Dog Tags

[decaro]

I finally found my late dad's WW II dog tags and compared to mine -- I served during ODS, SFORVII -- they were very different.

Dad's began with his first name, middle initial and last name (mine was the standard last name, first name, MI).

Then came what I assume was dad's military serial number followed by T42 (trained in 1942?) followed by an off-set 43 with a capital A (blood type?) far to the right near the eyelet for the chain.

But what followed next was his mother's name and address, which I assume would be used by Grave's Registry to notify the family in a worst case scenario; we had a Casualty Feeder report that was carried inside our helmets.

Unlike mine, dad's tag had no religious affiliation; frankly, there wasn't much room left for any more info.

So does anyone know what the T42 43 line refers to?

[jomni]

This site says these are Tetanus dates.  Tetanus shots?
http://www.mooremilitaria.com/dog_tags.htm

Religious preference is indicated by a letter and not spelled out.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: jomni

This site says these are Tetanus dates.  Tetanus shots?
http://www.mooremilitaria.com/dog_tags.htm

Religious preference is indicated by a letter and not spelled out.

Thanks much jomni; the WWII Style 1 (November 1941 to July 1943) matched my dad's tags: T42 43 must be the years of his Tetanus shot and booster, with (Type) A and C (for Catholic) both right justified on the tag.

Also, I didn't realize the subtle differences in today's dog tags from different services.

Again, thanks much!

[Hellcat 707 Hp]

Mine from 1981
Name
Soc number USN AP
Rom-cath

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: Kampfgruppe Peiper

Mine from 1981
Name
Soc number ...

SSNs had replaced serial numbers, but after ID theft became prevalent in the civilian sector, the military would only post your last 4 digits on roosters and the such.

[oldspec4]

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

ORIGINAL: Kampfgruppe Peiper

Mine from 1981
Name
Soc number ...

SSNs had replaced serial numbers, but after ID theft became prevalent in the civilian sector, the military would only post your last 4 digits on roosters and the such.

I'm a Viet Nam era vet and IIRC our names and SSNs were stamped on our duffle bags for all to see [X(]. No could do again in today's world.

[OldSarge]

I just checked my duffle bag from the early '80s. SSN is there, stamped right below the name for the whole world to see. [X(]