#98728
07/22/2008 11:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26
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OP
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26 |
Friends Perhaps you could help me with this dogtag my son just got from his great-grandfather. It may not even be a dogtag per-se but some kind of ID. I do know he served on the USS kentucky as a radio operator. What would be the signifigance of the thumbprint on the reverse. High security? Thanks for your help. Robert
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#98729
07/22/2008 11:03 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26
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OP
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26 |
Here is the reverse with what appears to be a thumbprint. Thanks again.
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#98730
07/23/2008 02:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439 |
It certainly is a Thumbprint, I think they did that back then to help ensure they had the right sailor. I'd bet at least one sailor put a drunken friend into his uniform and skipped out before they set sail...
Very nice family Heirloom!
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#98731
07/23/2008 02:31 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26
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OP
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26 |
Jerry Well that makes sense. I wonder how they got the imprint on the tag itself and was the thumbprint ID only for Navy service. I can't picture in my mind how it would have been possible to print all the infantry as well. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Robert
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#98732
07/23/2008 09:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,017
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,017 |
I dont think the USS Kentucky was ever launched.The war ended before she could get done so during the drawdown she was used for spare parts until she was scraped in 1958.
Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. And remember the early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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#98733
07/24/2008 01:02 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 266
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 266 |
Thumb print is raised and with the 9-12-98 date I would venture to say it's not period. Commerative?
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#98734
07/24/2008 01:32 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439 |
I think the "98" refers to his Birthday, of 1898, making him 20 in 1918.
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#98735
07/24/2008 02:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,834
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,834 |
I don't recall having ever seen anything like this. Is the great-grandfather L. Kyllonen? My first thought was that this is a commemorative piece celebrating the life of L. Kyllonen born 3-8-(19)18 died 9-12-(19)98.
WANTED TO REPURCHASE!! Walther pistol Model PP - ac code - Ser. No. 382000P - REWARD FOR INFO ABOUT THIS PISTOL!!
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#98736
07/24/2008 04:17 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26
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OP
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26 |
My son's Great Grandfather on my wife's side was Leo Kyllonen who was born in 1898. He died in 1987. Now I just called said Great-Grandfather's son who himself is 73 and he isn't exactly sure it was the Kentucky. Thanks for all the help. Will keep you posted. I've asked him to dig thru the artifacts he has a little more and give me more details. Robert
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#98737
07/24/2008 04:23 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26
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OP
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 26 |
Well I just searced USS Kentucky. Kearsarge-class battleship launched 24 March 1898 and scrapped in January 1924. I still can't figure out the fingerprint though. Perhaps as a radioman he was privy to secure messages hence the fingerprint? Take care Robert
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#98738
07/24/2008 06:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,834
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,834 |
Robert,
An interesting item regardless of it's purpose. If you learn more, please let us know. Thanks for posting....
WANTED TO REPURCHASE!! Walther pistol Model PP - ac code - Ser. No. 382000P - REWARD FOR INFO ABOUT THIS PISTOL!!
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#98739
07/25/2008 03:07 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,439 |
The thumbprint was done on USN & USMC Tags until about 1943 as far as I can tell.
This is a very typical WW1 US Navy dog tag.
I have the dog tag book, now you guys are going to make me dig it out...
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#98740
07/25/2008 03:38 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,917 Likes: 5
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,917 Likes: 5 |
Jerry is correct. WWI Naval and USMC Dog Tags had the man's birthday and his thumb print raised in this manner. I have had several of these over the years. Totally different from the Army style. You will find that the Marines attached to the 2nd US Army Division in WWI had the army style round aluminum dog tag instead of the naval style however. Ron Weinand
MAX CHARTER MEMBER
LIFE MEMBER OVMS
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#98741
07/25/2008 04:14 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,017
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,017 |
I was looking under Yahoo seach and lol for some reason though WW2 and they show a USS Kentucky being built in 44 but never launched.Should have fiqured WW1 from the dates.My bad.
Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. And remember the early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
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