| While there are several dog tag formats extant | | | | becoming popular with celebrities like movie or |
| around the world, it's the US Army dog tags | | | | rock stars and athletes. The tags can be |
| form that we are most familiar with. They list the | | | | engraved with a person's personal details, |
| surname, given name, social security number | | | | sentiments for a loved one, their beliefs or tastes, |
| (originally service number), blood type and religion | | | | a favorite quote, or may bear the name and/or |
| - stamped on small oval pieces of metal that are | | | | logo of a popular band or performer. |
| worn on a metal chain around the neck. The U.S. | | | | Like its military cousin, for the longest time |
| Army was the first branch to authorize | | | | identification tags used to aid in finding lost pets |
| identification tags in War Department General | | | | were all stamped or embossed on metal blanks |
| Order No. 204, dated December 20, 1906. The | | | | which were more or less limited to a finite |
| Army altered its regulations on July 6, 1916, and | | | | amount of information proscribed by the size of |
| now all soldiers are issued two ID tags -- one to | | | | the embossed letters used on the tags by the |
| remain with the body and the other to go to the | | | | machines employed for stamping. In recent years, |
| individual responsible for the burial for | | | | new materials like silicone, colored metals and |
| record-keeping purposes. After WWII, the US | | | | plastics and methods of machine or laser |
| Navy Department adopted the same dog tags | | | | engraving have given birth to a cornucopia of fun, |
| used by the US Army and Air Force, which led to | | | | new shapes, colors, and methods of engraving for |
| a single size and shape to become the American | | | | the new materials which have rendered the old |
| standard of today. | | | | stamped tags obsolete. Gone is the day of the |
| During World War II, dog tags were first worn by | | | | boxy, sometimes unevenly spaced letters borne |
| civilians when soldiers often gave them to loved | | | | on a silver or gold-colored metal blank which was |
| ones before deployment or when dating, very | | | | only available in limited-sized round or oval shapes. |
| much like the high school or college tradition of | | | | In addition to a varied palate of colors like red, |
| giving a girlfriend one's letterman jacket or school | | | | green, orange, purple, or even reflective choices |
| ring to wear. Also, in the 1950s, at the height of | | | | like a holographic silver, tags now come shaped |
| fears about a possible nuclear war with the USSR, | | | | like hearts, paw prints, dog or cat faces, and dog |
| it is rumored that all New York City public school | | | | houses. It's even possible to find shapes like a skull |
| pupils were issued dog tags to identify them in | | | | and crossbones, dog bones, suitcases, stars, |
| the event of war. | | | | t-shirts and the Liberty Bell. Now, anyone can buy |
| In recent years, the wearing of dog tags has | | | | personalized id dog tags and can include any type |
| found its way into the fashions favored by the | | | | of custom message or design. New laser |
| younger generation through a style first termed | | | | engraved custom dog tags engrave in a frosty |
| as "military chic". Originally, they were worn as a | | | | white for a great eye-catching contrast of colors. |
| part of a pseudo-style of military uniform by | | | | Modern dog tags or I. D. tags have clearly come a |
| teens and college students wishing to put forward | | | | long way from their humble beginnings as a way |
| a tough or militaristic image, dog tags have since | | | | to keep track of servicemen. |
| gained prominence in broader fashion circles, also | | | | |