USMC Dog Tag

[Brig]

just got this in...can anyone help date it, tell me what this one is for? undated, I think WWII based on the number. what were the undated ones of this fashion for? were they the second in the pair?

[gatormeat]

POST WAR USMC single M42 pattern dogtag. the marine was former WW2 era enlisted grunt who re-enlisted right after the war....the 6 digit serial # is of WW2 vintage range and denotes a

enlisted marine serviceman.

at a certain point during the immediate post-war period....the tetanus shot date was removed...or rather NOT stamped

onto the id tags. when you see this lack of a T-date on the tag....the service seen stamped will almost ALWAYS be USMC or USN.....never

USMCR or USNR. it is because they 're-upped' after the war.....no longer are they regarded as having the wartime expedient reservist status....but are now regulars.

the massive de-mobbing of men after the war did away for the need of reservists.....hence anyone re-enlisting went directly into regular service.

your tag is transitional.....using Army style ADDRESSOGRAPH stamping machine on surplus oval pattern ID discs.

the military used WW2 supplies until they exhausted them out of the QM inventory.....then transitioned onto the newer pattern or style. the USMC (& USN)

shortly afterward started using the 'army' M1940 pattern (notched) ID tags. during the korean war....you will encounter both patterns being used.

[Brig]

thanks for the informative response!