# Marine Dog Tags stuck between teeth **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731 "2012-07-19T15:53:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/21 "2012-07-21T14:47:43Z")
> [@Old\_Seabee](#): > > Old Seabee -All knowing, All seeing. Kilroy has nothing on me !!! Yeah, I’m sure there won’t be any blowback from you posting that photo! I used to do that impersonation when I was in high school, which always got a laugh. Hard to believe I was ever that young and scrawny. And perhaps naive. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Seabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@Old\_Seabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Seabee)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/22 "2012-07-21T20:43:23Z")
In 1968 there was an old Gunny Sargent who used to come over to our hooch area and tell us war stories . During WW2 he had been in the landings of Kajalein and Iwo Jima . He said the body’s were brought to Company areas (a lot of bodies!!) one tag was kept by the company the other tag was put in the mouth of the dead with the chain still around the neck. Because the bodies were loaded on jeeps and trucks (in piles) there was the possibility of the chain getting broke and the tag being lost. So if the chain gets broke the tag is still on the body. When time allowed the dog tag was lased onto the shoe lace of dead Marines combat boot ! True or false , I don’t know. By the way the Gunny Sargent that told that story was killed by a 122mm rocket, I have his name and the after action report of the rocket attack he was killed in. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/23 "2012-07-21T20:53:58Z")
I have heard tales of soldiers and marines getting extra copies of their dog tags, and lacing them to their boots, in case their heads got blown off. This is thirdhand rumor, though, so take it with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/24 "2012-07-21T20:58:59Z")
> [@Old\_Seabee](#): > > In 1968 there was an old Gunny Sargent who used to come over to our hooch area and tell us war stories . During WW2 he had been in the landings of Kajalein and Iwo Jima . He said the body’s were brought to Company areas (a lot of bodies!!) one tag was kept by the company the other tag was put in the mouth of the dead with the chain still around the neck. Because the bodies were loaded on jeeps and trucks (in piles) there was the possibility of the chain getting broke and the tag being lost. So if the chain gets broke the tag is still on the body. When time allowed the dog tag was lased onto the shoe lace of dead Marines combat boot ! True or false , I don’t know. By the way the Gunny Sargent that told that story was killed by a 122mm rocket, I have his name and the after action report of the rocket attack he was killed in. That wasn’t Gunny Cooper, was it? ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Seabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@Old\_Seabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Seabee)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/25 "2012-07-22T02:35:21Z")
Gunny Owens, he was a real BSer. Wasn’t in the Corps long enough to have been at Iwo Jima. But would have heard about from those who were there. He was killed by a 122 on July 23 1968 the night before we took the 122 that took out our guys on July 24. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/26 "2012-07-22T03:41:33Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I have heard tales of soldiers and marines getting extra copies of their dog tags, and lacing them to their boots, in case their heads got blown off. This is thirdhand rumor, though, so take it with a grain of salt. Not a rumor. I never saw the need to do it but I know plenty of guys who had dog tags laced into their boots. It is a personal choice not an army policy. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/27 "2012-07-22T03:46:27Z")
In _Jarhead_, former Marine sniper Anthony Swofford wrote about getting new dog tags often, practically for every major new assignment. Don’t know if that’s common. Are they pretty cheap? ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Seabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@Old\_Seabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Seabee)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/28 "2012-07-22T05:19:36Z")
In Vietnam I kept one dog tag laced into my left boot so it wouldn’t be in the way while I was working. The other dog tag I kept on the chain and wore while sleeping and whenever we had an inspection. The type of work I did wasn’t safe to have it hanging around my neck and besides I didn’t like it slapping me in the face all the time !! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/29 "2012-07-22T05:24:44Z")
Chefguy said: \* I lost track of my dog tags\* Would you like to explain that Sailor? How the hell did you _lose track_ of your dog tags? I received mine in 1968 and still have them. If they weren’t around my neck they were in a safe place. Still got 'em. And to go back further, I still have my Father’s dog tags from WWII. They are brass. I have one and my younger son has the other one. He wears it all the time. I am one proud sonofabitch! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/30 "2012-07-22T14:29:55Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Chefguy said: \* I lost track of my dog tags\* > Would you like to explain that Sailor? How the hell did you _lose track_ of your dog tags? I received mine in 1968 and still have them. If they weren’t around my neck they were in a safe place. Still got 'em. > And to go back further, I still have my Father’s dog tags from WWII. They are brass. I have one and my younger son has the other one. He wears it all the time. I am one proud sonofabitch! Who you calling a boat person, goddamn it?! We drove BGTs, not LGBs. I don’t know what happened to them. Perhaps the chain broke and they just fell off. Maybe I left them in the hootch and one of the mama-sans took them. Maybe some passing Marine thought they were shiny and purty. Beats me. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/31 "2012-07-22T15:38:23Z")
What’s a BGT? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/32 "2012-07-22T16:20:29Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > What’s a BGT? BGT: Big Green Trucks LGB: Large Gray Boats ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/33 "2012-07-22T17:01:06Z")
If you ain’t got your dog tags, how we know you’s who you says you is? Quick: who plays third base for the Yankees? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/34 "2012-07-22T17:05:10Z")
Ahhh. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/35 "2012-07-22T19:20:23Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Quick: who plays third base for the Yankees? No, Who’s on first. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/36 "2012-07-22T21:22:36Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I have heard tales of soldiers and marines getting extra copies of their dog tags, and lacing them to their boots, in case their heads got blown off. This is thirdhand rumor, though, so take it with a grain of salt. Isn’t this the practice in the IDF, which did a statistical analysis of death types? ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Seabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@Old\_Seabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Seabee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/37 "2012-07-24T01:01:58Z")
What the heck is IDF and what are they analyzing ? ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Seabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@Old\_Seabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Seabee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/38 "2012-07-24T01:02:58Z")
Your more likely to get your legs blown off than your head !! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/39 "2012-07-24T01:15:00Z")
> [@Old\_Seabee](#): > > What the heck is IDF and what are they analyzing ? Israel Defense Forces, I’m guessing, and they’re analyzing how to kill people and break things when called upon. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731/40 "2012-07-24T01:22:14Z")
> [@Old\_Seabee](#): > > What the heck is IDF and what are they analyzing ? The IDF is the Israel\*\*\*\* Defense Forces. The study, from what I remember and might be a figment of my imagination, was of cause of death in soldiers in armored units. More people were getting their heads blown off than having their feet blown off. Hence the dog tag policy. I’m sure **Alessan** can correct my story, which I admit I might have pulled out of my butt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-dog-tags-stuck-between-teeth/628731.md?page=3)