View Full Version : SOG challenge coins. Info and any stories?
Christophe
07-31-2007, 14:13
Gentlemen,
I have a SOG PUC coin and a CCN RT XXXXXX coin I received from a 1-0, together with a team pic, his yard bracelet and other items.
The items like the bracelet received a prominent place in my home.
The coins I always carry on me in my wallet. I see them as bringing good luck.
I do not show them off or anything, besides no one here in Belgium would have the slightest idea what they are or mean.
Iīd like to hear your opinions on this (a civvy european carrying coins).
Are there other SOG coins in existence?(Each RT his own coin?)
Also, does any of you have some stories regarding (SOG) challenge coins?
Thank you.
The Reaper
07-31-2007, 14:38
I do not like it, but that is just my opinion.
I accept, but do not carry coins I have not earned.
TR
I don't carry coins and never liked the coin challenge thing. But that doesn't mean others shouldn't. Just don't expect me to buy a round on a challenge. I do have tons of them, though, to include the SOG PUC coin I earned the right to carry around. I'm proud of the coins I have from the units I was in and display "gift" ones along with my earned ones.
No, RTs don't have their own coins because the coin thing was not around in those days. In my recollection, the first time in my 26 years in SF that I saw or knew about coins was in the 70s when I was in the 10th. I was against the whole thing then. In fact, Bing Allar, my Hvy Wpns man gave me his so that I would have one. I guess he was embarrassed that his Tm Sgt wouldn't buy his own.
That said, were I you, I would display them prominently and not carry them. I wonder that they must not have meant much to your 1-0 friend or you must have meant quite a bit to him for him to turn them over.
Christophe
08-03-2007, 02:31
Gentlemen,
I appreciate and value your opinions.
I now also understand the importance of a coin. I have allready put the coins together with the other items I received.
I have the utmost respect for the men that ran recon over the fence, and was and am honored to having been able to talk with some (over the net) through the years (Bus, B.W., R.N., Constable,...). They are a nice and helpfull group of men and theyīll forever have my respect. I hope to one day meet all of them at a SOA convention.
MFI115: regarding the coins not meaning much. I dunno, he always told me his yard bracelet was the most important thing to him. Maybe he got me an extra one of the bronze PUC and silver SOAR team coin.
Regards,
Chris.
as far as I know it was the 10th group coin which was the 1st "Coin" created. I am not positive on this but fairly sure. Perhaps someone else can add more. After the 1oth SFG(A) coin the other groups created theirs, somewhere along the line the rest of the army and other units joined the coin game.
as far as I know it was the 10th group coin which was the 1st "Coin" created. I am not positive on this but fairly sure. Perhaps someone else can add more. After the 1oth SFG(A) coin the other groups created theirs, somewhere along the line the rest of the army and other units joined the coin game.
The first coins were carried by some aviation unit pilots in WWI. 10th SFG Commander COL Greene had coins made for his Lodge Act members in 1969 for identification purposes. From there it went through SF and then the rest of the military.
[
MFI115: regarding the coins not meaning much. I dunno, he always told me his yard bracelet was the most important thing to him. Maybe he got me an extra one of the bronze PUC and silver SOAR team coin.
[/QUOTE]
Perhaps. As I said, he must think highly of you (no sarcasm). Didn't mean to sound like I was busting your chops. The PUC coin was a nice gift from SOCOM, but isn't a totem that has the same value like your friend's yard bracelet. We all have items that mean more to us for our own reasons. One of mine was a cross bow that my Yard Platoon Leader gave me when I was in 1st Exploitation CO, CCS. It had been in his family for at least 4 generations. The EFFing REMF that shared my hootch stole it when he PCS'd and I was on a mission!!!
I have a few. To be honest I never heard of coins until recently, the last 5 years. I don't carry them. I do carry my life membership SFA and SOA cards. They are great for setting off metal detectors.:lifter
I have them and keep them but as Bill Murray said in STRIPES:
"Coins? Don't need no steenkin coins!":D
Christophe
08-05-2007, 13:38
QRQ30: You have an excellent website. Your pics arenīt in any of the SOG books I have. Also the first time I hear of CUTLASS and SABER. Very nice and informative.
MFI115: sorry to hear your crossbow was stolen by a REMF. :mad:
Since you were in CCS, do you know who was on team West Virginia? I have a teampatch I found in a surplus shop here. It seems genuine (faded, OD coloured cloth on the edges where it was cut off a shirt,...). Iīd like to know more about the history of the patch (who designed it, what its Chinese(?) characters mean,...).
