Hi gents! that's my first post on the forum, I would like to have information regarding a difficult subject This year during a fair in Milano i found a US dog tag inside a pants pocket.... a stroke of luck!!! Now i'd love to find this soldier or have some information, because i'm really curious to discover its history! If someone can help me I would be very grateful! Attacched the picture! Thanks a lot!!! View attachment 24622
It would be very difficult to trace that artifact through the means available here. When a dog tag is found in the field, you might narrow it down to a battle and the division that fought there. Divisional records are relatively easy to find. With an item like this, you don't know where it was originally picked up, or if it dates back to the war or just some GI passing through long after the war. There are some people here that can provide you with the proper means to query the government records. I'm sure somebody will pop up and detail that for you. It may be a disappointment though if you go through the process only to learn it's some guy that passed through in 1970 or something.
If we add the name & number to a post it'll be picked up by Google . Someone maybe searching for that name & number. Kevin B Bell 540-68-1319
Thanks a lot for the help But does't exist an archive, for example regarding the WWI or WWII I know the NARA where it s possible find some information, in this case can not use the same system?
Yes, there is, but as Jeff points out in post #4 that's a social security number, not a service number. That changed between 1969 and 1972 (depending on the branch of service), so the tag is one issued after those dates, long after the war.
It is definitely 1969 or later. As Jeff and KB pointed out, the US Army didn't use Social Security Numbers until 1969. The lack of a notch also suggests 1969 or later. The SSN does give some general info. The number was issued in Oregon in 1969.
This is very interesting, You say that was issued in Oregon in 1969... but why? Based on what you can say this? Thanks a lot and have a nice day why? based on what you can say this
Jeff has provided the link, but it has to do with how the SSN is assigned. The first 3 digits indicate where it was issued. The 4th and 5th digits indicate the year.
What they mean is, the SSN # was issued to a person. The dog tag was probably issued in the 80's, since the person was young when SSN# was issued, and then later joining the military using that number for military identification on the tag.
Thanks gents for the precious help! Ok at the end i understand that this dog tag was issued in Oregon in 1969, but ultimatley for you is impossible to trace this BELL KEVIN? There are other way? Thans again!! Gianluca
His name is actually Kevin Bell, which is not a uncommon name. Finding him is possible, but probably will be difficult.
Thanks Slipdigit for you reply, for you how could i do to find this Kevin Bell? Where i could turn? Thanks again, Best
Might be able to ask the Oregon VA if they could help. They can't give out info, but might be willing to mail it to him or next of kin, if they even know it. I would search obits in Oregon as well. You might get a hit as deceased, pall bearer, survived by, etc. It's a shot in the dark but a shot none the less.... And there's always Facebook. Good luck!