200 Tags, Identification, M-1940 Monel Metal
Every American soldier in World War II was issued a set of M-1940 identification tags, or “dog tags”. Embossed on it was information like name, Army Serial Number, tetanus, religion etc. The graves registration units used this same concept to identify a fallen soldier on the wooden cross. These blank tags came in small cardboard boxes containing 200pcs.
Two known to us manufacturers made these blank tags: H.L. Judd Company Inc. based in Wallingford, CT and H.K. Metal Craft Mfg. Co. based in New York, NY.
These boxes were issued to American Graves Registration Service units in large quantities. Most temporary cemeteries had many thousands of graves, containing both Allied and German dead. The GRS embossed personal information found on the deceased soldier onto the metal tag. They used an Addressograph Model-70 to copy that information onto every piece of paperwork they made for that particular soldier. Later, when the burial spot was ready and all paperwork was filled in, the metal tag was nailed to the white wooden burial cross.
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