Challenge Coins: A Military Tradition
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- Опубліковано 11 чер 2020
- Challenge coins have a long tradition in the United States military. But their history is perhaps more legend than fact. The History Guys explores the forgotten history underlying the tradition of challenge coins.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
#challengecoins #thehistoryguy #ushistory
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Well this was indeed one of the BEST presentations you have done (not just because you mentioned me)! The story of the Challenge Coin has had countless stories and legends of its origin. While I was attending the prestigious U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) in the mid 90s (military service exchange student), that was the first time in my career that I had ever encountered "the coin," as at that time it was not a common practice in the U.S. Coast Guard. In fact, it was first introduced into our service by one of my predecessors, who went on to become the 6th MCPOCG (Jay Lloyd), which he learned of this ritual when he attended USASMA in the '80s. Today, the practice of the presentation of "the coin" in the U.S. Coast Guard is not only common, but still revered as one of the most sought after personal awards by all Coast Guardsmen. Your presentation on the history of the Challenge Coin is the most comprehensive historical explanation that I have ever heard or seen. I'm sure that many who are currently serving or have served in the military will greatly appreciate your historical message presented! Thanks History Guy! I will always be your biggest fan! Keep up the great work!!
Thank You Sir for Your Willing service to us ( U.S. ), for us ( U.S. ), and beyond. Thank You Sir.
Thank you for your service Master Chief! Hand Salute!
Thanks you for suggesting this Master Chief. I was in while you were MCPOCG, met you a couple times. I finished out my career as as W2 but will always remember “Once a Chief always a Chief”, I still have my Chiefs coin.
Enjoy your well deserved retirement!
I feel like a celebrity just commented! Haha. Thank you for your service, and thank you for being so generous with your challenge coin and your knowledge! What an incredible and thoughtful contribution to this channel. From a loyal viewer of this channel - thank you, Mr. Patton! :)
My father, a retired SF 1SG, passed in Oct 2000. I called Ft Knox's public affairs and they said they could send 2 soldiers to fold the flag and a taped version of taps. Thinking this was damning with faint praise, I then posted a message on a SF website on my father's computer explaining the situation. No more than 10 minutes later an SF Lt Col contacted me asking where and when dad was to be buried. The day of the funeral 2 Van's pulled up to the cemet ery and over 20 Green Berets got out, the highest ranking a Captain and the lowest an SFC/E7. They buried him by the book and in high style. The Cpt gave my mother, my brother, and myself each a commemerati be coin larger than any I had ever seen with my father's name and rank and dates of miliary service on them. My proudest possession. Expresso De Libre!
The notion of any US soldier being buried to a recording of taps make me literally tear up in rage.
If you EVER hear about a soldier being laid to rest without a living breathing horn player, I urge you to contact the local VFW, and if they cannot help, contact an organization called Buglers Across America. In the event that a uniformed horn player cannot be provided, They will do everything they can to provide a volunteer civilian horn player to play taps according to protocol. It's been a huge honor every time I've been called on to do it.
@@verdatum - Seconded. That sort of defacement of service should NEVER HAPPEN. If all else fails, contact local high schools. They'll have some JROTC cadet that can blow a horn, and be honored for the opportunity.
@@bordenfleetwood5773 Sadly, JROTC less and less frequently bother to teach cadets to play the horn. They rely more on vocal commands or, again, pre-recorded bugle calls. The high school kids interested in playing the horn end up joining band insead. That said, I wish more band kids knew about the Bugles Across America program; particularly in more sparsely populated areas.
*Much respect for those who honored your father's memory and service with this act...thank you for sharing this*
De oppresso liber*
Back in 1976, I was the driver for the base Commanding General. One of my duties was to pick up visiting dignitaries from the airstrip and drive them to their destination. On one such occasion I was assigned to be the driver for a visiting General. When I dropped him off to catch his flight out I was helping him gather his bags from the trunk when he took out his rain coat unpinned one his gold star from it and handed it to me while shaking my hand and thanking me for a job well done. I still have that star some 40 years later.
A coin's true value lay in the stories behind how they were acquired. As such, those which are purchased have no worth until given away.
Very, very true. Except, in my opinion, when the purchaser is buying the batch, and has the story to tell.
I'm currently waiting on a civilian order. The story is personal, but we're having 100 custom coins struck for select members of our State's COVID-19 Response Team.
At the end of my father's funeral a few years ago (Georgia National MIlitary Cemetery), the young officer who presided handed me a coin during a handshake. It had the US Navy seal on one side, on the other, simply one word: "RESPECT"
Outstanding!!
I received a Navy coin at my fathers funeral too from one of his ship mates.
Thank you for what your father gave up to serve the United States.
mtak49 Thank you. Just to be totally clear, he served in the 1950s. His ship mates live in the same town and they belong to an association attached to their ship. They stayed friends all the years and my father died in 2005.
@@mtak49 Thank you … and actually my Mother, too. As a baby boomer born in '51, I remember those boys-in-the-neighborhood conversations, "What did your Dad do during the war?" And I would follow up; "What did your Mom do?" Usually, my question got met with silent, quizzical stares. Both my Mom and Dad were in the Navy during WWII and I came to appreciate a boomer with both parents as vets was a rare thing. They now rest side by side in the Georgia Military Cemetery.
My hubby was an AF medic, but he had been given two Navy coins over the course of his career, each by a doctor he held in high regard. Just before my husband shipped out to Iraq, he gave me one of his most prized challenge coins. He promised to come back so that I could get the other coin. I'm happy to say that I have both coins in a place where I can see them every day. 💜
As a Navy Surgeons wife, thank you for your service.
@@msanderlin3330 And thank you for yours! We both understand what it takes to be the one left at home. Amirite? 🤗
My family Thanks your Family for your sacrifices and service to a grateful nation . as I read I wanted to see that you got both coins , so glad your husband came home , it would have broken my heart to hear it any other way .
I buried my father's challenge coin with him when he died. He had been a member of the First Canadian Parachute Battalion during the Second World War and would never have forgiven me if I hadn't sent it along with him.
Good for you! I buried my mother and father together with their rings and an original Marriage certificate. People say "you can't take it with you" ... but you CAN!
