bellasilva Posted October 30, 2014 Share #1 Posted October 30, 2014 Just won this on ebay - really only because I've been searching for an example of a WWII USMC dog tag stamped on an Army tag. These examples mostly stem from the abundance of Army tags laying around when a Marine would either lose theirs or need a new set stamped. I wasn't able to do any real research as my Ancestry and fold3 accounts are expired but I do see him on the USS Kaula at one point. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHASEUSA11B Posted October 30, 2014 Share #2 Posted October 30, 2014 I found him on a ancestry but I'm unable to add attachments. The muster rolls show him show him Station: First Guard Company, Marine Barracks, Us Submarine Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone - July 1942 where he is listed as private with a $15 fine for violation of a lawful barracks order Station: Fourth Guard Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base, Balboa, Cz. -- April 1944 private first class Station: ?? San Diego California. -- July 1944 private first class. "Tried and conv by SCM by ACL fr 8:00" Station: Hq, Replnbn, Tranc, Fmf, Pac, C/O Fpo, San Francisco, Calif. ---- October 1944 private first class Station: Hq, Replmbm, Tranc, Fmf, Pac, C/O Fpo, Sam Francisco, Calif. --- October 1945 private first class Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 30, 2014 Share #3 Posted October 30, 2014 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHASEUSA11B Posted October 30, 2014 Share #4 Posted October 30, 2014 U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 about Theodore Lajoy Name: Theodore Lajoy Gender: Male Birth Date: 2 Nov 1923 Death Date: 13 Jun 1975 SSN: 091183266 Branch 1: M Enlistment Date 1: 12 Dec 1941 Release Date 1: 1 Dec 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 30, 2014 Share #5 Posted October 30, 2014 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted October 30, 2014 You guys are the best- I truly appreciate it. Any chance his Oct 44 muster roll lists an MOS for him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 30, 2014 Share #7 Posted October 30, 2014 You guys are the best- I truly appreciate it. Any chance his Oct 44 muster roll lists an MOS for him? 763 - searchlight operator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 30, 2014 Share #8 Posted October 30, 2014 He ended up with the 6th Defense Bn, which I think spent the war at Midway Island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted October 30, 2014 He ended up with the 6th Defense Bn, which I think spent the war at Midway Island.You guys are quick..Thank you Bob and CHASEUSA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkGoatsArmy Posted October 30, 2014 Share #10 Posted October 30, 2014 Cool! very very nice catch... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted October 30, 2014 Share #11 Posted October 30, 2014 Real question is, where did he get it made, since I doubt the USMC and USN had an Army stamping machine lying around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted October 30, 2014 Real question is, where did he get it made, since I doubt the USMC and USN had an Army stamping machine lying aroundWhen I get a moment I'll post a picture of the back of the tag, as it is completely smooth (like the average WWII USMC/USN tag). This indicates to me that the same stamping method was used, just with an Army tag. I've seen only a handful of these examples in my time collecting dog tags. Edit- Here's a shot of the back from the auction, not the best picture but you get the idea. The print of the stamping is also identical to that of a normal USMC tag, which indicates to me that all they had that moment were some Army tags laying around. I've seen at most 3 or 4 of these examples before and they were dated to Marine who would've been overseas at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted October 30, 2014 Share #13 Posted October 30, 2014 From what I recall, the notch in the Army tag was meant to go against a pin or post to stabilize it, I imagine that the USMC machine was designed to take the specific shape tag as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted October 30, 2014 From what I recall, the notch in the Army tag was meant to go against a pin or post to stabilize it, I imagine that the USMC machine was designed to take the specific shape tag as well While that is true, the USMC must have found a way for their stamping machine to accept Army tags as well (not quite sure what the construction of said machine was or what their limits were). I'll try and dig up pictures of the other examples I've seen in the meantime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted October 30, 2014 Also just wanted to bring up another anomaly from my collection, a post WWII (1947ish) tag to a Marine with stamping similar to that of a typical Army tag, with raised lettering on the back. It was discussed here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/169182-interesting-usmc-dog-tag/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted November 6, 2014 Just got the dog tag in today, and couldn't be happier with it. It appears to be a monel tag, and has a few words scratched in on the flat reverse, although I can't quite make out what they say. Any suggestions? Also took a couple pictures to better show the wear and patina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted November 6, 2014 Reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etienne Posted November 7, 2014 Share #18 Posted November 7, 2014 Hello Bellasilva, this dog tag is quite interesting ... the owner enlisted early, just after Pearl Harbor in december 1941 so yours is a restamp, probably made around april 1943 or just after. At that time, he was in the Panama canal zone, perhaps in contact with Army units. Anyway, a nice and very uncommon USMC tag Regards, E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted November 7, 2014 Thanks etienne! It is definitely an interesting tag, I figured he must have had some contact with Army personnel and most likely lost his tags, and what was readily available were Army tags. It displays nicely with my collection, now if only I could catch up to you with your awesome dog tag collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twining540 Posted November 8, 2014 Share #20 Posted November 8, 2014 Very nice dog tag, congrats. I have a 43 navy dog tag on a army tag like this with the navy/USMC script. I have yet to research him. Now I'm curious if he was in contact with army. I'll have to get the research. Thanks for posting. Todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted November 8, 2014 Author Share #21 Posted November 8, 2014 Very nice dog tag, congrats. I have a 43 navy dog tag on a army tag like this with the navy/USMC script. I have yet to research him. Now I'm curious if he was in contact with army. I'll have to get the research. Thanks for posting. Todd Thanks! I'd love to see your tag, any chance you can post a picture? It's been fun hunting down different variations of tags. I think the ultimate (for me) would be a USMC tag stamped with Army info. I'm not quite sure an example exists but who knows, stranger things have happened! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twining540 Posted November 8, 2014 Share #22 Posted November 8, 2014 Here are the two examples I have. One hand stamped on a army monel tag and the other navy/usmc script. I have only been collecting tags for about a year now, and I am hooked. I find it enjoyable doing the research, if tags could only talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twining540 Posted November 8, 2014 Share #23 Posted November 8, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted November 8, 2014 Author Share #24 Posted November 8, 2014 Very cool! A hand stamped tag is another example I've been searching for. If you haven't already, I suggest looking up forum member USdog's web page. He's got a pretty extensive collection of tags and the history behind them (KIA, Medal of Honor recipient etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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