We all know what dog tags are — those little oval disks on a chain that service members wear to identify themselves in combat. But have you ever wondered how and when that tradition started, and why they're called dog tags?
Steven L. Bennett rest on a workstation at Hurlburt Field, Fla, Aug. Bennett received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while flying an artillery adjustment mission in Vietnam in June According to the Army Historical Foundation, the term "dog tag" was first coined by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.
In , Hearst wanted to undermine support for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. He had heard the newly formed Social Security Administration was considering giving out nameplates for personal identification. According to the SSA, Hearst referred to them as "dog tags" similar to those used in the military. Other rumored origins of the nickname include World War II draftees calling them dog tags because they claimed they were treated like dogs. Another rumor said it was because the tags looked similar to the metal tag on a dog's collar.
Regardless of where the nickname started, the concept of an identification tag originated long before that. Unofficially, identification tags came about during the Civil War because soldiers were afraid no one would be able to identify them if they died. They were terrified of being buried in unmarked graves, so they found various ways to prevent that. Some marked their clothing with stencils or pinned-on paper tags. Others used old coins or bits of round lead or copper. According to the Marine Corps, some men carved their names into chunks of wood strung around their necks.
Dog tags This dog tag belonged to Union Army Cpl. Alvin B. Hailing from New London, N. Those who could afford it bought engraved metal tags from nongovernment sellers and sutlers — vendors who followed the armies during the war. Historical resources show that in , a New Yorker named John Kennedy offered to make thousands of engraved disks for soldiers, but the War Department declined.
To bring that into perspective, consider this: Of the more than 17, troops buried in Vicksburg National Cemetery , the largest Union cemetery in the U. The outcome of the war showed that concerns about identification were valid, and the practice of making identification disks caught on.
To assist with making your own set of Dog Tags accurate to the era we have created templates that automatically format the required information to the official layout. Alternatively, if you have the original Dog Tags it may be easier to just recreate them directly on the Dog Tag Maker page or just email us us a photo of them and we can do it for you. Cited from Wikipedia article on Dogtags. Cited from AR Cited from Wikipedia article on Dog Tags. Personalize your U. Military Dog Tags and see a preview of what they will look like before ordering.
Not sure how to design your tags? Use one of these U. Military Dog Tags layouts or suggestions to get started:. Army format Dog Tags, replicas based on the regulations. Made from mil-spec embossed stainless steel. Korean era style U. They were oval shaped, had either one P or two P holes, and were engraved or etched rather than debossed or stamped. Our British Military style dogtags are laser engraved on 38mm diameter stainless steel tag with a matte non-reflective finish. The dark laser engraving creates a modern looking, dark and deep impression that will not wear down or rub off.
Silencers can be optionally installed. Our Canadian Dog Tags are unofficial replicas made of stainless steel with a matte non-shiny finish. Are you a veteran who lost his Dog Tags years ago?
We can make you a new set that look almost identical to your originals depending on when you served. We also offer a Veteran discount! Recreations of personal historical Dog Tags from specific war eras make sentimental souvenir mementos to honor the memory of a loved one. Commemorate your grandfather, father, or other family members who served in the military with a recreation set of replica Dog Tagsnameplate-for-trxatv. Is one of your relatives in the military?
Support your soldier with a Military Family Dogtag. At MyDogtag. They are completely customizable so you can easily order G. The tag starts as a blank canvas, what you put on it is entirely your choice You also get to see a preview of what your finished Dog Tag set will look like before you even order it!
We can even laser engrave your custom logo or image! Each branch of the service has its own version of a standard format for dog tags. They have traditionally included the following details:. There has been a move in recent years away from including Social Security Numbers on dog tags; depending on the branch of service and other variables SSNs may still be required, but this feature is likely on the way out for all branches of service eventually.
Those currently serving do not need to pay to replace their dog tags; they can be obtained from the office that processes ID cards and CAC cards, or you may need to discuss replacing them with a mobility section or readiness center. Because dog tags are issued to military members for identification purposes only, there is no provision for getting replacement dog tags from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
Families who wish to have dog tags replaced for a loved one are required to have them printed anew by commercial companies that offer such services. There are many companies that offer such services and they are easily found via Google, Amazon. Military members and their families have the ability to request replacement military records such as discharge paperwork from the National Archives. However, replacement dog tags are not part of the mission of the National Archives, so while you may be able to replace documentation via the agency, replacement tags are not possible.
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