SOG challenge coins. Info and any stories? - Page 2

SF_BHT · 02-13-2008, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Ditto - like at the end of the 130' dive clump - on the ramp as the green light comes on "COIN CHECK"

.

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.

SFS0AVN · 02-13-2008, 11:47

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.

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 isn´t 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.

incommin · 02-13-2008, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christophe

QRQ30: You have an excellent website. Your pics aren´t 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.

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,...). I´d 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 to´em.
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

Quote:

Originally Posted by incommin

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.

PSM · 02-13-2008, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christophe

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 didn´t 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 · 02-13-2008, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christophe

PSM,
I didn´t 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

C46thVA · 03-15-2008, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFS0AVN

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFS0AVN

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.

QRQ 30 · 03-16-2008, 16:18

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.

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!

) 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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired W4

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.