Also, if one of its teammembers would like that patch I can send it toīem.
If nec, feel free to PM me Sir. Thank you in advance.
Thanks Chris. I believe some pictures will appear in a new volmue which should appear shortly. :lifter I can't remember he title or author but it will chronicle the history of the Teams in FOB-2 aka CCC.
Tetonale
02-13-2008, 00:49
Chris,
I agree with Reaper, keep the coin at home. You seem to have the respect of the veteran's other items, do you really need his hard deserved coin for luck? Put the coin with the rest of his collection. Buy the standard group coin that is readily available and have it inscribed with a date of your choice.
If you keep that coin in your pocket everyday, then everyday you will think of your friend. You won't think less of the fact that it was not the actual coin he had in his pocket. But I can quarantee you this. If you lose the coin he earned, you will hate yourself for the rest of your life. It is simply not worth the risk.
Michael
I've only seen a challenge coin used once, and this was at the Marine Corp Ball and as a joke.
Christophe
02-13-2008, 06:27
Chris,
I agree with Reaper, keep the coin at home. You seem to have the respect of the veteran's other items, do you really need his hard deserved coin for luck? Put the coin with the rest of his collection. Buy the standard group coin that is readily available and have it inscribed with a date of your choice.
If you keep that coin in your pocket everyday, then everyday you will think of your friend. You won't think less of the fact that it was not the actual coin he had in his pocket. But I can quarantee you this. If you lose the coin he earned, you will hate yourself for the rest of your life. It is simply not worth the risk.
Michael
I no longer carry them. I put them with the other SOG items I received.
I didnīt earn them, so I donīt carry them.
Ret10Echo
02-13-2008, 06:49
I've only seen a challenge coin used once, and this was at the Marine Corp Ball and as a joke.
We had some internal team play with coin checks. Trying to get the challenge in the strangest circumstances...
In shower room...(don't ask)
While in Freefall...
But that was amongst us, not outsiders.
We had some internal team play with coin checks. Trying to get the challenge in the strangest circumstances.....................
But that was amongst us, not outsiders.
Ditto - like at the end of the 130' dive clump - on the ramp as the green light comes on "COIN CHECK":D.
It came and went in phases based on the team personality. Be real strong for a few months then fade away for years. One team might be doing it for a while, stop, another team pick it up and so on.
I can not remember any time a whole company was into it at the same time.
Ditto - like at the end of the 130' dive clump - on the ramp as the green light comes on "COIN CHECK":D.
It came and went in phases based on the team personality. Be real strong for a few months then fade away for years. One team might be doing it for a while, stop, another team pick it up and so on.
I can not remember any time a whole company was into it at the same time.
Pete
We had a spell on my team in 3/5th when jumping Bill G. would fly up with his coin in his teeth and I would have mine in my palm on Velcro. It got ridiculous and we had to call a halt to it for safety sakes.... We had some good jumpers but some of the basic jumpers did unsafe things to try not to buy beer.
I think the challenge coin is a matter of pride in the unit you're in and the units you've been in. The challenge is for fun and camaraderie among friends whom you buy a round for even without the challenge.
I carry mine all the time.
Christophe
02-13-2008, 11:49
I have my own (earned) challenge coin now. :D
It is from the ASP instructor course (telescopic baton). By far not as nice as a SOG coin though. I had my agent number engraved in it.
Since only three guys in my plt did the course there isnīt much fun doing a coin challenge. :(
However, I learned a lot there, and as a plus one of the instructors was ex-GIGN (French CT unit) wich was kinda cool. On the downside, we got a demo on the Taser. That was no fun at all.It hurts a lot. :eek:
incommin
02-13-2008, 13:03
QRQ30: You have an excellent website. Your pics arenīt in any of the SOG books I have. Also the first time I hear of CUTLASS and SABER. Very nice and informative.
MFI115: sorry to hear your crossbow was stolen by a REMF. :mad:
Since you were in CCS, do you know who was on team West Virginia? I have a teampatch I found in a surplus shop here. It seems genuine (faded, OD coloured cloth on the edges where it was cut off a shirt,...). Iīd like to know more about the history of the patch (who designed it, what its Chinese(?) characters mean,...).
Also, if one of its teammembers would like that patch I can send it toīem.
If nec, feel free to PM me Sir. Thank you in advance.
The teams in CCS, at least thru 1969, were all the names of tools (hammer, nail. saw, pick....), the teams from CCC were name after states, and the tema from CCN had animal or names of snakes.