@John Malcolm It was never "just a piece of paper" to me pal.
I was in the US Navy Submarine Service from 1964 to 1970. I had never heard of Challenge Coins until I was long off active duty. When I finally heard of it it was in the form of a drinking game. I got my first coin from the commanding officer of the USS Alabama SSBN 731 when touring that vessel and was mystified by it thinking why was I given this thing. Now some 20 or so years later I can't remember what ever happened to it. A girlfriend a few years ago gave me one for my boat though when aboard it in the 1960's we had no such thing. They were made long after the boat was decommissioned. It sits on a bookcase because it holds no memories of my time aboard. I do carry a coin today in my pocket. The Submarine Service has has a tradition called "The Holland Club" recognizing people who have been Qualified in submarines for 50 years or more. I carry my Holland Club coin. I show it to a few folks from time to time but I've never been called on to ever produce it. Thanks for your episode today History Guy!
My wife and I run a hostel on the AT. We had three Marines from DC who flew Marine One. They gave me a challenge coin, my first. Now my most prized possession. 🇺🇸 Fly Navy
That's a rough job. Thank you.
Wonderful history! My late husband had a veteran's challenge coin. When my son was overseas in Iraq, he sent my husband his challenge coin to keep for him. Now that my husband is gone, I treasure it as the closeness of my husband and son. Both of them were assigned to the 94th Engineering Battalion from Fort Leonard Wood.
Thank you so much for your family's service to your country and the security of North America (I'm Canadian).
@randall2020 even a fool can appear wise till they open their mouth!.. Stop being an a** and appreciate their loss for your oppertunity to say whatever you want when you want... A disabled US ARMY vet.
@@garykubodera9528 That a**'s comment has been deleted. Mr. Kobudera I honor you for your service and sacrifice and pray that the Good Lord will bless you til the end of your days.
@@BillB23 no problem.. Thought it was pretty low considering their family's loss for this country! Thanks for your help!
Can I talk to you privately, I want to inquire about a small matter
I have numerous coins from my time in the Navy Reserves (Hoorah Seabees!). My highest ranking coin is from a former Chief of the Navy Reserve, but my absolute favorite is the Navy Senior Chief’s coin that my now former Father in Law presented to me upon my graduation from boot camp in Great Lakes. Thank You for the trip down memory lane!
I remember my first challenge coin I received when I was in the Coast Guard. I had no point of reference for challenge coins at the time. This was when the Gold Sacajawea Dollars had first started to be minted. A new female officer had joined our unit in Milwaukee, and on my way to the main building I past her and gave her a salute as it the proper custom. She stopped me and handed me a Gold Coin, the newly minted Sacajawea dollar. I asked what was this for, and she said that I was the first person to salute her after she had received her commission. That was my first introduction to challenge coins. I keep a Coast Guard challenge coin in my pocket when I play poker with friends at a local bar, and the other day someone asked me about the coin that I was using as a holder on top of my two cards. I went on to explain to them what it was and the same stories that The History guy presented in this video.(this was prior to his video I watched today) I love history and tell everyone I can about this channel. The first thought I had was, I should send him a coin for all the stuff he has put on his channel to promote the Coast Guard. (a service that kinda gets the back of the bus treatment when it comes to military service) Looks like the MCPO of the USCG beat me to it. But I think I will send him one anyway. For all that he does to bring to light all of the branches of the military. Thanks again History Guy.
Librarian with a challenge coin: I received a challenge coin from a group of discharged veterans who I supported during their participation in the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV). It was an honor to help them in starting their own business and the next chapter of their lives.
I'm going to try to be signing up for EBV next year!
My neighbor was a tail gunner on B52 Bombers when they still had tail guns. His crew meets up every few years. On one gathering they met at a lake for the weekend. One guy tried to challenge the rest of the crew while they were waist deep in the lake so he could get free beer from all of the guys in the water. When he slapped his coin on his arm it fell off in the water. Word spread that he didn't have his coin and he was challenged the rest of the weekend. I'm sure it was an impressive bar tab.
I have three great challenge coin memories! The first two was when I served as the Damage Control Assistant on the the carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67). In May of '05 I attended an event at the Kennedy Space Center (about two hours south of our homeport in Mayport, FL.) where I presented JFK Engineering Department coins (with one side being our ship's crest an the other our Engineering Department emblem) to two Apollo astronauts, Apollo 16's John Young and Charlie Duke. CAPT Young commented to me as I slipped him his coin in a handshake,"Y'all didn't have to do this." The second was passing coins to NYC firefighters at a station near Ground Zero during Fleet Week '05. As JFK's DCA, all of the ship's firefighters worked for me, so I felt the need to thank those of the NYFD. The third memory was in '07 when as the Operational Test Director for the SSGN conversion program I briefed the officers and CPOs of the newly converted USS MICHIGAN (SSGN-727) on an upcoming test event. After my very professional brief, and being the Ohio State University alumn I am, I added a personal touch with a zinnger slide showing the Uof M emblem with a big red circle and slash with the caption "GO BUCKS, NO BLUE!!!" Despite this, during our test, MICHIGAN's commanding officer tapped me on the shoulder and with a smile, passed me one of his coins. I cherish that one above all others in my collection.
Funny story from watching this, I'm still waking up and when you slammed your coin I instinctively threw mine on my desk and a few others in my house fallowed hearing me throwing my coin. so now my roommate owes me a round of drinks. LOL
Great comment... so funny and sincere at the same time... heck if I was there, I'd buy a round and I don't even have a challenge coin
You too!?
Well done! I love it!
Fucking Outstanding!
Reminds me of hearing a tone calling firefighters to a call (on TV) and I immediately perk up, nearly stand, and my heart gets going. Instinct and training, right?
As a truck driver a few years ago I delivered water and foodstuffs to a flooded Air Force Base after a major hurricane. A retired General gave me his state USO medal. I presented to my company and today it's on display in the lobby of Feed the Children. They are indeed a high honor.
As a veteran who has been in need of supplies from many truck drivers from all over the world, I want to say, ...
Thank YOU for your service!
@@daytonduck yah but why give up a war metal for that. Hundreds of other truck drivers would of delivered... They do it for walmart too, in extreme weather.
