The Enduring Symbolism of Military Dog Tags
Family members often hold onto them, as if still clutching their loved one’s hands. Comrades have been moved to tears while reading them. Over a century after a U.S. Army chaplain advocated for ‘dog tags’ as mandatory military issue, these small metal tags remain a vital connection for grieving families to their departed soldiers.
A Sacred Symbol of Connection
‘What they’re searching for is connection,’ said Air Force Chaplain and Maj. Benjamin Quintanilla Jr. at Dover Air Force Base. This base is where U.S. casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and now Iran are brought home. He describes dog tags as a sacred symbol.
Since the World Wars, Vietnam, and conflicts in the Middle East, identification tags have symbolized American sacrifice in global conflicts. The Pentagon acknowledges that the term ‘dog tags’ lacks clear origins. The need for identification became starkly evident during the American Civil War when many soldiers were buried as ‘unknown.’ Approximately 75% of the 17,000 Union troops at Vicksburg National Cemetery fall into this category, as per the National Park Service.
History and Evolution
Chaplain Charles C. Pierce, in charge of the morgue in the Philippines at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, first suggested Army soldiers be issued tags. By World War I, all combat soldiers wore them, and they were official uniform pieces by World War II. A memorable image from this era shows a U.S. soldier of the 82 Airborne Division holding the dog tag of Cpt. Davis Boris during a memorial ceremony in Afghanistan in 2007.
Modern Uses and Symbolism
With advancements in forensics, dog tags are less critical for identification. However, their religious information aids chaplains in offering proper prayers to the dying or deceased troops. For families, dog tags are treasured reminders of their loved ones, sometimes kept, worn, or even tattooed in memory.
For troops, these tags represent a bond. ‘I can trust somebody who is wearing the same identification as me,’ said Quintanilla, who began his service as a dental technician in the Air Force. ‘It means that I was part of something greater than myself.’
This exploration of dog tags forms part of ‘American Objects,’ a series marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.