USAF385
US Veteran
Mine are patiently waiting with the rest of my gear for "summer camp" in July.
Dog Tags
- Thread starter kraigwy
- Start date
GRIZZLYBEAR
US Veteran
I was drafted in '63 and had one of the US numbers.
With the way that Nam Vet were treated by the "good people" back home, I pitched everything but the brief case that contained my DD214 & some awards & decorations. Packed them in box that is somewhere in the attic.
The only things that I have from military days (that have any meaning to me) are several good friends, memories of some of good times and bad times, the DD214, my draft card, & my honorable discharge papers.
The awards & and decoration mean nothing to me and as far as I am concerned if I ever run across them they'll end up in the trash.
With the way that Nam Vet were treated by the "good people" back home, I pitched everything but the brief case that contained my DD214 & some awards & decorations. Packed them in box that is somewhere in the attic.
The only things that I have from military days (that have any meaning to me) are several good friends, memories of some of good times and bad times, the DD214, my draft card, & my honorable discharge papers.
The awards & and decoration mean nothing to me and as far as I am concerned if I ever run across them they'll end up in the trash.
JcMack
Member
My dads are from WWII and Korea, they had the "tooth notch". Mine are from '67 and are plain. When did they discontinue the notch?
JamesArthur60
US Veteran
I don't know when, but the so-called tooth notch was a made up rumor. I watched a show on tv and that notch was actually a slot, designed to keep the tag in place during the information stamping process. I believe the History channel show "Mail Call" addressed it as well. Dog tags were not left in the mouth/jaw.
mkk41
US Veteran
I have one of my original boot camp issue tags. My daughter has the other. Got a few additional sets. As aircrew , we could always get another set. Many aircrewmen would lace one in each flight boot.
G.T. Smith
US Veteran
I still have both of my dog tags on my keys to my truck. I have one PFC lapel pin. I have a dress green uniform at my Mon's house and I would just about bet that my Mom has any and all of my medals in her safe. I don't think I could fit in to my uniform at the present time, but I have been working on losing a little weight and have lost about 7 pounds in the last month. I am gonna try it on when I get back down to 155. I currently weigh 182.
I still have my P38 can opener on my keys too. I picked up a stainless one in Germany and gave it to my Son. I still have my belt, but I don't want to talk about the last time I tried that on.
Have a good one,
Peace,
Gordon, USASA, 1970-1976
I still have my P38 can opener on my keys too. I picked up a stainless one in Germany and gave it to my Son. I still have my belt, but I don't want to talk about the last time I tried that on.
Have a good one,
Peace,
Gordon, USASA, 1970-1976
Last edited:
I wear mine every day. If something should happen, I want people to know who I am or was.
bobcat
US Veteran
Mine are packed away, one of the very few things I kept, I used to keep one on my keychain, but with the SS #, I took it off. Used to keep a P 38 on there also, but it kept snagging my pockets so took that off as well, although it's still in my truck.
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
I had both
As one poster reminded me, I'm one of those unique individuals who was already in a while when "they" decided to make the soc sec # the service number, which I'm sure messed up all the fun in boot camp, where you could see who was a "US" and who was an "RA" (you asked for it!!) but I was already gone from dear old Basic Combat Training Camp by then. I wonder what the real motive was in changing those numbers, HMMM... Did you ever think you would have fond memories of boot camp? I didn't, but I sure do. I had a serial number that started with a "US," and I was proud to be a conscript citizen soldier. My wife, who is considerably younger than me, has my dog tags now. One of the reasons I kept them was that I had designated "No Pref" in the area reserved for "religious affiliation." While I am not religious, I do belong to Jesus, and my relationship with Him is the greatest thing that will ever happen to me. To me, at this point in my life, it is incredible how I got as far as I did with little if any acknowledgement of God, including Viet Nam, still amazes me. But I had a praying Mom-and Dad. A lot of guys that came home before me said they would dump their stuff as soon as possible, and some who didn't "ETS" were advised not to wear their uniforms off base. There is a good read that addresses that whole issue called "Home Comming" I think. Not sure, but I think the author is Bob Green-really interesting, but get ready for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster if you read it. Welcome home everyone. Flapjack.
As one poster reminded me, I'm one of those unique individuals who was already in a while when "they" decided to make the soc sec # the service number, which I'm sure messed up all the fun in boot camp, where you could see who was a "US" and who was an "RA" (you asked for it!!) but I was already gone from dear old Basic Combat Training Camp by then. I wonder what the real motive was in changing those numbers, HMMM... Did you ever think you would have fond memories of boot camp? I didn't, but I sure do. I had a serial number that started with a "US," and I was proud to be a conscript citizen soldier. My wife, who is considerably younger than me, has my dog tags now. One of the reasons I kept them was that I had designated "No Pref" in the area reserved for "religious affiliation." While I am not religious, I do belong to Jesus, and my relationship with Him is the greatest thing that will ever happen to me. To me, at this point in my life, it is incredible how I got as far as I did with little if any acknowledgement of God, including Viet Nam, still amazes me. But I had a praying Mom-and Dad. A lot of guys that came home before me said they would dump their stuff as soon as possible, and some who didn't "ETS" were advised not to wear their uniforms off base. There is a good read that addresses that whole issue called "Home Comming" I think. Not sure, but I think the author is Bob Green-really interesting, but get ready for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster if you read it. Welcome home everyone. Flapjack.