@@eddingtonmillagillo4112 It was not for military service, but rather for driving thru deep water for hungry soldiers. Not all Challenge medals are for combat. To the soldiers families water, food, flashlights etc were highly valued.
There is something about your smile when you said "I just can't say no to the master cheif petty officer" that is just infectious and I can really tell how excited you are. Your chanel has come a long way and it continues to bring countless more smiles with every video. Keep up the good work
👍 And I like the new intro thing. 💪 Strong
It's truly a great honor to meet a master chief. The amount of work it takes to achieve is phenomenal and it isn't political like a lot of high ranking officers.
@@southjerseysound7340 Oh, like all things human there's politics involved, just not partisan politics. Ya gotta punch the ticket.
QED: Who can say "No" to a master chief?
My old Colonel told all of us cadets interesting tactics on how to always have a coin on you. His favorite was to always keep one in his id pouch of his PT shorts
I was in the USAF from 1963 through 1984. Never saw (nor heard of) a challenge coin. That being said, I was assigned to a Tropo site in northern Sardinia in the mid '70s and we used gettones (Italian telephone tokens) in the site "lounge" to determine who bought the round when someone initiated a "Gettone Call".
The Group Commander paid us a visit and was aware of this practice, and so was prepared. However, in honor of his visit to "The Rock", as we called the site, we all had local rocks in our pockets and had a "Rock Call". I don't think that he ever forgave us.
I too was in the USAF from 86-91. I never heard, nor seen a challenge coin and I frequented many bars!
haven’t heard the term “Tropo”. in a long time. :-) Was part of the 7th Signal Bde in Germany.
love it! absolutely hilarious
Same here. US Army 84-88; there were no such things then. They became a " thing " after Desert Storm in '91 I guess.
Same. Navy Desert Storm/ Desert Shield 89-93. Never heard of a challenge coin.
Besides my Airman’s coin I earned in the USAF, my favorite coin is the very first one I was awarded from my mom (who was also my Cub Scout leader)... “Do your best” and “Help other people” are the words etched on the coin AND in my heart. Yes, coins often have deep significance for their owners.
I have a USCG challenge coin that was presented to all of us new CPO's by one of the last survivors of the USS Arizona. I have carried it in my pocket every since that day in 2003.
I was given a challenge coin by Sergeant Major of the Army Jack Tilley for having the best shined boots he said he'd ever seen.
That's an honorable coin that deserves to be remembered😊
CSM Tilley was my Brigade CSM of the 194th Armored Bde. at Ft Knox Ky and met him again years at Ft Wainwright Ak.
LordCowBell Outstanding!!
Great memory!! I ended up with a bunch I got over the years.
Love them. Thanks for posting !!
Get your fucking shine box Vinny!
Fantastic that your superior recognized your hard work. Nobody thanks they guy that "peels a million potatoes for dinner" or spit shining their boots above and beyond. It seems meaningless to us civilians, but I get it. To stand out amongst every other soldier your recognized work raises the bar for anyone that follows after...
I have several. The one that I carried the longest is from the 5th Special Forces Group where I served as an operator. The first one That I carried was when I was promoted to sergeant as part of 82nd Airborne, 2/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. This was all in the 1980s and 90s, only NCOs and officers had challenge coins, and those 2 were legitimate challenge coins. The one from 5th Group I still carry to this day. I have several others that I was given for various things but back then we didn’t normally consider these to be actual challenge coins as much as we did awards of a non official nature.
There are also a whole bunch of funny stories about them including such NCOs in the 82nd lurking around in the shower after PT to see what NCO might not have his with him, or when an NCO upon learning that a fellow NCO or officer didn’t have their coin on them would announce it on the PA system, sending them running to their car, other NCOs in chase to get a free beer after the work day was over. I was even challenged once a few hundred feet up while rock climbing by an NCO from the 10th Special Forces. That was the only time that I lost.
The game, as we played it back then, was that if you were challenged and didn’t have your coin on you you had to buy a beer for the NCO or officer that made the challenge. It become expensive when others learned this and also challenged you. The catch to this was that if you were challenged and produced your coin then whoever made the challenge had to buy you a beer.
I grew up near a military base and I grew up playing with my father's challenge coins. Until now, I didn't know they represented anything other than a unit insignia. Dad wouldn't talk about how he got his. And yes, his wallet has a permanent impression of a coin.
I still have my Phening from being stationed in Germany. My dad's is inside the case with his folded flag. It is from the 10th SFG.
Thank you for the history lesson.
Amongst the Navy VP ( fixed wing patrol ) community that deployed to the Western Pacific ( WestPac) back in the 1960-1980 time frame the standard Challenge Coin was a Peso from The P.I. In twenty one years of Naval Service it was the only Challenge Coin I ever needed or received. Thank you for the history of those coins.
When I was a young private in an Airborne Long Range Surveillance Unit, we had the coin check for beers at the bar and for pushups when everywhere else. I was taking a shower while deployed and had hidden my coin squeezed between somewhere. Well, the Company Commander walked in to shower and just as he lathered up his hair I accidentally dropped my coin. Whoops. Well needless to say he was a good sport and did the pushups and I exited the showers quickly as it had been unintentional to coin check the CO. I had wanted to coin check my platoon sergeant. Oh well, good times.
We have a Winner!
@Joseph VanDyck Your Commander was a good sport !
😳🤦🏻♂️🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤷🏻♂️🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
@@trespire he was.
Probably the first AND last time he was coined in the shower. 😂😂😂
Each of the coins in and of itself is "History that deserves to be Remembered." In spite of the fact that these are but common pieces of metal they hold value for the story that is behind them. Just how important the coin is depends greatly on who the coin belongs to. One airman might view his coin as a "Common trinket" while another airman treasures his.
A coworker at my current job had general award him a challenge coin for "Principled Honesty" in maintaining an effective workstation when everybody else was doing a "Dog and pony show" in attempt to impress that general. I am sure that coin is among his treasured possessions...
Yeah I got one of mine just for joining the army in highschool as a split option trainee. Guess the 2 star who was in charge at redstone arsenal didn't have much to do that day.
