my dad is a Vietnam vetern who naturally has dog tags. But why are there two tags on a chain? 1 isn't enough?

Question

help!

WHY DO THEY JAM IT INTO THEIR MOUTHS?

For yout info Anno, I found them in his dresser. It does not mean a darn thing to him anymore, but it means something to me!

Answer 1

Two dog tags are issued to each soldier. In the unfortunate case that a soldier is killed in combat, one tag would stay with the body and the other tag would go with a scout and eventually to the next of kin.

The "jam it into the mouth and kick the jaw shut" story is untrue.

The old "notch" in dogtags was not for kicking; it was to mount the dogtag in the embossing machine.

MSgt, USAF (Retired)

Answer 2

Its a myth about kicking a dog-tag into the mouth, try crouching down holding onto a thin sliver of metal and kicking it at the same time!!

Its rare for anybody to die with their teeth tightly clenched together the tags are only about 3mm in thickness so they slip in easy, and if push came to shove you could pry the teeth open with the bayonet, which is certainly more dignified than kicking your dead comrade in the face to insert the dog-tag!!!

The reason one tag is left with the body is so that if placed in a temporary battlefield grave, later when the body is recovered by the Graves Registration Unit they can identify it and record it.

Many soldiers also have a spare pair laced into their boots, one on each boot lace, in case the head gets blown off and the ones round the neck get lost.

Answer 3

they don't jam it into a mouth, Where the heck did anybody get that junk???

Like its been said above. One is to left with the body the other it to be taken to help identify the body. My husband and myself also kept one in our boot to aid in case of a limb being removed from our body.

Its all about being secure about identifying a body. Nobody want to become the " unknown soldier " as the saying goes

Answer 4

A minimum of 2 tags are issued. A red 3rd with any drug allergies if applicable.

In the event of death in the field one is left with the body, the other is retained by the local command.

SSG US Army 73-82

Answer 5

If a soldier dies you may have to leave his body there, you take one tag so you know who has died and can inform his family.

If the body is recovered the dog tags can identify the body.

Answer 6

so many of us got our entire heads shot off,one was for inside a boot and the other around the neck,yes,they used to place the tag in between the middle teeth and kick the mouths shut

Answer 7

The Real Reason for the "Notch" in the WWII Dog Tag
(by David Steinert)
Contrary to popular belief, the "notch" in the WWII dog tag was not designed so the dog tag could be placed in the teeth of a deceased soldier for identification.

http://home.att.net/~steinert/real_reason_for_the.htm
http://www.snopes.com/military/notch.asp
http://www.laserengravedkeychains.com/dog-tag-trivia.htm

PS. I have my granddad's from WWII

Answer 8

Lots of veterans keep their dog tags; mine are on my key chain.

They are issued in pairs, so that one is kept with the body is he/she is killed, for identification. The members religion is stamped on the tags for proper burial.

Dog tags also have the member's blood type, in case they need medical attention.

Answer 9

The reason there are two tags is in the event that the soldier dies in combat. At that point, whomever is with him will take one tag off (as proof, and they usually put it in their boot), then places the other one lengthwise in the deceased mouth and jams it into their teeth.

Answer 10

Not actually sure absolutely, but they are ID tags, not "dog" tags in the modern Army anyway.