Record of Identification Processing

The wearing of identification tags, boots and clothing marked with the soldier's name, and the carrying of identification cards were important in identifying remains during the Vietnam War.  An equally important means of identification was fingerprinting. The proven reliability of fingerprints, coupled with their availability and immediate verification, made them an invaluable part of the mortuary's identification process.  Other important means of identifying remains were the matching of the remains with recorded characteristics of race, height, hair color, tattoos, scars, healed fractures, injuries, cause of death, and markings on clothing and jewelry.

In my uncle's case, he was identified by his fingerprints, height, hair color, race, head wound, ID card, ID tags, belt marked with his name, and four statements of recognition.