WWII US GI Dogtags

These are genuine WWII US GI dogtags — the stamped metal identification tags worn by every American soldier, sailor, and airman throughout the Second World War. Dogtags were issued in pairs: one was left with the body in the event of death, the other was retained for records. They carried the soldier's name, serial number, blood type, and religious preference.

The WW2-era dogtag system was introduced in 1941 and used a distinctive notch at one end — a feature that gave rise to the popular myth that the notch was used to prop open a dead soldier's jaw (it was actually a manufacturing artifact of the embossing machine). The tags were worn on a long chain around the neck, often with a shorter chain for the second tag.

Original WW2 dogtags with legible stampings are among the most personal and poignant pieces of American militaria — each one represents an individual who served and sacrificed during the war.