Another was earned for volunteering for extra duties over the course of a deployment, and given to me by a command sergeant major who said he had seen my name on more extra duty reports than anyone in the brigade during deployment. He bought me a beer and gave me the coin in the first airport bar we saw on the way stateside. So I still carry that one to this day
I'm still laughing hard. They gave these idiots boy scout patches. No wonder the elites laugh at the lot of us.
At least in Rome you got more gold/pay with your coin for excellent service. These idiots got nothing but a thank you.
@@EvlEgle Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
@@eddingtonmillagillo4112 When I was a Boy Scout in the '60s those patches were earned. The elites will laugh at whatever they can't control. They do that to whatever threatens their lust for power.
I have a Challange coin given to me. It is a momento and an honor to have it.
It is a momento of a personal one time only guided tour of a faculty. That was a honor.
One time I stoped to help out a stranded motorist, a air natl guard piolet. He offered his patch, I ask him if he would send it to my son, I would help no matter and I have never ask a thing any way.
He sent not only a unit patch but some really cool photos of his air craft in flight taken by his wing.
My son was amazed to get these. That made my day also.
"If you walk into the office of a high-ranking service officer with a big magnet, chances are you will die." ROTFL!!!! Oh, the visual that statement brought with it!!! 🤣😂🤣😂
To Master CPO Patton... Thank you, Sir, for your service to our great country!!! And thank you for giving THG a great story to research for all of us! Wishing you a healthy and happy retirement!
To THG -- Re: your note stating "Non censuram", THANK YOU!!! We have enough of censorship going around in this country right now to choke a horse. Let freedom with common sense and courtesy continue to reign on this channel, as it always has.
And, forgot to comment on your new logo and opening slide in the "debut" video, love it!!! It also made me laugh, because I can hear the faint sounds of a cape flapping in the background... one that matches the tie, of course! I just LOVE this channel! You and Mrs HG have been so innovative and continually creative in your presentations. Nothing stagnant going on here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My father has been out of Ranger Bat for at least 15-20 years, yet he always carries his coin on him
Thank you for your service Master Chief.
Loved this story. As the daughter of a 33 year Air Force pilot, I knew what a challenge coin was. In my sixties, I was asked to represent my company at the local Air Force base for a two month program intended to familiarize non military with the base. On the graduation of the program, I was given a challenge coin which I treasure to this day. I also have one of my father’s. Thank you for the reminder.
Greetings from Canada. I am glad to see that you included some references to challenge coins issued by non-US military forces. Challenge coins have a long history of use by the Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand armed forces. The traditions associated with these coins are similar to those used by the US armed forces, as described in your youtube video. I have a number of challenge coins. My proudest possession is the 2 Military Police Company challenge coin, a unit which I eventually commanded. Another proud possession of mine is the British Army's Royal Military Police Association coin.
Keep producing such excellent youtube videos!
Regards,
D.A. Stolovitch, CD
Captain
2 Military Police Regiment / Canadian Force Military Police (Retired)
NIce! I got several during my "deployments." I worked in airfield mangement in the Air Force from 2001-2005. I have deployment in "" because I went to vacation spots...UAE and Qatar. Guys in Iraq would come to where was for their R&R lol. Anyways my favorite I got from the base commander for working an aircraft emergency that had to divert to where I was, then making sure the crew of the emergency aircraft was taken care of. No cool combat stories but hey...I was in the Air force lol I actually got to do a ride along in the U2 chase Camaro after that because I won airman of the week for my squadron. I miss those days.
Prior to the coins, unit patches were the things to swap/share. Still have some that bring fond memories from my time in the U.S.A.F.
Loved the episode The History Guy! 😃😍😃
Yes. We would do unit patches as well. USAF 1982-1992
Agreed. As a European and a member of a unit involved in ceremony and protocol at home and abroad, I don't have a single challenge coin, but I have a nifty patch collection...
I gave up a patch that I regretted ever since. The guy pressured me so much that I gave it to him just to make him shut up. I figured I'd get a replacement the next time I visited the unit, but by time I returned to visit, they had converted to F-16s from A-7Ds 😭😭😭
I think patches are the new coins. The new vinyl patches are awesome and very detailed. I got custom patches for some of my guys that fixed a year long recurring system fault on an A-10 and they loved em. Cost a couple buck, but it was for their hard work. Means a lot. Can't give em a bonus ya know.
f3xpmartian in Boy Scouts we collected patches from around the world, as an adult and leader my “Fire Blanket” is about 15lbs and is a sight.
I quickly obtained a one-pfennig coin on my first tour in Germany. That same tour I watched my machine gunner receive a challenge coin for giving his brutally honest opinion concerning a Major General's plan. The general was shocked and turned to his Sergeant Major and said: "Give him a coin." I became painfully aware of my lack of a challenge coin as a Sergeant First Class during a training meeting. I did end up earning two before my career ended. And then to cap it off, my brother, a career civilian, dropped a State-Department challenge-coin at a family dinner while both my coins were at home...
Thank you Master Chief Patton for your service! Thank you THG for sharing this info with us civilians. Early in my career, I did some technical work supporting a defense program. One of the thank you gifts I received was a challenge coin with the program logo. I thought it an odd gift at the time, since I was unable to join the military, but have since learned of its significance, and remember fondly those two years of work.
Several years ago had the honor of pinning my brothers officer chevrons on his uniform and was witness to his first salute, which my brother then handed him his challenge coin. An old silver dollar worth about $50
Merchant marine captain here, I have a challenge coin from the USNS New York, and Received one as an award for our Collective response on 9-11, after the call for all available ships went out and all manner of vessels responded. My vessel being a tugboat. One of my most prized possessions. Thank you History Guy for another wonderful video!
Which boat, Captain? I was a AB on the Stephen Reinauer
Calling all boats
@@tommypetraglia4688 I was on the Mary L. McAllister
Thank you for your response Captain, you have my respect. Oh and McAlister tugs ran the Delaware where I worked.