Jim
Christophe
02-13-2008, 16:02
The teams in CCS, at least thru 1969, were all the names of tools (hammer, nail. saw, pick....), the teams from CCC were name after states, and the tema from CCN had animal or names of snakes.
Jim
And at least one CCN team was named after a color: rt Indigo. ;)
Its patch shows an animal however, a tiger.
And at least one CCN team was named after a color: rt Indigo. ;)
Its patch shows an animal however, a tiger.
There is an Indigo snake.
Pat
Christophe
02-13-2008, 16:36
PSM,
I didnīt know that.
However, according to the an American teammember the name was chosen since the indig teammembers liked the color. Nothing more.
The patch I have is an indigo triangle with parachute wings/skull and a tiger.
PSM,
I didnīt know that.
However, according to the an American teammember the name was chosen since the indig teammembers liked the color. Nothing more.
The patch I have is an indigo triangle with parachute wings/skull and a tiger.
Thanks. I always thought it was named for the snake.
Pat
The first coins were carried by some aviation unit pilots in WWI. 10th SFG Commander COL Greene had coins made for his Lodge Act members in 1969 for identification purposes. From there it went through SF and then the rest of the military.
I was told recently that a Lt Col. Harrington w/ the 19th SFG in White Plains NY came up with the "first" challenge coins in the early 60s. There was a long involved story but Ill spare the gory details. Anyone else heard anything to that effect??
JDW
Trip_Wire (RIP)
03-15-2008, 20:00
I think the challenge coin is a matter of pride in the unit you're in and the units you've been in. The challenge is for fun and camaraderie among friends whom you buy a round for even without the challenge.
I carry mine all the time.
I have to agree with you here! I always carry my 50th Anniversary RICA (Korean War Ranger Coin) and a SF Numbered Regimental coin. I also carry a King County Sheriff's SWAT coin as well.
I have many other coins from 12th SFGA, Menton Days (1st SFGA) that I don't carry; however, I'm proud of them.
Retired W4
03-16-2008, 15:50
No SOG Coins here, but after flying OSA missions for 13 years I ended up with a collection of GO coins that is pretty extensive. For example, I flew Keane when he was an O-6 at JRTC, and last saw him as a LTG at Atlantic Command. They liked to keep the pilots happy, and memorabilia like this was a great way to do that. Schoomaker had great stuff.
Thanks Christopher.. Jason Moody (I think) included a history of ST Delaware in his last book. He asked for my slides to include. I don't know if he included them or not. they are 40 years old and not of the best quality. I can't afford the 100 bucks to buy the book and check.:rolleyes:
Teams Cutlass and Saber were teams of a Special Project. If you dig into the history of OPS 35 you will find the mission described -- deep penetration and long lasting. (Damn that sounds interesting!:p) We recruited, trained and re-inserted agents.
Being a charter member of the 10% club I never heard of no foogin challenge coins until a few years ago.
CoLawman
03-17-2008, 07:35
No SOG Coins here, but after flying OSA missions for 13 years I ended up with a collection of GO coins that is pretty extensive. For example, I flew Kean when he was an O-6 at JRTC, and last saw him as a LTG at Atlantic Command. They liked to keep the pilots happy, and memorabilia like this was a great way to do that. Schoomaker had great stuff.
W4,
Schoomaker's "coin" is excellent! Very creative using the dogtag.
Retired W4
03-17-2008, 14:00
Yea, the dogtag is my favorite. He was a great guy to work with, as was his staff that traveled with him. I consider myself very lucky to have served with him and others of his caliber.
skydoc60A5G
03-17-2008, 16:23
It was 1984..I think...Eglin AFB NCO Beach Club...dining in with 12th Group Officers and Guests with 2 GOs....86th ARCOM Cdr and another...all in attendence at the 1984 Ocean Venture Exercise. There were 40 or so of us...one young CPT smacked his coin on the big table...around it went...40 coins hit the deck!...EVERYONE had one! Then he said.."but are they engraved?"....all 40+ coins WERE engraved! The poor guy had to buy for all 40...we all felt sorry for him and chipped in to help....Really made an impression on all of us...And we have not gone without coins since....now it's 2008?
I now use my 12th Group coin to introduce myself...as a conversation starter...and hope I can buy for another SF soldier.
The most interesting chance I had was last summer on the Comal River in New Braunfels...walking with my nephews at night down to the river....two guys came out of the water...both were ABN soldiers out of Ft. Hood and back from Iraq...got to talking...the were applying for SF selection soon.......MISSED MY CHANCE TO DROP A COIN!
