weather resilience and longevity, these dog tags are given to soldiers as an alternative for the plastic printed identity cards.

T304 stainless steel is used to make these dog tags. To resist corrosion, this grade of stainless steel comprises 18% chromium and 8% nickel. A standard military dog tag comprises the soldier’s first and last names, as well as his or her military ID number, and serves as an identity token for the soldiers. All of the above-mentioned data about the soldier are firmly engraved into the sheet of metal, with very little chance of the details being removed. These tags are extremely useful in identifying a soldier, whether he is dead or alive, during a fight.

FAQs

What is the role of ID tags during World War 2?

Military ID tags were officially considered component of the uniform by World War II, and had progressed into the current size and shape — a rounded rectangle composed of nickel-copper alloy. Your name, rank, service number, blood type, and religion, if requested, were all mechanically stamped on each. These originally had an emergency notice name and address on them, but these were deleted at the conclusion of the war.

When was the first official request to outfit service members with ID tags?

At the end of the Spanish-American War in 1899, the first formal request for service members to be issued ID tags was made. Army Chaplain Charles C. Pierce, who oversaw the Army Morgue and Office of Identification in the Philippines, advised that all soldiers be issued circular disks in order to identify those who were seriously injured or killed in combat.

While dog tags have evolved substantially since its inception in the early 1900s, their practicality has undoubtedly aided in the identification of those who have been lost in battle. In addition, the number of connections on each chain serves a useful purpose. If someone is detained as a prisoner of war, the longer chain with 365 beads and the shorter chain with 24 beads might be used as a makeshift calendar. Dog tags have played a crucial part in ensuring that no one is left behind or forgotten in wars, serving as a somber reminder of the cost of conflict. While biological identifiers can now be used to determine who a slain soldier was, dog tags will likely continue to be an important element of military equipment.

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