Objects

World War I Identification Tags
1910-1920
Maker not marked
USA
Metal, cotton
overall: 1/8"h x 1-1/2"dia
Gift of Eva M. Mahoney
80.29.4

Two World War I identification tags and religious medal tied together with twill tape. Front of identification tags reads "U.S.A./ TIMOTHY J. MAHONEY"; reverse reads "2720137". Small oval medal with image of Mother Mary has block letters around edge: "Mary concieved without sin pray for us who have/ recourse to thee/1830".


The American Army starting using metal identification tags in 1906. Around 1916 the Army began issuing two identity discs to each soldier. If a soldier was hurt or killed, one disc stayed with him, the other was kept by a record-keeper. The discs were marked with a soldier’s name, rank, unit, and nation until 1918. After that time, the Army stamped only a name—in this case Timothy J. Mahoney—country and a serial number on the aluminum tags.



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