# Help Identify this Person in the Navy I.D. tag

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-person-in-the-navy-i-d-tag/396704>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 20, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-person-in-the-navy-i-d-tag/396704 "2007-03-20T12:34:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-person-in-the-navy-i-d-tag/396704/1 "2007-03-20T12:34:07Z")

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Years ago my uncle collected “stuff” and nailed it to a board (called his “ecology board”). I wound up with it…Its very cool and a great conversation piece hanging on the wall.

One of the items is what looks like a Navy I.D. medallion with a picture of a man and some serial numbers.

Here’s some images.

[Navy I.D. 1](http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s278/sigene/P1010003.jpg)

[Navy I.D 2](http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s278/sigene/P1010007.jpg)

[Navy I.D. 3](http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s278/sigene/P1010008.jpg)

[Navy I.D. 4](http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s278/sigene/P1010010.jpg)

The man’s face didn’t come out as well as it is in reality, but the identifying numbers are there. The numbers in the picture below the man’s face are 14317. The brass tag has the numbers 6865. The piece identifies itself as being from Norfolk VA “Navy operating base” and “navy supply depot.” I assume the brass tag and picture go with each other, but may not. I assume also its from WWII but have no evidence supporting that. My uncle was from the Hannibal MO area and lived in Sedalia MO for many years.

Is there any way I can identify this person; and perhaps give the medallion back to him or his family?

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**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-person-in-the-navy-i-d-tag/396704/2 "2007-03-20T13:10:35Z")

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Is the guy in iniform? That could be an ID badge for a civilian employee. That number on the picture is not a military service number. Prior to using the SSN as a service number, the Navy used a seven digit number.  
I think it would be very difficult to find him with only what you have here.

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-person-in-the-navy-i-d-tag/396704/3 "2007-03-20T20:12:18Z")

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That’s it then?

Bummer

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**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-person-in-the-navy-i-d-tag/396704/4 "2007-03-21T21:24:23Z")

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You might try [these people](http://www.history.navy.mil/biblio/biblio2/biblio2w.htm).

Or this [newsletter](http://www.sdsca.org/CorpsNewsLetter.htm).

Browse the [sdsca.org](http://sdsca.org) for more contacts.

Someone might be able to look up the number.