But my coin was at the room...so I was probably spared. Don't know if they had coins or not, but it was interesting.:D
Team Sergeant
03-18-2008, 12:26
A few of the coins I've received over the years are from people like Gen Boykin and some guy that said he served in Vietnam as a Special Forces soldier..... some of you may even know him....;)
I was told recently that a Lt Col. Harrington w/ the 19th SFG in White Plains NY came up with the "first" challenge coins in the early 60s. There was a long involved story but Ill spare the gory details. Anyone else heard anything to that effect?? JDW
I served in the 19th under Jim Harrington from 66-69 and to my knowledge there was no group coin.
I served in the 19th under Jim Harrington from 66-69 and to my knowledge there was no group coin.
Interesting, I suspected as much.
Thanks
JW
TEAM SERGEANT: Strange that you bring up that particular individuals name. An old soldier explained to me once that in his unit (5307th Composite Group). It was traditional that his team members all signed a dollar bill or script, so that when they returned stateside, they would meet at a designated watering hole for drinks and lies. The one that showed up without his bill would be the buyer for the evening.
This old soldier was the father of a SF Troop that was evacuated because of wounds, from Radio Relay Site Hickory shortly before it was over run.
Team Sergeant
03-22-2008, 20:07
TEAM SERGEANT: Strange that you bring up that particular individuals name. An old soldier explained to me once that in his unit (5307th Composite Group). It was traditional that his team members all signed a dollar bill or script, so that when they returned stateside, they would meet at a designated watering hole for drinks and lies. The one that showed up without his bill would be the buyer for the evening.
This old soldier was the father of a SF Troop that was evacuated because of wounds, from Radio Relay Site Hickory shortly before it was over run.
I'll ask SGM C next time I talk to him about the dollar bill....;)
TS
We had some internal team play with coin checks. Trying to get the challenge in the strangest circumstances...
But that was amongst us, not outsiders.
Ditto. We did the same when on a SCUBA team. Also lost a lot of coins that way when they were dropped at depth or when parachuting. We had fun with it but it wasn't hoisted on others.
Anybody out there remember the days in SEA when we used to play "You ain't got your shit?" Lucky nobody ever got hurt with that one, either. Young, bored, and SF was a dangerous thing to be. :)
Richard
TEAM EANT: Strange that you bring up that particular individuals name. An old soldier explained to me once that in his unit (5307th Composite Group). It was traditional that his team members all signed a dollar bill or script, so that when they returned stateside, they would meet at a designated watering hole for drinks and lies. The one that showed up without his bill would be the buyer for the evening.
This old soldier was the father of a SF Troop that was evacuated because of wounds, from Radio Relay Site Hickory shortly before it was over run.
I think the signed dollar is called a "Short-Snorter". At least thats what my father called it.
He gave me his from when he left Thailand in 67 and also my Great Aunts, she was evacuated from Pearl Harbor following the attack. It was signed by all her friends at a booze up before she and other dependents left. I still have my Aunts if anyone wants to see a photo.
JDW
colmurph
08-14-2008, 08:06
November 10th, 2006 I was invited to the Veterans Day celebration at the Union League in Philadelhia and ran into Gen. Pete Schomacher who noticed my SFA pin on the lapel of my coat. He reached into his pocket and dropped his coin on the floor and I said "Oh gosh, it looks like you dropped your coin sir" so I reached into my pocket and pulled out a 10th GP coin, a 3d GP coin and a SOC-K coin and said "I'm drinking Glenmorange Scotch sir." He bought me a drink and I got to lobby him to keep my kid in SF (He was 5th Group Chaplain at the time and was told by Chaplain Branch that his next assignment would be West Point where he did not want to go.) He told me he couldn't promise anything but he'd do what he could and gave me two of his 4 star coins one for me and one for the kid. Apparently he did pretty good as the kid is now Deputy Command Chaplain at USASFC.
General consensus is that coins in SF originated with 10th group.
They came into general use in the 80s with all the vet reunions and memorial stuff hitting the market.
They have taken on the status of "near nuisance' as they get flung around in some places like snowflakes.
Thay can be a neat souvenier item and you can get about anything you can think of through vendors or have them manufactured.
I had a 5th group coin I got in 82 at the Wall dedication. Never saw one in group.
I stamped my dates and numbers on it and carried it around til this summer when I lost it.
No big deal, I got another one for about 7 bucks.
No one should ever carry or wear something that someone else earned.
