Ernest Hemingway's World War II Dog Tags
Artifact IDMO 2002.33
Object Type
Tag, Dog
Date
1944
Medium
Metal
DimensionsOverall L 20 in (50.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionWorld War II dog tags worn by Ernest Hemingway. Dog tags read: "Ernest M Hemingway/T44 AB/Colliers Magazine/War Corr." Two tags on a metal chain.
Historical NoteAs a World War II war correspondent for Collier's, Ernest Hemingway was attached to the 22nd Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division. These are the 'dog tags' - the identification tags worn by military personnel - that were issued to Hemingway in April 1944, when he began his assignment for the periodical. The debossed tags bear his name and title: "COLLIER'S MAGAZINE / WAR CORR [correspondent]. Hemingway wore these (or these tags were at least in his possession) when he witnessed the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. On that day he boarded a landing craft to obtain a closer view of the combat rather than observing from the safer distance of the correspondents' ship. Later that month he twice flew on Royal Air Force missions to intercept German rockets targeting Britain. In August Hemingway found himself leading a band of unattached GIs and French irregulars toward the liberation of Paris.
Additional DetailsCustodial History NoteThis item was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by Mary Hemingway, the wife of Ernest Hemingway in 1986.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum; Gift of Mary Hemingway; Ernest Hemingway Collection
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesErnest Hemingway Collection (National Archives Identifier 76055712)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteThis material is not subject to any known copyright or other image use restrictions.In Collection(s)
Not on view