What does a notched dog tag mean?

Known as the “locating notch” in military manuals, the notch helped medical personnel properly seat the dog tag into the imprinter. The Model 70 allowed medical or mortuary affairs personnel to transfer a soldier's personal information on the dog tag and imprint it directly onto medical documents.

Why are ww2 dog tags notched?

In World War II, identification tags started to look more like today's standard-issue dog tags. They were metal and rectangular, with a notch in a lower corner. The soldier's information was imprinted on the metal tag. That notch was used to align the metal plate on the machine that embossed the information.

Why do soldiers wear 2 dog tags?

The tags were worn under the field uniform. According to the Defense Department, in July 1916, the U.S. Army amended its initial order and required a second disc. Why two dog tags? The first tag was to remain with the body, while the second was for burial service record keeping.

What do they do with dog tags when a soldier dies?

Each metallic piece carries the soldier's name, branch of service, blood type, religion and service number. If the solider is killed, one of the tags is removed for official records. The other remains with the dead soldier's body to help with identification by burial units.

What do the lines on dog tags mean?

The last name is on the first line and the second line either has both of your initials, or your first name and middle initial. For the third line, the Marines used service numbers which could be 5, 6, or 7 digits. Fourth line is USMC followed by gas mask size.

What are dog tags

Is it OK to wear my dad's dog tags?

Yet, loved ones occasionally wear the dog tags of those that they have lost. A civilian may wear dog tags that belonged to a grandparent, parent, or spouse. They may wear the tags to remember and honor their family members.

How do you decode a dog tag?

Service number (E.g., 11111/00/00B, where the first five digits are the ID, the second two are the year the soldier turned 18 years old, the last two digits are the year the soldier enlisted, and the letter is the enlistment group, either A or B) Blood Group.

What do black dog tags mean in the military?

Black Dog Tags are used by Special Operations forces such as the Army Rangers, Navy Seals, Green Berets, Commandos, and Delta Force. Black Dog Tags were mandated by a regulation on January 15, 1967 of the United States Army, Vietnam (USARV).

Is it disrespectful to wear a dog tag if you're not in the military?

Civilians can legally wear dog tags. Yet, attempting to use the dog tags for personal gain may be considered an act of stolen valor, which is a punishable offense. Some veterans and active military members may consider it disrespectful, while others do not care.

Can soldiers keep their dog tags?

Hereafter identification tags will be issued to all officers and enlisted men of the Marine Corps. They will always be worn when engaged in field service, and at all other times they will either be worn, or kept in the possession of the owner.

Why do soldiers swallow their dog tags?

When a soldier is killed in combat, his/her dog tags are placed in the mouth or wedged between the teeth for identification purposes. Swallowing dog tags would actually BE the means of suicide as the soldier would choke to death on them.

Why do soldiers put dog tags in their mouth?

In order to allow the gases to escape the dead body, a dog tag was placed in the mouth, between the teeth, to keep the body's mouth open to allow the gases to escape.

What does it mean when a soldier gives you his dog tags?

The main purpose of the military dog tags is to identify soldiers that are wounded or killed while they are in action. These dog tags are allotted to the soldiers as a replacement of the plastic printed identity cards because of their resistance to harsh weather conditions and durability.

When did the military stop using dog tags?

“That lasted about 45 years until 2015, when the Army began removing Social Security numbers from the tags and replacing them with each soldier's Defense Department identification number.

Does the US Navy still issue dog tags?

The U.S. Navy no longer issues Dog Tags to its sailors, however you can still order replica mil-spec tags as replacements from us.

What did dog tags look like in the 1940s?

In 1940 the US Army issued Dog Tags with the top two lines for the soldier's name and serial number respectively. Lines three to five were used to record the emergency contact information, usually their next of kin's name, address, city and state.

Can a veteran wear his uniform to a funeral?

Appearance. Honorably discharged military veterans may wear their uniforms. Veterans opting to wear the uniform will comply with the appropriate service uniform regulation and Department of Defense Instruction 1334.1, “Wearing of the Uniform.”

What must legally be on a dog tag?

The tag must have your name and address on; your telephone number can be helpful too. Without a collar it is possible that your dog may be seized and treated as a stray. You should always keep the contact details on the tag uptodate.

Can you wear your dog tags outside your shirt?

Dog tags outside a shirt

Dog tags serve a purpose for identifying troops in combat and treated as an inspectable item while in uniform. It is unheard of in any current branch of service to wear dog tags outside of the uniform.

What does T 55 mean on a dog tag?

3 Tetanus Date (T55) Blood Type.

Is it a war crime to take dog tags?

Is it a war crime to take dog tags? Yes, depending on the intent. Under the Law of Conflict, it is required to identify captured prisoners, wounded prisoners, and, if possible, dead. For prisoners of war, it is not necessary to collect the identity discs.

Is it okay to wearing dog tags disrespectful?

They may wear the tags to remember and honor their family members. Civilians may also purchase fake dog tags. Fake tags are available with personalized inscriptions. Unlike wearing dog tags that belonged to a loved one, wearing fake dog tags is likely to be considered disrespectful.

What should you not put on your dog's ID tag?

Put YOUR name on your dog, not your DOG'S name on his collar

Having your name on the tag will make it easier for the person calling to get the right person on the phone, especially if you list a work number. Having your dog's name on the tag does more harm than good.

Is it illegal to walk a dog without a name tag?

Legally, all dogs must wear a collar and ID tag when out in public, which must detail their owner's name and address, including postcode. This applies whether your dog is on their lead or not.

Why don't you put your dog's name on tag?

Unfortunately, this seemingly obvious identifier could be a mistake. When you put a name on the tag, everyone your dog comes into contact with will know the name. It would be helpful for someone with good intentions, however, a person with less noble intentions could use that information to entice your pup away.