Dog Tag History: How the Tradition & Nickname Started
Sept. 9, 2020 | BY Katie Lange, DOD News
We all know what dog tags are — those little oval disks on a chain that service members wear to identify themselves in combat. But have you ever wondered how and when that tradition started, and why they're called dog tags?
We did some research to find the answers.
Origins of the "Dog Tag" Nickname
According to the Army Historical Foundation, the term "dog tag" was first coined by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. In 1936, Hearst wanted to undermine support for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. He had heard the newly formed Social Security Administration was considering giving out nameplates for personal identification. According to the SSA, Hearst referred to them as "dog tags" similar to those used in the military.
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Inside-DOD/Blog/Article/2340760/dog-tag-history-how-the-tradition-nickname-started/
