USMC Dog Tags

There exists 6 basic shapes of USMC "Dog Tags" :

A - circular perforated at one side, size: of a silver half-dollar
B - circular perforated at each side, size: of a silver half-dollar
C - oval perforated at one side, size: width 1.25 inches (3.18 cm), length 1.5 inches (3,81 cm)
D - oval perforated at each side, size: width 1.25 inches (3.18 cm), length 1.5 inches (3,81 cm)
E - rectangular with rounded end/notch, size: width 1.125 inches (2,86 cm), length 2 inches (5,08 cm)
F - rectangular with rounded end, size: width 1.125 inches (2,86 cm), length 2 inches (5,08 cm)


 

ID Tags "Dog Tags" - shape"A"and "B" (1916 - 1921)
  • Number of Dog Tags – 1 or 2
  • Dog Tag chain – woven cloth cord, wire in cloth sleeve and etc.
  • Dog Tag marking – etched and stamped
  • Side one – stamped personal data
  • Side two –
  • Empty or
  • Etched print of the right index finger or
  • AEF serial number ( since 1918 ) *


* Notice - The Marines assigned to AEF (American Expeditionary Forces ) in France during WW1 used Army "Dog Tags" of shape "A" and "B". In Marine Corps Manual of 1921 is stated : .... has authorized the use of the Marine Corps identification tag until the exhaustion of present supply, after which the tag in the Navy regulations ( tag of "C" shape ) will be used.  In the inter war period and at the beginning of the WW2 the dog tags were not standard issue. In Marine Corps manual of 1940 is stated " .... ID tags will be issued "in the time of war or other national emergency ....".  

Stamped information : Officer’s Dog Tag

  • Initials and Surname
  • Rank and date of appointment in numerals denoting month, day and year (e.g. 1.5.16.)
  • Company ( since 1917 ) - e.g. 95 CO.
  • Regiment or Corps ( since 1917 ) - e.g. 6   REG.
  • USMC

Stamped information : Enlisted Dog Tag
  • Initials and Surname
  • Date of enlistment in numerals denoting month, day and year - e.g. 7. 1. 18.
  • Rank ( since 1917 ) - e.g. PVT.
  • Company ( since 1917 ) - e.g. 95 CO.
  • Regiment or Corps ( since 1917 ) - e.g. 6. REG.
  • USMC


Examples of stamped information :


 

ID Tags "Dog Tags" - shape "C" and "D" (1921 - early 1950's)
  • Dog Tag chain – Monel wire in cotton sleeve, Monel chain, steel cable in plastic covering etc.
  • Dog Tag marking – early issue examples etched **, later one stamped
  • Dog tag of shape "C" - first prescribed in Marine Corps manual 1921 (perforated at one end)
  • Dog tag of shape "D" - first prescribed in Marine Corps manual 1940 (perforated at each end)


* Notice - Monel metal is corrosion-resistant alloy of nickel and copper, with small content of iron and manganese

** Notice - The early issue Dog Tag had on side one etched hand-written personal data and on side two etched
right index print.  

Stamped information : this is general format, "Dog Tag" format can differ from unit to unit, see picture bellow which shows very different forms of "Dog Tag" marking ( from 1941 to 1945 ) I had possibility to survey, "L. DIAMONDS" dog tag is example of etched marking and the data are marked in USN manner ( see U.S.M.C. position on tag ).
 

  • Line 1 : Surname
  • Line 2 : First Name & Initials ( or just Initials )
  • Line 3 :
  • Officer's rank or  
  • Man's Service number - 12345, 123456 or 1234567 and three spaces to the right Religion preferred
    in prefixes only : C - for CATHOLIC, H - for HEBREW and P - for PROTESTANT
  • Line 4 : Date of tetanus shot application with T prefix - T - 8 / 40 and Blood Type - A, B, AB or O
  • Line 5 : USMC or USMCR


Examples of etched ( only L. DIAMOND's dog tag ) and stamped information:


 

ID Tags "Dog Tags" - shape "E" (1940 - 1959)
  • Material used – Monel metal, Brass or Stainless steel
  • Number of Dog Tags – 2
  • Dog Tag chain – Stainless steel chain - beaded style
  • Dog Tag marking – stamped


* Notice - during WW2 the standard issue "Dog Tags" used by USMC were tags of "C" and "D" shape, the wider use of U.S. ARMY M-1940 "Dog Tag" by Marines started after the end of WW2. On most examples of M-1940 USMC and USN "Dog tags" I had possibility to survey, there is not stamped date of Tetanus shot application, which was stamped to standard tags of "C" and "D" shape during WW2 and thus these tags should be post or very late WW2 issue. After war M-1940 tag continuously replaced the tags of "C" and "D" shape.    

Stamped information : this is general format, "Dog Tag" format can differ from unit to unit

  • Line 1 : Surname
  • Line 2 : First Name & Initials ( or just Initials )
  • Line 3 :
  • Man's Service number - 12345, 123456 or 1234567
  • Blood Type - A, B, AB or O
  • the prefix "BT - " (Blood Type) was also used (see picture bellow)
  • Line 4 : USMC or USMCR
  • Line 5 : Religion preferred
  • in prefixes only : C - for CATHOLIC, H - for HEBREW and P - for PROTESTANT or
  • in whole words : CATHOLIC, HEBREW, PROTESTANT


Examples of stamped information:


 

ID Tags "Dog Tags" - shape "F" (1959 - present)
  • Number of Dog Tags – 2
  • Dog Tag chain – Stainless steel chain - beaded style
  • Dog Tag marking – stamped

Stamped information : this is general format, "Dog Tag" format can differ from unit to unit
  • Line 1 : Surname
  • Line 2 : First Name & Initials ( or just Initials )
  • Line 3 :
  • Man's Service number - 12345, 123456 or 1234567 ( used till 1965 ) or  
  • SSN - Social Security Number - 123 45 6789 ( used since 1965 ) and
  • Blood Type - A, B, AB or O and Rhesus factor -
  • Line 4 : USMC or USMCR and Gas mask size - XS, S, M, L, XL
  • Line 5 : Religion preferred
  • in whole words : BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, EPISCOPAL, HEBREW, PROTESTANT and etc.


Examples of stamped information:

 

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