Thank you for participating in the largest water evacuation in history
Thank you for mentioning the 10th Special Forces Group in this. Regardless of whether there were previous versions of the concept, the SF origin in Bad Tolz , Germany is where what we have now began. It spread to the other SF groups widely by the late 1970s, then into other Army units by the 1990s. Other services caught on by the late 1990s. You mentioned that public (‘non-appropriated’) funds are used for purchase. Coins purchased that way by military units must only be given to military members. Commanders, who normally design their own coins, will often pay for an extra run of coins at personal expense so that they can give them to family and community members. The easy way to prove where those came from (in case of an investigation) is to have the personal ones numbered. More cost, but less headache/risk. Thanks for what you do. Maj Gen Hugh Van Roosen, US Army.
Concur as to SF. While I had three consecutive combat tours in Vietnam (1969-71) I never saw any in use there. Challenge coins began to come into vogue about 1972-74.
George. I still cherish my first SF coin from 1983, though I stopped carrying it after I left A teams.
My favorite Coin waa presented to me by a Full Bird for handling a hostile event on a Middle Eastern base. I waa a 20 year old E-3, and having a high ranking officer present a very personal award. To this day it's my favorite award.
“If you walk into a high ranking service members office with a magnet, you will die!” There is certainly truth in that statement. I ended up with a handful of coins during my time in the Army.
This reminded me of receiving my 1st coin. It came from the, just so happening to be visiting, CSM overall operations in Iraq. Now myself having only recently arrived to my unit in the previous fortnight. They were a month shy of half way through an 18 month deployment. So being the new guy, I was pulling guard. Now keep in mind this is in a shack, in Iraq, in June. So it was HOT! (I had no idea at the time how bad the next 3 months were also)
At that time i hadn’t even had the customary, new group of soldiers comes in & meets up with the senior Squadron command yet. Yet here I am, baking in a steel box, staring up from a book, to see a whole lotta brass walk by my position toward the gate Then 2 figures head my direction.
I’m sure if I hadn’t already told you whom I received my coin from, & you’d served you could guess whom those 2 figures were making a v line straight towards me. My CSM and the afore mentioned CSM.
I immediately jump to parade rest & still being green, shout “at ease” as the first boot hits the floor. Initially scared to death, with in a few minutes of yes sergeant major, no sergeant major, he’d got to the how’d you end up in the army. I told him my enlistment story.
Then the brass all started funneling back through toward the next victim. On the way out the door, the Senior CSM shook my hand and walked back out of my position, leaving a triangle coin in my palm.
Thanks for the memory! Especially thank you for the time you put into these video’s. It is greatly appreciated.
-Victory or Death
My Daughter is in the Navy...she is a Boatswain Petty Officer 3rd class. She has painted murals on the decks and walls of the ship but she also designed one of these Challenge coins. They gave her one to keep for herself. I’m so proud of her❤️
The "walls" are called "Bulkheads"
Webb Trekker-😊 Thank you...you guys have so many different words that you use lol...my daughter doesn’t even realize when she is talking about things that I Have NO idea what she is referring to. I’m constantly asking her what she means lol.
There are different rules on the challenge by service. My understanding is that they tend to consider the rank of the organization or giver being significant, as indicated below, lowest level coin buys the drinks. In the Army, first you have to have received one, then you must keep it on you...but in your pocket, wallets and chains don't count. Then if someone challenges a group or individual, the ones without pay/buy, but if everyone has one, the challenger pays. But level doesn't matter. As a retired army NCO, I have many I received for recognition, some I bought when new units were formed I was supporting, but for my Air Force friends, I love the US Air Force Inspector General office coin I found in a sofa in a hotel in Baltimore Maryland, it usually shuts them up.
Like the movie War Games, perhaps the best solution is to stay away from bars and not play the game.
Ohhhh, you’re in for it now History Guy. Get yourself several coin racks! Your mailman is going to have sore arms!
And be cautious with magnets.
I don't think he realizes how many coins are around anymore.
No kidding. I have seven left from my three years as CC of a CAP squadron. There might only be six left soon.
*without question...challenge coins from all over the world are about to arrive...i've even found examples of challenge coins from Antarctica so that would be a rather awesome one to find in your mail box eventually*
I have a few challenge coins from my service career, but I never got into collecting them. Some folks were very serious about the hobby (for that is what it has become) and probably took it as a mild offense when they learned you had none to offer. I remember as a Boy Scout we collected patches with the same fervor. Regarding your first salute, the tradition is to give the first enlisted member a silver dollar, at least it was when I received my commission. I graduated out of cycle with my class, so I was the only person in my commissioning ceremony. We had four NCOs in my ROTC unit, all lined up and waiting to salute me. I didn't want to disappoint any of them, so I broke with tradition and gave each one a silver dollar when he saluted me. As far as paying for drinks goes, in flight training we didn't use coins or bullets. We played a game called "Dead Bug." If someone yelled it, everyone had to immediately drop to the floor on their backs with their arms and legs in the air. The last person to do so was supposed to buy rounds at the O-Club. Your story about challenge coins brought all those memories flooding back after more than 40 years. Thanks.
Can we say "You've made it!" now? Yeah, I think that'd be appropriate.
Congrats man! You've made it!
Having served in the military I'm well familiar with the history and use of challenge coins. I have maybe 40 coins and alot of them were gifts from people who were members of the units or organizations they represent. In the years since my military service I have been very lucky to aquire coins from the commander of the USS Cole, and companies like Northrop Grumman. My favorite coins were given to me by Gold Star Mother's whom I had the great honor of escorting during Rolling Thunders annual ride for freedom in DC on Memorial Day weekend. These coins have the Gold Star Mother's son or daughters name who had paid the ultimate price for our way of life. It was also my great honor to do provide this service for 15 years. My wife may have just as many coins having served the US Army as a civilian employee for more then 30 years.
2/58 Infantry, 2nd AD
1975-79
Rolling Thunder VIP and
Gold Star Family Escort Coordinator
2003-2018
Who gives, and prints these coins. Who manages it all.
@@eddingtonmillagillo4112 the coins are minted by a variety of comercial companies and they can be made to your specifications for your own use. They are not monetary and have no face cash value. They are strictly for comemerative tokens of some special event or service. Just look up challenge coin manufacturers on Google, I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for. As for who manages the coin isduance, most times the person or organizations who designed and purchased the coins do that. In some cases, the challenge coins are numbered and there's an official book with who was issued that coin and who actually issued it. Just having a true challenge coin is usually proof enough of your affiliation but a numbered coin goes a step further. This number can be verified with the issuing organization.
