SOG challenge coins. Info and any stories? - Page 3

**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....

03-21-2008, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by C46thVA

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.

C46thVA · 03-22-2008, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCH

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

swpa19 · 03-22-2008, 16:07

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.

**Team Sergeant** · 03-22-2008, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by swpa19

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

Richard · 03-23-2008, 05:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

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

C46thVA · 03-23-2008, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by swpa19;203610SERG

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

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.

Mike · 08-24-2008, 23:18

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.

ACE844 · 11-23-2008, 13:24

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

) 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!

QRQ 30 · 11-23-2008, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

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!!

ZonieDiver · 11-23-2008, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by QRQ 30

Didn't have no coins in my day. We had the Turtle Club instead!!

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"!

Richard · 11-23-2008, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by QRQ 30

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

QRQ 30 · 11-24-2008, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

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

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.

BTW are U a turtle?