Tattoo Johnny Tattoos & Tattoo Design Guide: Military Tattoos and Military Tattoo Designs Through the Years

Military Tattoos and Military Tattoo Designs Through the Years

Monday 09th of February 2009 04:34:19 PM [Add To This Article]

Members of the United States military have been getting tattooed since the early 19^th century. As each branch of the military was formed and developed its own personality and brand of patriotism and spirit, these tattoos and the men and women who wore them altered and evolved. With every period in American history, not only does the militaryâ€™s role in history and in everyday life change, but the body art and the tattoos that are associated with the military change also, as do the ways that this art affects the wearers and those who view it.

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In the early days of America, sailors wore most of the body art. As able-bodied men joined the newly formed United States army, many of these sailors turned soldier and prepared to defend their country. Their â€œtravel marks,â€ superstitions and expressions of faith and adventure found a receptive and appreciative viewing audience among their new fellow soldiers, and soon members of the army were sporting tattoos indicating their own accomplishments, travels and bonds of brotherhood with their unit members and their comrades in arms.

As the military began defending U.S. interests abroad instead of just focusing on keeping the English out of the new United Statesâ€™ North American territories, the opportunities to get exotic and foreign tattoos naturally expanded. World War II brought with it the popular â€œLady Luckâ€ tattoo and â€œMenâ€™s Ruinâ€ tattoo, both of which included beautiful women accompanied by a variety of other symbols. Lady Luck was generally depicted with lucky items like four leaf clover tattoos and rabbitsâ€™ feet tattoos, and she might be perched on a bomb or other deadly weapon to help protect the soldier wearing her from failure in combat missions and bring him home safely. She served as a sort of guardian angel, and she also was a physical way to confront the very real danger that a soldier fighting in this unprecedented war might not return home whole or at all. Menâ€™s Ruin, on the other hand, was a darker version of her brightly fortunate twin. Also quite attractive, she tended to be portrayed with the many vices that could bring one to oneâ€™s knees at home and abroad. She was accompanied by dice tattoos, booze and drugs, and often evinced a clear invitation to promiscuity. Both of these vintage tattoos are still wildly popular in a variety of vintage and modern forms.

Following the World Wars, Vietnam changed the face of military tattooing forever. This incredibly traumatic episode that was never even officially declared a war brought many soldiers to their knees long after their combat tours had ended as they were ostracized and roundly berated by civilians upon their return home. However, with time, many Vietnam vets deservedly began to feel some of the pride in their service and to get the respect for their sacrifices that they should have been accorded all along, and with that change in public sentiment came a rash of POW/MIA tattoos that commemorated those soldiers lost and missing in action who may still be deep in the mysterious jungles of that country. Many veterans describe getting these memorial tattoos as a way to come to terms with their own terrible experiences at home and abroad that related to the Vietnam war, and a way to stand up and affirm their pride in their service after many years of receiving little praise or respect for their valiant efforts in that combat.

With the emergence of troubles in the Middle East starting with the Gulf War and continuing today with the uncertain combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas in that region, tattoo artists are seeing new trends in military tattooing emerge. It is no longer limited to the veterans and active soldiers by any means, as patriotic Americans (civilian and soldier alike) seek to express their pride in their country and their support for their military through four main types of patriotic tattoos. Large, beautifully colored and elaborate patriotic tattoos are favored by home-based patriots and new recruits, while many headed out on their first tour of duty or receiving a badge of honor or accomplishment will get a permanent uniform tattoo, such as a dog tag tattoo, platoon tattoo, rank tattoo or military specialty tattoo. Religious tattoos, once symbolically employed by British sailors to prevent beatings because a captain would not strike a cross tattoo, now are a way to keep oneâ€™s faith close at hand in the most trying conditions. Memorial tattoos are also growing in popularity as military men and women and civilians lose loved ones in combat.

As the world continues to change around our military, so will our militaryâ€™s tattoos and marks of honor and bravery also continue to evolve. Many tattoo artists describe the unsettling necessity of replacing â€œlostâ€ pieces of tattoos when injured servicemen return home, and the number of people proudly displaying their support for the military in civilian life grows daily, impacting the way that everyone views military tattoos and military service. As long as the military exists in the United States, military tattoos will be a unique form of respect and emotional tribute to these brave men and women.