NavyDads Challenge Coin Meter

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Permalink Reply by BBQJD on September 24, 2014 at 9:39pm

No,
Thank you Sirs, for the great site!

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Permalink Reply by Scott Gallimore on September 25, 2014 at 12:34pm

how much are they and what do I need to buy some.

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Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on September 25, 2014 at 1:21pm

Scott....just click on the link to the right....and thanks for your support,Brother!

http://www.navyoutfitters.com/NAVYDADS_COM_CHALLENGE_COIN_p/a-nd-co...

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Permalink Reply by BBQJD on September 25, 2014 at 1:33pm

Good save Tom! I guess a link could have been a useful addition! Doh!

                                        JD

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Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on September 25, 2014 at 2:38pm

Let's get this done, BB!!!

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Permalink Reply by BBQJD on October 1, 2014 at 9:46am

Let's bump this to the top guys!

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Permalink Reply by BBQJD on October 6, 2014 at 3:48pm

55 more and the minting can begin! We still have a ways to go Men, let's push this thing through!

                                                     JD

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Permalink Reply by Mike (Noah's Dad) on October 31, 2014 at 11:41am

JUST PURCHASED MY CHALLENGE COIN!...It's the least I could do to say "mahalo" (thanks) for this website.  It has provided me with tons of information and tons of resources that I never knew existed.  I decided to also purchase a sweatshirt, blanket and even a flag that I will fly proudly next to my Seahawks flag!  Can you tell I'm PROUD of my SR?  Thank you for your time and commitment to maintaining this great communication tool.  This dad truly appreciates it!

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Permalink Reply by Navy Dads Co-Admin Tom on October 31, 2014 at 11:51pm

Thanks for your purchase Mike...you are helping those to come. Well Done!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Reeder on November 1, 2014 at 4:51am

Just ordered mine, hopefully the goal of 100 will be met! 

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Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on November 1, 2014 at 7:19am

The History of the Military Challenge Coin

 

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s Insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members. In practice, challenge coins are normally presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. They are also exchanged in recognition of visits to an organization.

There are several stories detailing the origins of the challenge coin. According to the most common story, challenge coins originated during World War I. American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One young pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck.

 

Shortly after acquiring the medallion, the pilots' aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal identification. He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land.

 

Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine.

 

Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.

 

According to another story, challenge coins date back to the second world war and were first used by Office of Strategic Service personnel who were deployed in Nazi held France. The coins were simply a local coin used as a "Bona Fides" during a personal meeting to help verify a person's identity. There would be specific aspects such as type of coin, date of the coin, etc. that were examined by each party. This helped prevent infiltration into the meeting by a spy who would have to have advance knowledge of the meeting time and place as well as what coin was to be presented, amongst other signals, as bona fides.

 

While a number of legends place the advent of challenge coins in the post-Korean Conflict era (some as late as the Viet Nam War), or even later, Colonel William "Buffalo Bill" Quinn had coins made for those who served in his 17th Infantry Regiment during 1950 and 1951. These coins recognized those who had fought in the most difficult phase of the war.

 

There is another story about an American soldier scheduled to rendezvous with Philippine guerrillas during WWII. As the story goes, he carried a Philippine solid silver coin that was stamped on one side with the unit insignia. The coin was used to verify, to the guerrillas, that the soldier was their valid contact for the mission against the Japanese.

 

The challenge coin tradition has spread to other military units, in all branches of service, and even to non-military organizations as well as the United States Congress, which produces challenge coins for members of Congress to give to constituents. Today, challenge coins are given to members upon joining an organization, as an award to improve morale, and sold to commemorate special occasions or as fundraisers. In the Air Force, military training instructors award an Airman's Coin to new enlisted personnel upon completion of their United States Air Force Basic Military Training and to new officers upon completion of their Air Force Officer Training School.

 

Source: Wikipedia

NavyOutfitters.Com - Every Challenge Coin Sold on Navy Outfitters Directly Helps Fund and Continue the Growth of NavyDads.Com.

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Permalink Reply by bobby lynch on November 1, 2014 at 8:06am

just ordered my navy dad coin to.

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