Dog tag and can opener used by Spc. James E. Brown II during the Vietnam War
date: label: Date
content: 1969-1970
name: label: Issued by
content: United States Army, American, founded 1775
label: Worn by
content: James Edward Brown II, American
label: Manufactured by
content: Mallin Hardware, American
notes: label: Caption
content: This dog tag and can opener belonged to Spc. James Edward Brown II of the 20th Engineer Brigade. Brown received this dogtag when he started basic training in July 1969 at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. During the Vietnam War, Brown’s unit cleared jungles, paved roads, and built bridges to support American and allied forces.
label: Description
content: A silver metal dog tag and P38 can opener, attached by bead chain, used by Spc. James E. Brown II (Delta Company, 31st Combat Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade) during the Vietnam War.
label: Description
content: The dog tag is a rectangular shape with rounded ends, and letters stamped deeply into the metal. The tag is bent slightly towards one end. There are small dents and scratches throughout, and signs of wear around the suspension hole. The stamped letters read "BROWN/JAMES E/[social security number]/OPOS/BAPTIST."
label: Description
content: Also attached to the bead chain by a shorter bead loop is a P38 can opener. Inscribed on one side is "U.S./MALLIN/SHELBY.O." The can opener is roughly rectangular in shape, with a hole on one corner for the suspension chain. There is a raised metal groove running down the length of the rectangle. One side has a small sharp half-moon indentation cut out of the edge. Below this indentation is a hinged, half-moon shaped tooth with a sharp curved upper edge. This section can lay flat against the larger rectangle of metal or swing open. The metal is stained and has some rust spots.
place: label: Place used
content: Viet Nam, Asia
label: Place made
content: Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Baptist
label: Topic
content: Cooking and dining
label: Topic
content: Military
label: Topic
content: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Accessories and Personal Effects
label: Exhibition
content: A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 1, C1 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of James E. Brown
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2013.11.2
objectType: label: Type
content: dog tags
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal
label: Dimensions
content: L x W: 17 5/8 x 1 5/8 in. (44.8 x 4.1 cm)