Patriotic images of past wars. Religious icons. Fear of dying. Memories of those lost. No matter their inspiration, many U.S. service men and women use tattoos to remind themselves of their time served.
As reporter Michael May of The Texas Observer noted in “The Skins They Carried” (March 2008), there are four basic types of military tattoos. Often chosen by those going off to war are “vintage, gung-ho Americana style tattoos perfected during the World War II era by Sailor Jerry, a Honolulu-based tattoo artist whose stock images of eagles, weapons, and pinup girls evoke a more innocent, patriotic era.”
A second type is for those who wish to make their uniform permanent, May said. “Some do this for practical reasons, tattooing dog tags complete with military ID and Social Security numbers onto their torsos in case they become separated from their heads during combat. These tattoos, called ‘meat tags,’ can be elaborate,” May said.
The third most common military tattoos are those that portray religious iconography, most often images of crosses, rosaries, and Jesus Christ. Tattoos in honor of other religions and various denominations are also quite common.
The last of the four types is of recent origin, according to May, and “stands as a reminder of the human cost of the Iraq war. All the tattoo shops in Killeen [Texas] now do dozens of memorial tattoos each month.” The most common of these, May said, is the iconic combination of boots, a machine gun, and a Kevlar helmet. Such tattoos serve as a reminder of those lost in battle, and are often accompanied by a fallen comrade’s name and dates of birth and death. Recently the trio of gear stands alone, as many service members today fear the loss of more friends in the future and wish to allow the memorial to stand in recognition of all of those lost, past and future.
From HonoluluAdvertiser
