Dog tag religion controversy

[Niner]

Recently the Department of War, formerly the Department of Defense, decided to reduce the number of religious abbreviations on dog tags. In the Christian category the Mormons were left out and that caused a ripple of consternation in high political ranks until that exclusion was replaced.

Back in 1969 when I was drafted I got questioned about why the religion blank wasn't filled in for my dog tags. I said it wasn't filled in because I was past the age of reason and didn't believe in such things anymore. I didn't mention I had been raised Catholic to avoid complicating things. What I said didn't sit well with the senior drill sergeant. He said nothing but put something in the blank. When I got the dog tags No Preference was what he had put in the blank. That's about the same as saying I was a Jewish, Christian, Moslem, Hindu, and probably Hare Krishna too.

[Aughnanure]

You’ve got to keep drilli sgts happy

Back when I joined the army 73 years ago, I filled in “Christian Names’’ with three names, ‘’There’s only two Christian names on your birth certificate’’
Me, ‘’That’s correct. Sir, the third name is my Confirmation name.it’s one of my Christian names.’’
Always liked to have a stir

[Niner]

I remember the "Christian Name" designation growing up. Guess, that would cause an uproar if used in some official request for personal information now days, particularly if someone is definitely not Christian and takes offense. And again, who's to say you can only have first middle and last name? I'm sure there are more than a few nationalities that have a custom of more than two given names before the last family name. Come to think of it, I have known a woman or two, or three, who have kept their three part maiden names and added on their acquired husband's last name as a matter of expediency after marriage.

That Confirmation name rings a bell. I can't remember mine for sure. I think it was St. Andrew, one of the Apostles. He was the one crucified upside down because he wasn't worthy of being crucified right side up like Christ. Kind of gruesome to think of it now days that a child still in grade school at the time would pick such a depressing saint for spiritual direction.

[Niner Delta]

It seems we were the same religion. Mine was shortened to "No Pref" as it needed to share a line with my blood type. So religion and
blood type had to share a line. When religion came up I always said I was a "Devout No Preverence". What I find interesting is my
Grandfather's dog tags from when he was in Coast Guatd from 1912 to 1918 are hand engraved and the back actually has his thumb print etched into the metal. I always wondered how they etched his thumbprint? The '17 date was probably when he got these tags and the '94 date is his birthday.
As for names, I have a friend that has no middle name on her birth certificate, her parents just never gave her one. It wasn't a problem until
she started getting id cards like driver license and SS type things. She ended using her mother's maiden name for her middle name and
they accepted that.

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[Niner]

I noticed after I posted this subject that there is still genuine Vietnam dirt in the one I posted a photo of. I wore that one in my boot strings. The other one hung around my neck on a chain.

Looks like your tag has larger letters in it, or something, to not have the religion thing on a line to itself.

Wonder about that fingerprint too as to how it got on the tag.

I think WWII tags had a notch cut out of the edge for some reason. I think I read that it would be easier to somehow attach it to a body.

[Niner Delta]

Your tags don't seem to have your US Service Number, just your SS number. Mine have SS number and RA Service Number,
each number takes up a whole line. Yours seems to be printed on the front, mine looks like it's on the back with the crimp around
the edge, maybe I'll demand my money back. ..

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[Niner]

Bingo. You explained it. Just before I was drafted serial numbers weren't issued any longer. The Social Security number did double duty.