Manufactured by
Unidentified
Issued by
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Owned by
Lieutenant Nicolls, Vernon O., American, 1909 - 2003
Used by
758th Tank Battalion, American, 1941 - 1945
Date
1942-1943
Medium
metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (Overall): 1 1/8 × 5 1/2 × 1/8 in. (2.9 × 14 × 0.3 cm)
H x W x D (2014.142.4a dog tag): 1 1/8 × 2 × 1/16 in. (2.9 × 5.1 × 0.2 cm)
H x W x D (2014.142.4b dog tag): 1 1/8 × 2 × 1/16 in. (2.9 × 5.1 × 0.2 cm)
L x W (2014.142.4c chain): 3 15/16 × 1/8 in. (10 × 0.3 cm)
Caption
Vernon Nicolls was born in Barbados in 1909 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1915. During World War II, while living in Brooklyn, Nicolls enlisted as a Private in the Army at Fort Jay on Governor's Island, New York, in 1942. After graduating from Officer Candidate School, Lieutenant Nicolls served in Italy with the 758th Tank Battalion, the Army's first African American armored unit.
Nicolls wore these dog tags during his WWII service. He wore one when he was a Private, and he wore the other after receiving his commission as a Lieutenant. These tags provide important identifying information about Nicolls including his name, Army Serial Number, the dates of his Tetanus shots, his blood type, his religious affiliation, and the name and contact information for his next of kin (his wife, Edith Nicolls).
Description
A pair of dog tags (2014.142.4ab) with chain (2014.142.4c) for Vernon O. Nicolls, who served with the 758th Tank Battalion of the United States Army during World War II. One silver colored metal dog tag (2014.142.4a) has the text [NICOLLS, VERNON O / 0-1019339 T42 43 A / P] imprinted on the front. The other silver colored metal dog tag (2014.142.4b) has the text [NICOLLS VERNON O / 32328181 T42 A / EDITH NICOLLS / 1386 PROPECT [sic] AVE / BRONX N Y P] imprinted on the front. Both dog tags are notched on the top left side of the tags and have holes on the right sides to thread through the chain. The short chain (2014.142.4c) holding the dog tags is a brass colored ball chain with 2.4mm beads and a connector. The text [BALL / CHAIN] is imprinted on the connector.
Place used
Italy, Europe
Classification
Accessories and Personal Effects
Type
dog tags
Topic
Identity
Military
World War II
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kay L. Nicolls
Object number
2014.142.4abc
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd550a395cf-03dc-4a3d-8201-1cfac979a018

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page