Now that the intro thing is out of the way...
In answer to your question: No. Never got a fucking Yarborough knife either...
Rings might be a local tradition on some particular ODA (or in some long ago company), but from '77 until '12...I never encountered it anywhere as an SF tradition.
On the other hand, over the years, lots of TDY locations have been good for bargain gold purchases. Veterans of SEA, the Balkans, and Middle East have all encountered deployments where everyone eventually sported various bullion or jewelry due to being flush with cash and finding great bargains. But the same could be said for Persian carpets, Rolex watches, Star Sapphire rings, Jade, etc.
At the price of gold these days, I'd love to know who'd spring for the cost of unit-wide issue bling.