Dog Tags … (Day 13)

Military personnel who are serving in war zones are required to wear identification tags at all times. These tags are more commonly known as “dog tags.” The tags are primarily used for the identification of dead or wounded soldiers, but they also provide essential basic medical information needed for the treatment of the injured soldier.

During the time that TJ spent losing weight and preparing to join the Air Force, he went to a local army surplus store and had a set of dog tags made for himself. But, he didn’t have the normal “name, rank, serial number” type of information on them. His said,

“TJ Lombardi

Semper Fi to Christos

Semper Fi to U.S.A.”

TJ explained to us that even though “semper fi” was the Marine Corps’ cry, it was the best way for him to express that his first devotion was to the Lord Jesus Christ and secondly to his country. For two years TJ wore these dog tags as his constant reminder of who was first in his life and the goal he set for himself to serve his country.

When it came time to take TJ to the MEPS center for boot camp, he was to check-in at a nearby hotel on a Sunday afternoon. They began final medical checks and paperwork on Monday and then on that Tuesday we were able to return and watch him be sworn in and sign the official document that made him an Airman.

As we said our good-byes that Sunday evening, TJ began to walk away. He then stopped, turned around and came back to me. As he did so, he reached for the chain that had hung around his neck for two years and pulled it up over his head. He then reached out and put it over my head, and gave me a hug. I told him as best as I could through my tears that I would wear them until his service to his country was completed.

The tags I wear, TJ's picture & life verse - 2 Tim. 1:7

While TJ was serving in Great Falls, Montana at Malmstrom Air Force Base he was not required to wear his dog tags. In fact, he didn’t even have them. They were kept by the base in some office somewhere. I don’t know exactly when they gave him his dog tags as he prepared to go to Kuwait, but I do know that he is currently required to wear them at all times.

Though the tags I have been wearing since that Sunday night have always held a very special significance to me, they do even more now. I hear them jingle and I think about the set that TJ is currently wearing. And, when I pray for TJ I always ask the Lord to never let TJ forget his loyalties to his Savior first, and then to his country.