Page "Dog tag" Paragraph 258

Ironically, although the ID tags include religion as a way of ensuring that religious needs will be met, some personnel have them reissued without religious affiliation listed — or keep two sets, one with the designation and one without — out of fear that identification as a member of a particular religion could increase the danger to their welfare or their lives if they fell into enemy hands.

Some Jewish personnel avoided flying over German lines during WWII with ID tags that indicated their religion, and some Jewish personnel avoid the religious designation today out of concern that they could be captured by extremists who are anti-semitic.

Additionally, when American troops were first sent to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War there were allegations that some U. S. military authorities were pressuring Jewish military personnel to avoid listing their religions on their ID tags.