Black Angus McPherson Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 My dad was in the WWII Navy and recently, my son was asking if I had his dog tags. I have a fair amount of stuff from my dad's navy days but I don't recall ever seeing any dog tags. My question is: Does, or did, the US Navy ever use dog tags? If not, what was the navy equivalent in WWII? BTW, a couple of the things I have from my dad are a subpoena from Posieden(sp?) and a HUGE certificate for the order of the shellbacks or lobsterbacks or some-such signed by Davy Jones and Poseiden for crossing the equator. Does the navy still do that? Angus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) Initiations for Shell Back, (crossing equator) Blue Nose, (Arctic circle) Red Nose (Antarctic circle) and a few others were still being done in 2002. Although I doubt the ceremony looks anything like it did during my 20 years. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/crossing-the-line/list-of-unofficial-us-navy-certificates.html US Navy Dog tag History https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/uniforms-and-personal-equipment/tags/usn-id-tags-dog-tags.html Interesting read. I wonder what they used to etch the fingerprint into the metal with? Edited December 26, 2016 by Sedalia Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Rick Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I was issued dog tags when I enlisted in 1989. A sailor becomes a Shellback when they cross the equator and are initiated. Until then they are lowly Pollywogs. In years past, the Shellback initiation was quite elaborate with quite a bit of hazing. I'm not sure what happens in today's Navy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Hanger #3720LR Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I still have my dog tags issued in 1969. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Although I no longer have mine, I was issued (and I wore them) dog tags in 1969 also. ..........Widder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Angus McPherson Posted December 26, 2016 Author Share Posted December 26, 2016 Interesting. Of all the stuff I've found I'm surprised my dad didn't keep his dog tags. I have my grandfather's Army tags from WWI but I've never even seen US Navy dog tags from WWII, much less my dad's. Thanks, Angus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Dog tags were issued in 1979 in the Navy. I still have mine. I am a Shell Back as well and I still have my signed and sealed certificate framed and on display in my home. I hung it at work for a while in the early 2000's in L.A. I got a complaint from HR to take it down as the topless mermaid was offensive. I got it re-framed in a much bigger more gawdy frame and mounted it right inside my office door for all to see visited me there. I told HR to bring me up on charges...nothing happened. I am sure the Shell Back initiation is nothing like it was when I was in. Now they probably make lots of noise and serve cookies and kool-aid. Especially with that pansy of a CNO and that fruit-cup Sec'y of the Navy. They oughta be keel-hauled...twice...but that's just my opinion. I am sure they are really nice guys...if you like PC morons that are men in name only. Pat Riot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Dog tags were issued in 1979 in the Navy. I still have mine. I am a Shell Back as well and I still have my signed and sealed certificate framed and on display in my home. I hung it at work for a while in the early 2000's in L.A. I got a complaint from HR to take it down as the topless mermaid was offensive. I got it re-framed in a much bigger more gawdy frame and mounted it right inside my office door for all to see visited me there. I told HR to bring me up on charges...nothing happened. I am sure the Shell Back initiation is nothing like it was when I was in. Now they probably make lots of noise and serve cookies and kool-aid. Especially with that pansy of a CNO and that fruit-cup Sec'y of the Navy. They oughta be keel-hauled...twice...but that's just my opinion. I am sure they are really nice guys...if you like PC morons that are men in name only. Pat Riot Please tell us how you REALLY feel about it, Pat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Pepper Kid, SASS #60463 Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I have my dog tags I was in from 85-89. I'm a blue nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Old Man Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) I have my dad's WWII navy dog tags. Also mine from 71-73 Army. Edited December 27, 2016 by Grumpy Old Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Sorry...got a little carried away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Rick Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Sorry...got a little carried away... Funny thing - the old timers when you were a boot were probably saying a lot of the same things. I know the old Chiefs I served under did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Haha...probably :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Lizard Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I still have my dog tags issued in 1969. I still have mine from 65...I had two different ones give to me, one with serial number other with SS number...Still have SS one...Other lost threw the years...Mine also had AF in front of first one...AF for Air Force... Texas Lizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet James Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I still have one of mine from 87 - 98 I'm a blue nose USS Daniel Webster SSBN 626 ceremony was quite interesting 😄 RJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okiepan Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 At least they get to keep there Rating's and rating badges back , and No NOS's Another tradition such as all the above mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman T. Range, SASS #44722 Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I have mine from 1965, and the one from 1972, I am a Shellback and a Blue Nose. Great times. Roman T. Range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Dollar Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 I have my Dads tags who was a Navy WWII vet. He was a Navy Aviation ordinanceman and was on a small airstrip on Russell Island in the Solomons. He was there from Jan. 10th 1943 till half way through '44 or so. I can post a photo of them later tonight if needed. And for Pat Riot... my Dad was also a Shellback having crossed on the way to the Solomons. His signed certificate says something to the effect of crossing during a mission of war. Love the mermaids... I don't see HR fighting you on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) I have my Dads tags who was a Navy WWII vet. He was a Navy Aviation ordinanceman and was on a small airstrip on Russell Island in the Solomons. He was there from Jan. 10th 1943 till half way through '44 or so. I can post a photo of them later tonight if needed. And for Pat Riot... my Dad was also a Shellback having crossed on the way to the Solomons. His signed certificate says something to the effect of crossing during a mission of war. Love the mermaids... I don't see HR fighting you on that! I worked for the MTA in Los Angeles. HR there is, shall we say, "special"... I became a Shell Back on my ship's return to the US after sitting in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf during the "Iran Hostage Crisis"....or what we called "Gonzo Station". I caught my ship in the Philippines after they had been there for a few months. When the Virginia left Norfolk to go to the IO There were about 30 Shell Backs and about 300 Wogs. When I came across the Equator there were about 300 Shell Backs and 30 Pollywogs. Boy, did I get my rearend beat! It didn't help that on the day before there was a Shell Back meeting on the fantail and me and a few of my buddies threw tomatoes and what was left of the fresh eggs at all the Shell Backs from the O1 level...that and we stole about 100 of the shillelaghs that they had cut up from fire hoses and threw them over the side. Me and my buddies got real special treatment the next day...HAHAHAHA Edited December 27, 2016 by Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Rick Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 While I didn't have a hand in the physical actions - I did enjoy laughing at the Royal Baby after he'd been stripped and duct taped to an office chair on the flight deck. The Royal Baby was a big ol' hairy BT3. I was fortunate that I'd only been onboard for about two weeks so I didn't have anybody out to really get me. Crossed on the East coast after finishing NEO Ops at Mamba Station in '90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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