USMC Dog tags 1916-2002

[rboyton]

I just was given one of the 2 dog tags that my dad wore in the Marines. He served during the Korean Conflict (your #E above time frame). I've already found out about the notch in the tag. Then I had read what the format was during that period. However, his dog tags are as follows:
first name
middle name
last name
service #
USMC-SS A P

I know A=blood type, P=Protestant. Not sure on the SS. But from the samples I saw, his dog tag is not the correct format, yet, these are his original tags. My brother has the other one.

Could you clarify this confusion please. Thank you

[Rocky C]

The only thing I can think of is that he lost his original ones and they were in a hurry to replace them, wrong plates and the S is the gas mask size with a mistake on the double S.

I hope a member of this forum that is a Korean War Veteran will see this post and maybe shed some knowledge for you.

I will try and contact one for you but they are far and few now as they are in there 80's.

I will do by best to help you.

Can you post a pic with the personnal info blacked out ?

[rboyton]

Let's see if this works.

[Rocky C]

That worked great, thank you. I hope someone can shed some light on the SS issue. I am stumped. Like I said The only thing I can think of is the double S mistake because that is where the gas mask size should be.

[rboyton]

Well, I did order his military records a few weeks ago, still waiting on them. I do know he went to Baker's School. The rest I'll find out when I go through his files.

[DanM]

Possible explaination here , http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/foru...-part-1/page-5.Maybe someone has the reference book in the post.

[m14ed]

ss = selective service....

he stepped into the draft
"Lucky Man"

[rboyton]

Thanks DanM for the link. I went through all 23 pages and it didn't really answer my question on the format of my dad's I.D. tags. I found one "round" one with the name format as his:
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name

I honestly couldn't tell you if these are remakes. They were with his military papers. Oh hummm

[Rocky C]

Ed, the Selective Service would make sense since there was a draft for Korea but it does not fit the format for the " E " dog tag time frame.

[m14ed]

I see that too Rock...

Consider though

the tag is probibly not original issue either..
IE:

((((first name
((((middle name
((((last name
service #
USMC-SS A P

I know A=blood type, P=Protestant. Not sure on the SS. But from the samples I saw, his dog tag is not the correct format, yet, these are his original tags. My brother has the other one.

Could you clarify this confusion please. Thank you
.................................................. .................................
Dollars to donuts ROCK..

it isn't his original ID Tag,

PERHAPS they may be REPLACEMENT TAGS
for lost tags made by someone who didn't know
LAST/FIRST/MIDDLE initial.

[rboyton]

m14ed....I wish I could ask my dad, but he's been gone since '89. So, would you by chance know "when" this format may have originated? I'm just wondering, when he went from Active to Reserve, that maybe that's when they might have been replaced. That would've been around '53-'54.

thanks

[DanM]

There are a number of sites which state the "standard" format was not always followed.

[Rocky C]

True Ed. For the name thing being backwards I was thinking perhaps he lost his original ones and had then made at an army/navy surplus store and the kid just asked his name and didn't know how to format it.

Who knows ???

[rboyton]

Ok Rocky, another question than.....when did Army/Navy Surplus stores come about? We grew up in the country, had to go miles to a "town". Never recall a surplus store until I came to CA in '86. Hummm.....just love them questions

[Rocky C]

Oh, years after he might have lost them. I think they opened in the early 60's.
Could have had them remade anytime after that.

You really got us stumped on this one

We are really trying hard for you .

It's a Marine Thing