Civil War dog tag, left, of Corporal Alvin B. Williams of Company F, 11th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, with musket and a bayonet in scabbard, right. Photos courtesy of the Library of Congress.
To ease their minds, some soldiers tattooed their epitaphs on their bodies, while others made personalized dog tags out of paper or stitched them onto clothing. These identification symbols were also fashioned into coins or carved into wood chunks and hung around their necks. It was their way to assist the living when no official process was in place.
Seaman Apprentice Anthony Manning, a hospital corpsman with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, relocates dog tags from the U.S. Marine Corps monument Sept. 9, 2009 on Iwo Jima. US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Monty Burton.
In 1906, the Army issued a general order requiring aluminum disc-shaped ID tags to be worn under soldiers’ field uniforms. These ID tags were stamped with a soldier’s name, rank, company, and regiment and were attached to either a string or chain.
During the Civil War, American service members worried how their bodies would be properly identified if they were killed in action: a fair concern, considering more than 40% of the Civil War dead remain unidentified.
To assist with making your own set of Dog Tags accurate to a specific 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.
Not only is Stolen Valor unethical and disrespecful to our service members and veterans, it IS illegal in most jurisdications to impersonate a member of the armed forces. Unlike Military ID Cards, dogtags are not a valid form of official military identification so it is not illegal per se to wear them. However lying about military service or trying to pass yourself of as a service member or vet by wearing a uniform or medals that were not earned is criminalized in some circumstances, especially if done with the goal of obtaining money or other kinds of tangible benefits. Under no circumstances should dog tags be worn with this intent.
At MyDogtag.com, we provide premium quality Personalized Military Dog Tags for sale that will last a lifetime. They are completely customizable so you can easily order G.I. replica Dog Tags as per military specs, or use your own design for any other use or occasion. The tag starts as a blank canvas, what you put on it is entirely your choice… you arent obligated to put official Military Dog Tag info on it. 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 !
All orders are shipped within 1 business day and are usually delivered within 1 week (in North America). If you need any assistance creating or ordering your U.S. Military Dog Tags please contact us directly, we are here to help!
Information Found on Today’s Dog Tag
Today, dog tags issued by the US military include the service member’s Name, Branch of Service (all except Army), Serial Number (often Social Security Number, or DoD ID Number), Blood Type, and Religious Preference (if any). This information is the most essential information needed on the battlefield.
Note: as of early 2016, the Army is the only branch that has gone away from the Social Security Number on dog tags. They started using the DoD ID Number in Nov. 2015.
The information on dog tags should be protected because having the name and Social Security number is enough for many people to steal the servicemember’s identity. Identity theft is a big problem, not just for servicemembers, but for everyone.
It’s important to understand the purpose of dog tags and the information they contain before ordering a replacement set of dog tags. If you are currently serving in the military and need a replacement set, you can get them issued at no cost. Contact your personnel unit and they can issue them to you or tell you where you can get a set issued. These should only be used in the line of duty. Don’t hang them from the mirror on your car or display them at home. There is no need, and displaying your personal information is not only unnecessary but potentially harmful.
The military only issues dog tags to current servicemembers. They do not issue them to veterans. The National Archives also doesn’t issue replacement dog tags if you make a military records request. They will only send copies of your military records.
So where do you buy them? There are many places that will make custom dog tags. You can find them on many military installations, military surplus stores, or at dozens of online stores, including USAMilitaryMedals.com.