As a member of the Coast Guard Auxilliary, I assisted with the commissioning on the USCGC Margaret Norvell on June 1, 2013 and received one of the first of the cutter's challenge coins. This was in New Orleans and my uniform was soaked from the heat. BTW, Margaret Norvell has a remarkable history that deserves to be remembered!
THG thank you for this episode on the challenge coins. Not being in the military but having been awarded a challenge coin by a VA police chief for a successful investigation of the unusual death of a PTSD patient, I found this interesting and I appreciate my challenge coin even more now.
I have numerous challenge coins from 28 years as a police officer. My USMC son has also given me some. But my most prized is one awarded to me for qualifying and joining the SWAT team of my department in my later years prior to retirement. Thank you as always for a great story.
My Dad was retired Special Forces, Vietnam veteran, and one of the ways they weeded out the want to bees was to do a coin challenge, as all SF guys carried their coins with them at all time. He carried his until the day he died and was buried with several coins from the SF groups he served with.
I have three challenge coins from my service in the Coast Guard. I will always cherish them. Thank you for remembering us so often.
It used to be that the only unit in the US military to wear a beret or have a challenge coin was Special Forces. Then, in Vietnam, some Ranger units were allowed to wear a black beret, which carried over into the Ranger School and Ranger Battalions. Then the airborne adopted the red beret from the British airborne (although their's is actually maroon). But, the regular Army, which has always had an abhorrance of anything "special" decided that all soldiers should wear the black beret and gave the Rangers the tan beret of the British SAS.
Stories from two memorable challenge coin episodes: 1. A team sergeant in 3d Battalion 7th Special Forces in Panama was famous for his physical prowess and would lead long -- very long -- swims in Gatun Lake. One time he was resting holding on to one of the telephone poles that still protruded from the lake -- remnants of the towns that were flooded when the lake filled up -- when he reached into a pocket in his swim trunks and tapped in on the pole as each member of the group reached him. He was well lubricated in the NCO club that night.
An un-named colonel -- later to become a general -- was taking the new chargé d'affaires in the US Embassy in El Salvador out to meet some of the Special Forces soldiers operating there. The soldiers were lined up and the colonel would present each soldier to the chargé who would shake hands and move on. One particularly ingenious captain was presented and was heard to mumble, "Plizzed t' eet yuh." The chargé was a bit taken aback by the slurred speech, but shook hands and moved to the next man. When the colonel stepped in front of the captain, the captain stuck out his tongue with his coin on it.
I was given a secret service vice presidential protection team coin in 2012 for getting an agents car roadworthy after the DNC in Charlotte NC.
In the 1980s I stopped at a service station in Houston, TX where the attendant proudly displayed a coin, letter, and photo of then Vice-President George Bush. The letter thanked him for repairing his limo during a visit to that city. I suspect they have protocols for everything. It certainly is good PR.
@putsome basilonit Curmudgeonly, aren't you.
@@Paladin1873 propaganda. The Soviet Union was scorned for these tactics. Yet its used here? North Korea behavior.
@@eddingtonmillagillo4112 in Soviet Russia or North Korea you'd be forced to fix the car or else end up in the gulag. They certainly wouldn't send you a thank you note, pay the bill, or leave you with a souvenir. Propaganda, perhaps - but pretty mild compared to the full boot of the state on your face.
Wow, that escalated quickly. To the mechanics, you are heros, and I toast you with my unfortunately cheap, lo carb, beer. To the wacko, misinformed, nutcases...in about an hour I will hit the head and salute you with a flush.
As mentioned, civilian federal agencies do challenge coins too. I know NSA is into them now. Rarely, some of them aren't allowed to leave your office until the project in question gets declassified.
People are sorta split on them in that realm. In one sense, they are lovely collectables, on the other hand, they can feel like, "you worked yourself to the bone to make this project work, but, since we can't give you the monetary bonus you sorely deserve, here's a hunk of enameled brass."
Students are given challenge coins for participating in the CyberParioits program
That's the conundrum of classified work.
That's the motto of service. "you worked yourself to the bone to make this project work, but, since we can't give you the monetary bonus you sorely deserve, here's a hunk of enameled brass."
just be glad you weren't being shot at or under artillery fire while doing it.
Cool to finally understand these. In college, I was hired by another student to design and build a custom display case / table for his dad to show off all his military challenge coins. His dad was Major General Robert L. Smolen, Commander, Air Force District of Washington, Bolling AFB, D.C. He had been highly involved with the Air Force Memorial. I designed the table along the same lines as the memorial, and the family had my parents and I join them in D.C. for a weekend to attend the ceremony for his father's retirement, as well as his roast, and present the table as a gift with a few words about its creation. I just went along and did the whole project, had a great time and went on with my life. In retrospect it was a really awesome experience. Bob died in 2014 I just saw that now. A whole life of service and not even a decade of retirement. He gave us a tour of the Pentagon while we were there, and gave me one of his last remaining coins before retiring.
I very much enjoyed your video on challenge coins. I received one from, at that time, the oldest living WW II Medal of Honor recipient in the U.S., Robert D. Maxwell who was a Board Director on my non-profit that helps spouses and children of fallen law enforcement officers.
Since I am a retired State Trooper, Bob was given my departmental challenge coin to honor his heroic service to the military and our non-profit organisation. Btw, I founded the non-profit 23 years ago to honor a fellow State Trooper who was killed in the line of duty. He was shot 4 times in the back of the head by a wanted fugitive illegal immigrant. One year after the trooper's death, his grieving wife...took her own life.
We still continue to honor the fallen and help their surviving families with the grieving process...as they too have sacrificed much for our country.
In closing, thank you very much for honoring our nation's history in such an accurate and exemplary manner.
Respectfully yours,
R.L. Dent
Board Chair
C.P.S.M.F.
PFENNIG CHECK!!! I've had one in my wallet for 30 years. Oddly enough, as of the late 1980's, nobody in my family (lots of US military) knew about challenge coins, only Pfennig Checks.
