‘Taking Chance’ & US Military Dog Tags

[44specialfan]

Just finished watching ‘Taking Chance’ (2009) as part of my personal, belated Veterans Day observance. What a well done, respectfully made and acted film! If you’ve somehow never watch it, you truly owe it to yourself to do so.

Anyhow, during the time period I was active duty US Army (66 - 86) we were issued and wore two (2) dog tags. The film seems to indicated a different quantity of issue, at least for the USMC during the time period depicted. So out of curiosity, I’d like to hear the experience of members on this topic to include number they were issued/wore along with their branch service. Of course the time frame of your service is also needed.

All Gave Some while Some Gave All

 

[mdf9183]

The USAF issued two when I was In 1963-1967.

 

[fordson]

USNR — Active Duty, 1969-1975, issued/wore two (2) dog tags. Wore one around the neck, the other was laced to the right flight boot. Voluntary Recall to Active Duty for DS/DS, 1990-1991. Issued two (2) dog tags. Same as above.

 

[Jeff423]

USN 69-73. Issued two. Never worn.
1983 I worked as a subcontractor for the Navy. Issued two more - didn't wear those either.

 

[Birdgun]

U.S. Army (1966-1969, 1971-1989). Issued two. Worn around the neck except when working around high voltage. Around high voltage, tags went into a pocket.

 

[Empe]

I have watched " Taking Chance " twice and thought it was a very well done movie .

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

USN 1963-88. Always two. Not always worn. IIRC, nobody ever checked to see whether I or anyone in my sight was wearing them.

 

[cougar14]

1967-73 USN 2 tags, wore one onboard the ship. Lucky I never needed blood, it had the wrong type on it. My son spotted this 20 years out, I never noticed.

 

[Onomea]

My grandfather, who was a chaplain in the army in WWI, wore, and I inherited, a wrist bracelet with his name and rank on it. I assume these were used instead of dog tags at the time.

 

[S&W Fan]

My older son was Army 2004-2024 (10 years Combat Medic, 10 as Flight Medic), just checked and he said he always wore 2.
He gave me one, I keep it on my keychain.

 

[walnutred]

Army 87-93, Issued two dog tags which I wore around my neck along with a St Barbara medal. My dads WW2 navy dog tags were round. I don't know when the transition was made.

 

[stu1ritter]

Army 59-64 two tags, always worn.

Stu

 

[Rustyt1953]

In '71 I was issued two. I kept them both in my wallet.

In '75 I round filed 'em.

 

[326MOD10]

1983 thru 1987 service period.

Issued 2 dog tags.

One silver and one red in color due to having an allergy to penicillin.

Always wore them, with a rubber cover to silence any clinking, and still have both today.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Had two. Never actually wore them.
Carried them in a plastic bag with my ID Card, Geneva Convention Card and my Shot Record.
And a small amount of money.
War Story! Got involved in a messy Mission just North of the DMZ.
We almost ran out of gas but managed to land at DaNang.
Tired and hungry! We had some Green, but the flightline snack bar only took Vietnamese money and Script.
A sign on Base Ops said Air America upstairs.
One of the guys went up with Green and came down with Script.
Cheeseburger time!
‘If it’s not too late, make it a Cheeseburger.’ Lyle Lovett.

 

[bummer]

Army 81-89. Wore 2 around my neck

 

[glowe]

Two tags, no notches, single chain 1970-1971 held both tags. Had them on at all times when in uniform - Army.

 

[STCM(SW)]

1960-1964 Had two. never wore them.
Called to active duty twice. 1990-1991 was the last time and didn't need
them where I was station.
Never found them

 

[Greyman50]

71-74, in RVN one was laced in left boot, afterwards wore around neck.
In WWII US Army dog tags had a notch in both tags and were worn around neck. Early ones had NOK, later did not.Early WWII USMC dog tags were oval aluminum disks worn around neck. Best friend collects and researches WWII dog tags, has 100’s and stacks of records including pics from “ Find a grave”. Somber and sobering info.

 

[SMSgt]

If you've ever had your two metal dog tags and their metal chain fall into a 400V bus bar on a B-52, you'll never wear a dog tag again.