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Decode WW2 Dog Tag Information
The format and information on WW2 Dog Tags changed four times between December 1940 and April 1946. The following is a general guideline of the formats used during that period. It’s very common to find variations of each format.
Type 1 Dog Tag Format: Dec. 1940 – Nov. 1941
| Line 1: First, Middle Initial, Last Name | JOHN Q PUBLIC |
| Line 2: Army Serial Number, Blood Type | 37337566 O |
| Line 3: Next Of Kin | FRED PUBLIC |
| Line 4: Address of Next of Kin | 2843 FEDERAL ST |
| Line 5: City, State | DENVER, COLO |
Type 2 Dog Tag Format: Nov. 1941 – July 1943
| Line 1: First, Middle Initial, Last Name | JOHN Q PUBLIC |
| Line 2: Army Serial Number, Tetnus, Tetnus Toxoid + Blood Type | 37337566 T42 43 O |
| Line 3: Next Of Kin | FRED PUBLIC |
| Line 4: Address of Next of Kin | 2843 FEDERAL ST |
| Line 5: City, State + Religion | DENVER, COLO P |
Type 3 Dog Tag Format: July 1943 – March 1944
| Line 1: First, Middle Initial, Last Name | JOHN Q PUBLIC |
| Line 2: Army Serial Number, Blood Type | 37337566 T42 43 O |
| Line 5: Religion | P |
Type 4 Dog Tag Format: March 1944 – April 1946
| Line 1: First, Middle Initial, Last Name | PUBLIC, JOHN Q |
| Line 2: Army Serial Number, Blood Type | 37337566 T42 43 O |
| Line 5: Religion | P |