I carried one for 16-months when I was stationed in FRG... Still have it in my old cigar box full of things from my 12-year military career. PS: I never had to buy a round :)
i still have my pfennig and carry it
Always carried a pfennig around with me during my time in the Army, even when I wasn't in the FRG.
@@glennjones7872 me, too!
I carried a pfennig for years
Thank you Lance, this episode may be one of my favorites. Being a Veteran I love military traditions, and the military challenge coin is deep rooted. Thanks to you and special thanks and respect to MCPOCG Patton.
@The History Guy - thank you for producing this video, and thank you to the puddle pirate that suggested it!!
I served over a decade on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. With a chest full of medals and awards, none mean as much as my pocket full of challenge coins earned for strange acts of awesome. While the formal recognition of a military award, commendation, skill badge, or tab, can be pride inducing... the coins have a much more personal meaning and bring back the stories of years past. I have a meager collection of about 15, but the story each one holds brings laughs and smiles to anyone who has braved the question of “How’d you get that?!?”
Keep up the good work, i’d give you A coin but all I have is this stack of dimes to drop !
If I knew how close you were to the base I just spent the last two years of my life, you would have had our coin a long time ago. 😁 I hope you reserved a lot of space on your shelf, you are probably about to be flooded with coins. I think as a part 2 to this episode, you should have a snippet about military uniform unit patches. Besides the history behind each unit’s patch design, the history behind having a unit patch in the first place deserves to be remembered.
I have a challenge coin from Toys for Tots. That coin landed me my first security job five years ago because my district manager at the time served in the Corps. I still carry that coin. Semper Fi!
I had almost forgotten about challenge coins, it's a shame I lost the 3 I had accumulated in my service. Your channel is a much appreciated breath of fresh air.
I've been given two challenge coins. One from a Free Mason upon walking back to the car with my parents after seeing National Treasure in theater. One from the Police Chief of a small Texas town for rebuilding their dispatch radio system on a tight budget.
I love my coins, they mean nothing to anybody else, but each has a story!
I have carried a 10th SFG(a) challenge coin since 1977 and is my proudest memento
A tip of the hat to THG and MCPOCG Patton from a retired USCG mustang with 36 years of active duty.
Mr HG, I received my first challenge coin from Captain Lee R. Perkins, United States Marine Corps, Ret. He presented it to me at the Don Davis Squadron AVLOG Marines Reunion. Captain Perkins Sir you have my respect.
First! Love your stuff, HG. Your videos have sent me off on so many researches of my own and opened up my world. Many thanks!
Well this just became my favorite episode. Now I gotta go check for any extra coins for The History Guy! (Where do we mail them?)
my father was a member of the Baltimore Police Department and served during the 2015 riots. when his fellow officers at the station tried to sell him a challenge coin to commemorate the riots he told them "why would i want to remember the worst days of my career?"
Thanks History Guy!!! I was given a personal challenge coin, by a two star general in the Army. One side carries his rank, the other side has the unit he commanded. I have carried it in my wallet, along with his business card, since the day he gave it to me. I was, and still am, highly honored by this act of recognition. My coin is one of my most prized possessions. Thanks for another great video.
If that ridiculous challenge coin drinking game actually exists, it must be extremely specific to non-combat types. In the Marine Corps infantry, we never played that game (though we did drink heavily), nobody carried or cared about challenge coins at all, and had someone tried to challenge us, he would've been laughed out of the place.
I only ever had one challenge coin, that my battalion gave out on the Marine Corps birthday when we were in Iraq. I still have it, and it's kinda a cool memento I guess, but I never cared about collecting them or playing silly games with them, and nor did any other Marine I knew.
I played, with ID and coin 1980 to 1984 USMC
My son is US army and he has a number of coins now. He said the one from the highest rank is the winner. He drove for a general for a while so he rarely loses.
It seems that the challenge coin game or even the idea of challenge coins is lost on Marines. Same with patches, to be honest it kind of sucks. Marine's dont get cool unit patches or anything to say "I served with ___" I It seems to be an Army, and Air Force thing mostly. Its skipped a lot of Marine generations and I contribute this termainal lance comic as one reason why they're not popular with Marines terminallance.com/2010/04/06/terminal-lance-27-challenge-coins-not-a-grunt-thing/
@@paperburn You weren't in the infantry, were you?
@@davidh4555 I got out of the Corps well before Terminal Lance started. I knew what challenge coins were and was entirely aware of the game, but I knew nobody who cared about the coins or played the game. Had I been "challenged", I'd have reacted largely like the Marines in the strip did.
Terminal Lance is excellent at noticing trends in the Corps. I got out three years before it started, and much of it rings true to my experience. It had nothing to do with the unpopularity of the silly challenge coin game, which was well established.
I was given a challenge coin for best maintenance back in 83. It's the only one I've gotten and wouldn't give it up for anything.
My favorite was for making honor grad in USN boot camp, but the most unique was from working on the Space Shuttle when we retired the fleet. The coin is made from metal that had flown in space, pretty unique. Was able to show my kids my military and NASA coins as we watched this. Thanks for the opportunity!
A truly excellent video History Guy! As a former Army Officer, I have always understood that the tradition goes back to the Lafayette Escadrille (just as you pointed out). The bar challenge aspect was also started by the Lafayette Escadrille after they got their pilot back. They adopted a new SOP which required that pilots would always have their coins on them as a safety measure (as the coin wound up saving the life of the pilot in question). The way they enforced this rule was by doing coin challenges whenever at a bar or Officer Club.
Thank you to all Coast Guard personnel for your services to all of us mariners and fishermen.
And another thanks to all our serving and veterans from the Armed Forces.
👍 Semper Paratus 😎
American GI grunts at a Vietnamese bar: "CHALLENGE BULLET!"
American M60 tank crew: hold my HEAT tank round.
I was in a Pershing Missile Unit... Imagine THAT on a bar!
@@taun856 Minuteman crew: hold my launch code.
Cav Scout in the distance: "Yo, hold on imma get my TOW A2 outta the Bradley"
Or a 165mm flechette round from a M551 Sheridan!
No M60 gun tanks were in Vietnam.
