DOG TAGS.

The article explores the history of using dog tags by soldiers. Battlefield casualties used to fall as unknowns, until dog tags gave voice to those who had been wounded or killed. Metal tags date to the 1899 Boer War. Before mounting a suicidal attack at the 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor, Union soldiers pin pieces of paper to their uniforms that list their names and addresses. During World War II, soldiers wear rectangular dog tags suspended from ball chains, listing name, service number, blood type and religion.