American Objects The Dog Tags

FILE - A U.S. soldier of the 82 Airborne Division holds the dog tag of Cpt. Davis Boris during a memorial ceremony at the forward operating base Bermel in Paktika, Afghanistan, Friday, Nov. 23, 2007.

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Created as IDs, dog tags became a crucial link between military families and fallen troops

Created as IDs, dog tags became a crucial link between military families and fallen troops

Military identification tags — popularly known as dog tags — became standard issue for U.S. troops at the request of an Army chaplain concerned about identifying fallen soldiers at the beginning of the 20th century. From the World Wars to Vietnam and more recent conflicts in the Middle East, they’ve been a symbol of Americans’ sacrifice in warzones across the world. Today, they remain one of the most powerful ways for grieving military families and companions-in-arms to tangibly connect with their lost ones.