Thank you for your service Master Chief! And History Guy I am impressed with your dexterity. If you had taken off your shoes I was prepared to add “I’m not worthy” to this comment section!! I’m pleased to see you didn’t because it’s pretty cold here in AL and I’m bundled under the covers!!
It is now one year since this original comment. I recently had the pleasure of giving a challenge coin but it was purchased and given in tears rather then joy! My husband, SFC (Ret. USA, Dec.) MLM never received a challenge coin in 20 years of service. As his widow I decided to change that and found a beautiful one that reflected his loyalty to the service he loved. The problem became who would hold it for him? Even though I was in the Army for 3 years myself I wanted someone who was still actively involved in military business. I turned to my brother in law who is a former Marine and spent time in Vietnam roughly about the same time as my husband. He actively works as a Veteran and when I wrote and asked him he sent back a text telling me he would be honored to keep it. During my husband’s funeral and throughout the military honors he stood in uniform holding “Sgt. Macs” challenge coin. I am forever grateful that he set aside the typical Army/Marine rivalry to honor my husbands memory like this! Thank you again History Guy!
Great story!! My sons both received challenge coins when they graduated from the academy and were sworn in as State Troopers.
I have one coin I received from the Aviation Regiment that brought the SEALS to take out Bin Laden. Got it while in a chowhall in Iraq. One of my prized possessions.
Thank you Mr History Guy. I have no public service. The only pin I have is my nursing pin and who knows where that is.
A very nice pin to have. I have my mothers nurse pin. She was capped in 1931.
Great story - thanks. When I worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, I had a challenge coin made for our office, but I bought them, myself. I used to attend meetings and be given coins, and wanted to be able to reciprocate. My boss was upset that I'd spent my own money, and bought half of them, from me, to help out. When I retired, I told the company that held the dies, that my successors in that office now own the rights to the coin. They still buy them, when needed (have to purchase 100 at a time!) from their own pockets.
2/8 marine here. Instead of buying drinks, if any of us where “coin checked” and didn’t have our unit coin, we had to do 28 push ups shouting 2-8! On the last one. Long time subscriber and always recommend your videos .thank you for your excellent channel!
This is interesting, I always thought it was just an American military tradition. I had no idea that it was so old and international.
I had no idea it was American, I know guys in the Canadian Army who had them for their units and I figured it was a hand me down from the Brits
What a fantastic way to start my Friday!
Fantastic episode! Thank you for making it! When I was in the U.S. Army there was a tradition where if one soldier produced a challenge coin, tossing it on the ground, other soldiers immediately around him/her would produce theirs as well if they had one. The soldier that ends up tossing a coin from the lowest ranking officer, that gifted it originally, or didn’t produce one at all had to do push-ups. What can I say... the U.S. Army love their push-ups 😁
I was never military, however I am in a union. I was at a convention and had never heard of the coins. I was presented one for a act of charity, it is now my most valuable possession. The person that gave it to me told me they are very traditional in distributing their coins and took a picture with me telling me he was to go back home and inform his local why I was given the coin and where I was from. I have now designed one for my home local, and want to uphold that tradition as well. Thank you for the video, and all of your videos. Your videos are among my favorite to watch.
and if you don't carry one with you, YOU buy the next round!
Coast Guards: "When the Navy stays at home we go out."
"Coasties don't need to swim- if their boat goes down they can just wade ashore" Navy ribbing, lol
@@BaikalTii Riverine Warfare in VN and after featured fiberglass PBRs (and others). Couldn't 'wade ashore' but we were sometimes called "The Tupperware Navy" for all the shallow water stuff. John MCPOC SBU XI
The rest of the armed forces fight against the enemies of our nation. The Coast Guard battles the wrath of God himself.
Love your channel, I am a veteran and a State Trooper. While in the army at Fort Knox I was assigned (for a short period) as a driver to a visiting General and at the end of his visit he presented me with a coin. It was my first and favorite. As a Massachusetts State Trooper I was assigned to assist guard duties when President Obama vacationed on Martha's Vineyard. During that time I met and traded coins with many secret service agents and other entities who worked with the administration. Two of my favorite coins grom that time are from the Counter Sniper Team and Military Attache to the President.
When I joined the USAF in the late 80s, and was stationed at Clark AB , PI. Our 1st Sgt took funds from our snack bar (NOT Tax Payer funds) and had our units coin struck. Coins are also used as fund raisers for units to pay for gifts to members/spouses upon retirement, relocation/transfer, special achievements.
I was awarded a coin from an Inspector General for my contributions/support for an IG inspection. I was also given a coin from some individuals that I supported when they deployed. Like a lot of vets I have a large collection. Thank you for posting this bit of history.
How long until THG has more coins than hats? I'm thinking Wednesday.
My dad was a combat medic in WW2. He had numerous unit patches, I wonder if that was a precursor to challenge coins?
Born, raised, joined the military- never hear of challenge coins (W Germany we used a 1 Pfennig coin like a challenge coin out in a bar) but the unit patch was highly sought after, when I was there during reforger the First Calvary patch was always wanted for trades, with other armies.
As a more recent vet (2002 -2010), your research was spot on. Watching this made me go dig my coin display back out. Thank you, THG... you brought back a lot of memories I hadn't thought of in a long while. Made me remember some really good leaders (and unfortunately, a number of bar tabs as well).
Funny Offhand:
Challenge Coins normally come from high-ranked personnel. Well, while in Iraq in 2008, our outfit had a unique lower-enlisted soldier who ordered his own challenge coins when he got (automatically) promoted to E-4. I watched this individual pass them out to senior NCOs and officers alike--literally telling them they were doing an excellent job. Honestly, some of the hardest laughing I have ever done in my life was watching (from afar) the faces of those who received them. Guy spent quite a chunk of change on them... one of the largest coins I had ever seen. I do believe they were even serial numbered. I still have a photo of that coin. That guy really put the "special" in Specialist.
Thanks for all the USCGA info over the last couple of years. Planning to join now. You are how I learned of them.
The commandant of the marine corps 4 star James T Conway for guarding him in a mission in Afghan and a judge in veteran's court for me being a court mentor to other veterans. My two most important coins but honestly they dont have the meaning they used to.
Now that is something. A coin from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Oohra!