buckland@cheddar.ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) (07/24/90)
From: buckland@cheddar.ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) May this civilian request help from the pros with a small research problem? Where can I find the format of the information on U.S. Army dogtags (if a plastic chip with magnetic stripe or something is now in use, I mean the WWII variety, the metal disks)? Any number of reference works will inform me at great and colorful length about insignia, but not about this humblest item of military identification.
woody@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Wayne Wood) (07/25/90)
From: eos!woody@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Wayne Wood) In article <1990Jul23.201658.5303@cbnews.att.com> buckland@cheddar.ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) writes: > > >From: buckland@cheddar.ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) > research problem? Where can I find the format of the > information on U.S. Army dogtags (if a plastic chip with last name first name, middle initial service number blood type service status (usmc/usaf/usn/ra/us/ng) gas mask size religion the service status is (in order) Marine Corps Air Force Navy regular army (enlisted? you fool!) drafted (not quick enough into canada... your number's up!) national guard (maybe i can be vice president someday) /*** woody **************************************************************** *** ...tongue tied and twisted, just an earth bound misfit, I... *** *** -- David Gilmour, Pink Floyd *** ****** woody@eos.arc.nasa.gov *** my opinions, like my mind, are my own ******/
jpulliam@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Jacqueline Pulliam) (07/25/90)
From: jpulliam@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Jacqueline Pulliam) >From: buckland@cheddar.ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) > research problem? Where can I find the format of the > information on U.S. Army dogtags (if a plastic chip with > magnetic stripe or something is now in use, I mean the > WWII variety, the metal disks)? Any number of reference The only reference I'm aware of is the appropriate regulation, but it's easy enough just to tell you here: LAST NAME FIRST NAME MIDDLE INITIAL SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (used to be service number) BLOOD TYPE (abbreviated. e.g., A POS, B NEG) RELIGION (some abbreviated. e.g., ROMAN CATH) We haven't gone to magnetic tapes or computer chips, although there has been some talk in that vein. We still have the stamped metal ovals. Hope this helps! John Pulliam
mbin@amsaa-seer.brl.mil (Mary Binseel) (07/28/90)
From: Mary Binseel <mbin@amsaa-seer.brl.mil> There just happens to be a short article by Gerard C. Wilson on the history of dogtags in the April 1990 issue of _Soldiers_ magazine (v45, n4, published by the U.S. Army, Cameron Sation, Alexandria, VA, 22304-5050.) To quote the article (allowed!) the information on WWII era dogtags was: "... the soldier's name, serial number, blood type, religion, the date of his initial tetanus shot and the name and address of next of kin. At some point during the war the next of kin information was eliminated." This, alas, does not give you the specific format. The article does have interesting photos of some tags, but they are all Civil War era. It does, however, say something about the WWII tag construction: "The 1940 model was made of two thin layers of stainless steel, one of which was larger and was crimped one edge over the other. This model had a curious notch at one end. It was used to properly position the tag in the embossing machine, and as a first nail position when nailing the tag to the shipping crate transporting the remains of deceased soldiers." Finally, as an aside, this little thought for the day: "Vietnam photographs sometimes showed a dog tag worn on a bootlace. This practice was adopted because some types of booby traps could sometimes destroy a man from the knees up." Hope this helps. MaryB