Dog Tag | Collar

Military dog tags perhaps started to surface (and was referred to by another name or term) in the early parts of 1900s, and was seen among soldiers displaced in faraway lands and unfamiliar, hostile territories, and was used primarily for identification purposes.

Being a stranger anywhere but more particularly in a foreign land could be an experience all too difficult. Who you are and where you are from along with other pertinent information about you is crucial since if any unfortunate events strike you, people who are going to find out will know what to do with you, where to bring you and who to contact and speak with on your behalf. People in the military most especially have acknowledge the utmost significance of establishing one's identification since anytime and any day, while in the service of the nation, they may perish in an instant.

During the Civil War, soldiers provided themselves with their own identification tags since the government that time had not valued or had overlooked its importance. More than 40% who died in battle died without anyone knowing who they are. Alas! They got buried on graves without any tombstone to identify them. The soldiers, desiring that such a pathetic incident of a nameless burial should not befall on them, marked their belongings with identification tags made typically out of paper. For those who want a more secured identification, they skillfully carved their names on wood, made a tag out of it, and then worn them around their necks wherever they went to. Those are perhaps the beginning of dog tags.

Soon many followed the "tradition" of wearing tags until military officials caught sight of those tags. Eventually, they in the higher positions recognized the tags' usefulness and worth and in 1941, on the on set of World War I, decided to officially make them a part of every soldier's uniform.

From paper to the humble wooden ones used before, they have been made into metal tags that measured 1.25 inches wide and 1.5 inches long, oval-shaped and of Monel metal to be precise. It has a hole where a Monel wire was inserted so it could be worn on the neck. The soldier's personal information was etched on it such as the following:

-soldier's initials and his surname
-date of enlistment
-date of birth
-sometimes even medical histories

Its popularity and use waned after the war, but quickly gained back it reputation during World War II. That time, two tags were used: one for the soldier and another one for those who will retrieve their dead bodies (to be given later on to their respective families). Aside from the initials and surnames, other additional information etched on them included the following:

-officer file number or enlisted service number
-blood type
-religion

When the war ended, those identification tags remained and proved that they are here to stay. Soldiers continues to wear them up to this day, and those tags still bore almost the same information such as the soldier's surname first followed by his or her (remember, we have now women in the military) initials, service number and blood type. If the soldier wishes so, the religion's initial may also be included (H would be for Hebrews, C for Catholics and P for Protestants).

Today, identification tags are more commonly referred to as dog tags due to their unmistaken resemblance to the collar tags attached to the necks of dogs in case the animal would get lost.

From exclusive military use, dog tags have caught the attention of jewelry designers and trendy individuals, and have since become a popular adornment or accessory by young boys and men alike. Metal tag embossing surged on its fame and more and more hip individuals would go for it. Shops took advantage of the situation and began including them on their new list of products them. Online stores alone offer an abundance of stylish, quality metal dog tags.

Dog tags are classified as a form of men's necklaces. When silver jewelry became the hottest item to be owned by a man, the sales for silver dog tags increased and there's a possibility of walking across a guy in the street or in the mall wearing one on their necks. Rectangular metal tags are well-liked by guys since they can put into it more information or more initials especially those that have long names or those who would also prefer to have the initials of their girlfriend or wife' initials etched along with theirs.

Round metal tags are also a hit for those who would prefer a subtle look (since they tend to appear smaller) and would want to veer away from the more common rectangular-shaped ones.

Dog tags will continue to be a masculine symbol for men, or just simply a fine accessory for everyday wear.