Different Variations in the Emergency Medical Tags
(Submitted by Alain Batens)
Last updated 11/9/02
Form 52b-MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. (Revised October 25, 1940) 16-15434
(LIFE Magazine dated Sep 6, 1943, Vol 15, N° 10, page 61 - ad run by E.R. SQUIBB & Sons, Manufacturing Chemists) As far as I know this sample is probably one of the oldest Tags in use during WW2, it was covered by a blue jacket, while the detachable Tags themselves were printed on white light cardstock material . The blue front cover contains both nomenclature and references e.g. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TAG, U.S. ARMY, a caduceus, space to write down the name of the Medic, and the indication W.D. M.D. Form 52b, date, etc. On the inside of the cover there’s a completely filled-out model to help Medics along – the blue rear cover contains full instructions how to use the book, how to complete the Tag correctly and what abbreviations to use, the reverse side is blank . The book further contains 20 x white light cardstock Tags + brass wire (early model) with spare space on the reverse indicating Supplemental Record, followed by 20 x carbon sheets, 20 x protective cellophane sheets, 20 x (identical) duplicate paper Tags (i.e. for record keeping), etc. Main headings to be completed include Name & Army Serial Number, Grade, Company, Regiment and Arm or Service, Division, Corps, Army, Age, Race, Nativity, Service Years, Station where Tagged, Date, Hour, Diagnosis: if Injury, state how, when, where incurred, Line of Duty, Treatment: Antitetanic Serum: Dose + Time, Morphine: Dose + Time, Disposition, Date, Hour, and finally, Signature, with Rank and Organization .
Form 52b-MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. (Revised, 25 October 1940) 16-15434
(as illustrated in FM 10-63 Graves Registration, 15 January 1945, from the collection of Alain Batens)
Form 52b-MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, U.S.A. (Revised November 5, 1942) GPO 16-15434-1 Jacket No.
694689 REG. No. 6028C . D (from the collection of Mike De Trez, via Alain Batens)
This is a later version, as can be told by the date, the blue front cover still contains the relevant nomenclature, i.e. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TAG, U.S. ARMY, a caduceus, space to write down the name of the Medic, and the indication Form 52b & dating, extra data, etc. The book’s contents are identical to the first model, only the color of the Tags is definitely tan, and former brass wires have been replaced by white cotton ties . Main headings have been slightly altered, whereby under Treatment given: there’s an additional indication Tetanus Toxoid: Dose + Time, while with Signature, the word Organization is dropped . (GPO 16-15434-1, the hyphenated last digit most probably refers to a later change or modification, i.e. a number 1 change) .
I meanwhile discovered another EMT book, whereby the cover (and attached Tags) show slightly altered markings arranged in a different sequence i.e.
EXAMPLE 10A EXAMPLE 10B
(EXAMPLE 10A) Emergency Medical Tag
(as shown in G.I. Journal, Vol. 1 No. 2, Summer 1996, by J. Gawne stating this sample was taken from the 1944 Medical Instructor’s Guide, via Alain Batens)Since this is only a B/W xerox copy, it is hard to identify the color, furthermore, there is no indication whatsoever covering this EMT (no number, no date, and no book cover) that could tell us more ! Main headings are still there, but in a different order i.e. Last Name, First Name, Initial, Army Serial No., Grade, Company, Regiment and arm or service, Division, Age, Race, State, Service, Source of admission, Received at (hospital and location), Date, Diagnosis, Line of duty, Changed and additional diagnoses, operations, with dates, Disposition, Date, and Signature of Surgeon .
Unfortunately, this EMT book lost its cover, as well as a number of Tags (only 18 left) but the modifications in the headings are noteworthy, also the Tag is a of a more narrow dimension . The EMT is printed on tan cardstock, and states Identification Tag, followed by Name (Surname), (Given Name), Address, Age, as well as Male-Female-Catholic-Protestant-Jewish-Single-Married-Widowed-White-Negro-Other, Person to be notified:, Name, Address, Phone, Relation, Where tagged, Date, 194., Hour, M., Diagnosis:; Treatment given:, Morphine, Tourniquet, Where sent, Signed, Organization, and 16-23481-1 *. Maybe this again, is a change, when seeing the –1, we can tell it still is used in WW2, due to the date indication, i.e. 194. Only the rear side (blank) of the Tag bears the indication Supplementary Information, and the eyelet containing the white cotton tie has a brown self-adhesive reinforcement on the reverse side . There are NEITHER carbon sheets, cellophane sheets, NOR extra paper copies in this book ! Does it mean NO more records were collected ? or is there another reason for this modification? So here, again, if anybody can help with further identifying the above – any data are welcome .