"Montagnard" Bracelets tend to wear thin and break. You can get Authentic replacements from the folks in N Carolina.
Everyone,
I'm new to the board and an 'outsider' to your community (whew..a double whammy, I hope that won't leave a mark :cool:) here. As such I hope the following isn't out of line or off base. I'm an avid challenge coin collector and have focused my collection on SF coins mostly. I've been collecting slowly over many years as best I can because it's difficult to do as a civilian. I have been given some by your fellow warriors, some were traded for, others bought, etc...
It's my understanding that some of the earliest widespread use coins are from the 17th Infantry div in Korea. There are some very hard to find examples from WW1 but as one may expect they are quite rare I could post some links to some more info if any of you are interested in more on this topic. This area of challenge coin collecting isn't one of my strongest but I could certainly point you toward some POC info for a few people who are really into this era and early challenge coins.
I have a lot of coins and would be willing to share the pics of them if that's alright with the board management, and the members. I don't want to offend any of you or arouse your ire as I have the utmost respect for what you do and your service. I don't carry them around in my pocket and they remain at my home in a safe. I've been looking for a good display solution and as of yet haven't found what I've been looking for.
In this vein I was curious if you all would be willing to share pics of your collections as well or if there is already an amalgamated thread on this? I did a brief search quickly and didn't see one. Would the general membership be alright with my sharing the pics of my collection with the board? Mods and QP management, if there is a better place for this post, please let me know and I'll move it. Any other thoughts, comments concerns, complaints?
Out Here,
ACE844
ZonieDiver
11-23-2008, 14:58
Please display them. At least, that is my perspective. From my time, coins and coin checks were not all that important. However, I think it is a great link to our past, and as a historian, I love links to the past. One of the most thrilling events in my past few years was finding an 8th Group coin to replace the one I never had due to stupidity!
Please display them. At least, that is my perspective. From my time, coins and coin checks were not all that important. However, I think it is a great link to our past, and as a historian, I love links to the past. One of the most thrilling events in my past few years was finding an 8th Group coin to replace the one I never had due to stupidity!
Didn't have no coins in my day. We had the Turtle Club instead!!:o
ZonieDiver
11-23-2008, 15:55
Didn't have no coins in my day. We had the Turtle Club instead!!:o
Terry,
Ditto on the coins. I wasn't that aware of them until reading a book by an SF type from 12th Group - fiction - that mentioned them extensively in regard to operations centering around Orogrande Range in NM.
I will post some pics soon that I think you will recognize from my time in 8th Group. While the "Turtle Club" escapes me, the "Tarpon Club" as a place for a great dinner remains in my mind from "those days"!
Didn't have no coins in my day.
Got my first coin in 7th SFG in '72...and you'd better have one in your pocket with your name on it when you appeared before the Group DCO, CSM, and C Team CSM for a promotion board. Explaining the symbolism on a Group coin was a frequently asked question by one of the members of the board. ;)
Carrying one around for everyday use wasn't the norm, though.
In the 1/10th, though, coin checks were a BIG deal...and happened frequently and at any time.
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Got my first coin in 7th SFG in '72...and you'd better have one in your pocket with your name on it when you appeared before the Group DCO, CSM, and C Team CSM for a promotion board. Explaining the symbolism on a Group coin was a frequently asked question by one of the members of the board. ;)
Carrying one around for everyday use wasn't the norm, though.
In the 1/10th, though, coin checks were a BIG deal...and happened frequently and at any time.
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Being a charter member of the 10% club I never heard of a coin while on active duty. I returned from Thailand in "74 and ETS'd from the 7th in '77. I was in the 7th in 69 and 75-77. I JUST WASN'T IN THE in CROWD.:mad:
BTW are U a turtle?:D
Being a charter member of the 10% club I never heard of a coin while on active duty. I returned from Thailand in "74 and ETS'd from the 7th in '77. I was in the 7th in 69 and 75-77. I JUST WASN'T IN THE in CROWD.:mad:
BTW are U a turtle?:D
We didn't have them in Thailand or challenge in the 7th, but the coins were sold by the Adjutant at 7th SFG HQs for $2; 10th was challenge crazy '76-'78 (especially if you hung out at the Rod and Gun Club) but we had to purchase our coins from a jeweler in Bad Tolz near the statue on main street for 16DM (about $10).
BTW - "You bet your sweet a** I am!" :p
Richard's $.02 :munchin
[QUOTE=
BTW - "You bet your sweet a** I am!" :p
Richard's $.02 :munchin[/QUOTE]
:D