American traditional firefighter tattoos have been around since the early 1900s. These unique tattoos were primarily used by the United States military to mark their men and women who fought in wars and served in the armed forces. They were also used to identify firefighters and commemorate their bravery and courage. The tattoos were generally made up of a combination of fire-related symbols, such as flames, crosses, eagles, and stars. The firefighter's rank, name, and unit number were also often included in the tattoo.