Since I have been able to identify changes
no. 1, 2 and 4, what about change No. 3 ? Can anyone help ? I recently purchased a special
model of EMT book with blue (faded) cover, and 20 white detachable Tags inside
W.D., A.G.O. Form No. 8-26, 1 October 1944, This form supersedes W.D., M.D. Form No. 52b 5 November 1942, which may be used until existing stocks are exhausted, 16-15434-2 * GPO
(from the collection of the Webmaster, David Steinert)This is again a slightly modified sample, of a
later date, and showing different markings and reference numbers, I assume this to be a
number 2 change)
DA Form 1 OCT 44, 8-26, formerly W.D., A.G.O. Form No. 52b, this form supersedes W.D., M.D., Form No. 52b 5 November 1942, which may
be used until existing stocks are exhausted, 16-15434-4 * GPO (as shown in American Militaria, No. 15, 1990, by P. Meunier, via Alain Batens)Again, this a rather poor B/W xerox copy of a cover only, but considering the different shades of gray, one might conclude the cover again is blue … I’m not sure all this is correct, since it is hard to read same, if anybody can help – this will surely be appreciated ! Some collectors pretend certain EMT Books even had orange/red covers ! Who can tell ? (16-15434-4 * GPO, the hyphenated digit 4 most probably refers to a later change, i.e. I assume this to be a number 4 change) .
U.S. FIELD MEDICAL CARD replaces DA Form 8-26 1 Oct 44 DA Form 8-27, 15 Aug 44, AF Form/38 … (from the collection of Alain Batens)
..at least that’s what the blue cover mentions, BUT, either some wise guy cut a part away lengthwise, or is it just sloppy manufacture ? the problem is that indications are not very clear, almost unreadable … probably a postwar issue ? one can tell when looking at the Tags that part of the frame has disappeared (due to cutting) … anyway I’ll describe the contents . The book contains 20 x tan (faded white) light cardstock Tags + brass wire (and no cotton ties) with texts on both sides, followed by 20 x carbon sheets, 20 x protective transparent cellophane sheets, 20 x identical duplicate paper Tags (for record keeping) . Main headings are numbered and printed lengthwise they include on the front bilingual texts (English/French) . Listing :
1.Name (Last-First-Middle Initial)/Nom, Prénoms, 2.Service Number/Numéro Matricule, 3.Grade/Grade, 4.Nation/Nation(e.g. Etats Unis), 5.Force/Armée, 6.Branch & Trade/Arme(e.g. Infanterie), 7.Unit/Unité, 8.Service(Yrs)/Durée des Services(e.g. 2 6/12), 9.Age/Age, 10.Race/Race, 11.Religion/Religion, 12.Facility where Tagged/Lieu d’Etablissement de la Fiche, 13.Date and Hour Tagged/Date et Heure d’Etablissement de la Fiche, 14.Diagnosis(including cause)/Diagnostic(Cause comprise), Nature of Casualty or Illness/Nature de la Blessure ou Maladie, Disability/Incapacité, Enemy Action/Du Fait de l’Ennemi, 15.Line of Duty/En Relation avec le Service, 16.Injury/Blessure, 17.Sick/Maladie, 18. Date & Hour Injured/Date et Heure de la Blessure, 19. What Was He Doing When Injured/Que Faisait-il Lorsqu’il fut Blessé, 20.Treatment Given(For Antibiotics specify Which and Give Date, Hour and Date)/Traitement Effectué(Si Des Antibiotiques ont été Donnés, Précisez leur Nature, la Dose, l’Heure et la Date), 21. Tourniquet(Yes or No, Time & Date Applied))/Mise en Place d’Un Garrot(Oui ou Non, Heure et Date), Treatment/Traitement Effectué, a.Dose/Dose, b.Hour and Date/Heure et Date, 22.Morphine-1st/Morphine-1ère, 23.Morphine-2nd/Morphine-2ème, 24.Morphine-3rd/Morphine-3ème, 25.Tetanus Toxoid/Vaccin Antitétanique, 26.A.T. Serum/Sérum Antitétanique ,27.Disposition-Disposal/Destination Donnée au Blessé, 28.Hour and Date/Heure et Date, 29.Medical Officer(Signature & Grade)/Signature et Grade du Médecin, and on the reverside side of the tag, further headings i.e. 30.a.Absolution/Confession, b.Holy Communion/Sainte Communion, c.Extreme Onction/Extrême Onction, d.Other Administrations/Autres Ministères, e.Chaplain(Signature)/Signature de l’Aumônier, 31.Diet/Régime Alimentaire, Regular/Normal, Liquid/Liquide, Nothing by Mouth/Rien par Voie Orale, 32.Remarks/Remarques . Each Form moreover bears following indications, under its frame (lower part) ; DD Form 1380 – 1 June 62, and U.S. Field Medical Card / Fiche Médicale de l’Avant Etats-Unis …