Atomic Dog Tags
September 1950: The AMVETS organization announced its plan to issue plastic dog tags to all civilians in the United States, to help identify people in case of an atomic emergency. The tags would carry the wearer's name, address, and blood-type. The tags were plastic in order to "prevent radiation effects in the event of an atomic explosion."
AMVETS hoped to have the tags issued to all Americans within 18 months, but obviously that never happened.
Some searching has revealed that President Truman and actress Doris Day were presented with their own atomic dog tags, but I'm not sure that anyone else ever got one.
AMVETS hoped to have the tags issued to all Americans within 18 months, but obviously that never happened.
Some searching has revealed that President Truman and actress Doris Day were presented with their own atomic dog tags, but I'm not sure that anyone else ever got one.
Philadelphia Inquirer - Sep 29, 1950
New Philadelphia Daily Times - Sep 28, 1950
Comments
I vaguely remember something similar offered to us young ones in the early 1960's, made of metal as proper, non-melting, "dog" tags should be. Although I suppose that the heat from a nuclear (not "nuculer" for my lower MidWest dwelling friends) blast would obliterate you along with those plastic tags, thus obviating the need for proper identification.
Posted by KDP on 12/19/16 at 03:50 PM
My original late 60's dog tags were made of stainless steel, made not to melt in even a very hot fire, very tough, and non corroding. So if the big one is dropped, with plastic tags, no one will really worry about who's remains are who's.
Posted by Gator Guy on 12/19/16 at 04:48 PM
Kind'a hard to identify one grease spot from another. Maybe they'd've been able to identify us from the positions our desks were in when the big one hit.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/20/16 at 01:05 AM
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Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | 1950s