National Guard:
All serial numbers start with digits 20, while the third digit indicates Corps Area or Service Command (i.e. the area of Induction). The War Department allotted following blocks to members of National Guard units inducted into Federal Service.
| Hawaiian Department = | range from 20,010,000 > 20,019,999 |
| Puerto Rican Department = | range from 20,020,000 > 20,029,999 |
| First Corps Area = | range from 20,100,000 > 20,199,999 |
| Second Corps Area = | range from 20,200,000 > 20,299,999 |
| Third Corps Area = | range from 20,300,000 > 20,399,999 |
| Fourth Corps Area = | range from 20,400,000 > 20,499,999 |
| Fifth Corps Area = | range from 20,500,000 > 20,599,999 |
| Sixth Corps Area = | range from 20,600,000 > 20,699,999 |
| Seventh Corps Area = | range from 20,700,000 > 20,799,999 |
| Eighth Corps Area = | range from 20,800,000 > 20,899,999 |
| Ninth Corps Area = | range from 20,900,000 > 20,999,999 |
Brief History:
20 December 1906 > official introduction of a SINGLE Dog Tag (ref. GO # 204) 06 July 1916 > official introduction of a SECOND Dog Tag, i.e. a full pair is now available (ref. C1, GO # 80 + C2, GO # 58) 12 February 1918 > official introduction of ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (too many identical names e.g Brown, Jones, Williams) 01 December 1928 > Dog Tags are now officially part of the uniform and must be worn at all times (ref. C1, AR 600-40) 01 October 1938 > start of tests related to the introduction of a new Identification Tag (introduced in 1939) TAG, IDENTIFICATION, M-1940 – Stock No. 74-T-60 > official stocklist number + nomenclature adopted in 1940 NECKLACE, IDENTIFICATION TAG, WITH EXTENSION – Stock No. 74-N-300 > official stocklist number adopted in 1943. Length 40 inches. In 1942, the first tag is to be suspended on a necklace 25 inches in length, while the second tag is to be fixed to a separate necklace extension not further than 2 ½ inches under the first one – first models of tag holders were in cotton, plastic, nylon, rayon, the official “double-J” metal necklace was only introduced in 1943 (with hooks & catches) the bead type (initially sold at PXs) quickly became very popular and available in case of loss and gradually replaced the 1943 issue, it was made out of 2 lengths of stainless steel, of approximately respectively 28 inches and 6 inches in length, easy and practical for general use. TAG 2” X 1 1/8” > official dimensions: 2 inches (long) x 1 1/8 inches (wide) x 0.025 inches (thick). Rectangular form with notch at left (to position tag on the embossing machine) small rolled outer edges, and a single hole (dia 1/8″) for the necklace. Early types were manufactured in Monel and had a capacity for 5 lines of text, providing 18 spaces per line (ref. Cir # 151, AR 600-40, WD, 12 Dec 40). The official Dog Tag required the following information: Name, Service Number, Date of Tetanus Inoculation, Blood Type, Person to Notify, Religion. US Army Spec No. 34-18, dated 15 February 1939 called for production of a thin metal copper-nickel alloy identification tag (i.e. Monel). Because of the high content of copper, Monel Dog Tags had a yellow/brass color (due to wartime shortages, nickel-copper was sometimes used, whereby Monel tags looked more like ‘silver/white’ metal in lieu of yellow). Steel and stainless steel were also in use. As early as 1941 AR indicated that any member of the US Army was to wear the Identification Tags when in the field or on garrison duty. On 29 December 1942, the overall texts were amended to include that every soldier was to wear his Identification Tags even when dressed in civilian clothes (during passes or furloughs).
Regular Army:
All serial numbers start with digit 1, while the second digit indicates Corps Area or Service Command. The War Department allotted a sequence of 100,000 numbers to each “Department”, and a series of 1,000,000 numbers to each “Corps Area” or “Service Command”. The nine (9) Corps Areas were designated Service Commands July 22, 1942. As per AR 615-30, February 12, 1942, Corps Area Commanders were charged with assignment of Army Serial Numbers to all Enlisted Men within their respective areas. Following blocks were assigned to men enlisted in the Regular Army on, or after July 1, 1940:
| Hawaiian Department = | range from 10,100,000 > 10,199,999 |
| Panama Canal Department = | range from 10,200,000 > 10,299,999 |
| Philippine Department = | range from 10,300,000 > 10,399,999 |
| Puerto Rican Department = | range from 10,400,000 > 10,499,999 |
| First Corps Area = | range from 11,000,000 > 11,999,999 |
| Second Corps Area = | range from 12,000,000 > 12,999,999 |
| Third Corps Area = | range from 13,000,000 > 13,999,999 |
| Fourth Corps Area = | range from 14,000,000 > 14,999,999 |
| Fifth Corps Area = | range from 15,000,000 > 15,999,999 |
| Sixth Corps Area = | range from 16,000,000 > 16,999,999 |
| Seventh Corps Area = | range from 17,000,000 > 17,999,999 |
| Eighth Corps Area = | range from 18,000,000 > 18,999,999 |
| Ninth Corps Area = | range from 19,000,000 > 19,999,999 |