Rock185
US Veteran
I still have both of mine, from 1968. "US" service number, no SS#. I have my DD214 of course and a few other odds and ends. I do still have my "Greeting from the president of the United States" letter. To keep from losing my old dog tags, I clipped one each on a couple of pistol rugs containing a couple of my better guns. Figured if I didn't lose the expensive guns, I'd never lose my dog tags. It has worked so far. Like a lot of others, I was so glad to get back from Viet Nam, I threw away a lot of my military stuff...
Brian41
Member
I still have mine somewhere around here I think. I kept my uniforms too but don't know why. They're all in a box I've carried around for years with each move.
Maybe someday I'll want to wear my uniform in a parade or something.
Maybe someday I'll want to wear my uniform in a parade or something.
armenius
US Veteran
Reading this I learn some GI's laced their tags on their boots.Interesting.
The first time it really reminded me you could get "seriously killed" flying jets was when I went to All Weather Interceptors and was told to go to the hospital and get foot printed!I was told the most likely part found would be a booted foot if we augered-in!
The first time it really reminded me you could get "seriously killed" flying jets was when I went to All Weather Interceptors and was told to go to the hospital and get foot printed!I was told the most likely part found would be a booted foot if we augered-in!
WELCOME HOME!!
That's for all of you who didn't hear that when you got back.
I've still got my tags, with service #. They look about as beat-up as their owner
For all who went, thanks for putting on the uniform.
Thanks to everybody else for their support.
TACC1
That's for all of you who didn't hear that when you got back.
I've still got my tags, with service #. They look about as beat-up as their owner
For all who went, thanks for putting on the uniform.
Thanks to everybody else for their support.
TACC1
ChinaSeaSailor
US Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2009
- Messages
- 812
- Reaction score
- 2
wrote this couple years back for my anthology I published - maybe you can relate
Welcome Home
©
Two simple words you never said
Upon return from that land of dread
Welcome home were those two
We wished to hear from you
None asked for praise or glory
Nor to tell of our dreadful story
To forget was the choice of most
As our minds those horrors would host
Spurned by many and loved by few
Never did we receive our due
Now with three long decades past
You welcome us home at last
A warm greeting now is the fashion
Too late coming to feel much passion
During those long years that passed by
For friends our souls did always cry
So many of us now perish with undo haste
And all know that loss is such a waste
With medals no longer shiny and bright
Many dragons most do always fight
Welcome Home
©
Two simple words you never said
Upon return from that land of dread
Welcome home were those two
We wished to hear from you
None asked for praise or glory
Nor to tell of our dreadful story
To forget was the choice of most
As our minds those horrors would host
Spurned by many and loved by few
Never did we receive our due
Now with three long decades past
You welcome us home at last
A warm greeting now is the fashion
Too late coming to feel much passion
During those long years that passed by
For friends our souls did always cry
So many of us now perish with undo haste
And all know that loss is such a waste
With medals no longer shiny and bright
Many dragons most do always fight
ancient-one
US Veteran
I have both of my tags from 1942, my navy ring and a ID bracelet with the navy insigna that I gave my wife. Every thing else gone.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I still have both of my dog tags as well most of my uniforms. It's funny how that cheap government issue clothing shrinks over the years. I can still wear my field jacket, overcoat and raincoat but wouldn't want to risk trying anything else on. Oddly, my teenaged son is not at all interested in my uniforms, but my teenaged daughter loves them and wears the fatigues and field jacket at any opportunity. My wife is appalled, but I pointed out that the way most young women dress these days we are actually lucky she likes the baggy/bulky/ugly OD Green clothes issued by dear old Uncle Sam.
Best regards,
Dave
Best regards,
Dave
Armyphotog
Member
Mine are up in the attic crammed in a footlocker I shipped home with my whole baggage. Lot of stuff in there including some uniforms that no longer fit. My son used to wear my Kaki short sleeve shirts to school. Thought they were cool.
Springfield Bob
Member
I still have my dogtags from 1960 along with my Geneva convention card that lists your name rank and serial #.I was Air force & kept a copy of all my orders in a 3 ring binder.I was 4 years active & 2 years inactive. After 6 years I gave my uiforms to the salvation army as every body seemed to want to wear them(hippes) Let the salvation army make a few bucks. I'm proud of my two rows of ribbons. I enlisted, was not drafted. The Air force did not draft. Serial # was AF113869xx. Bob
Similar threads
