Challenge Coins - Honoring Vietnam Veterans, (3)

Join in a Long-Standing Tradition of Excellence with Three Challenge Coins Honoring the Vietnam War

Challenge coins recognize outstanding service, raise morale, or unify a unit within the US military.  Often bearing the insignia or emblem of a military unit or organization, they are meaningful symbols of being a part of something bigger than themselves and are a great source of pride. 
The coins feature helicopters, the Coast Guard’s 1st Squadron, and all Vietnam vets. 

• The Vietnam War has been called the “helicopter war” because of the extensive use of choppers to transport men and supplies throughout the jungle terrain. The Huey helicopter is officially known as “Iroquois.”  It gained its nickname from its original designation – HU-1.  It carried troops into hard-to-reach battles and extracted then when the battle was over.  Huey’s were also used to evacuate the wounded, reducing the time it took to get to a hospital to hours instead of days. 
  a variant of the Huey was the Cobra attack helicopter, designated AH-1G.  This heavily armed chopper provided support to ground troops and escorted lightly armed transport helicopters. 
• The US Coast Guard Squadron One was formed in 1965 to fill the need for smaller boats to operate in shallow coastal waters. These were necessary to slow the smuggling of military supplies and weapons from the North.  The US Navy’s ships were too large for the job, so the Coast Guard offered its Point-class cutters and smaller utility boats for the operation.  Squadron 1 was established and was stationed near waterways throughout South Vietnam.  It patrolled the waters until the responsibility was turned over to South Vietnamese sailors.
• The Vietnam Veterans Challenge Coin honors all those who served in Southeast Asia between 1955 and 1975. Nearly three million Americans fought against communist North Vietnam and their Viet Cong allies. 
  
  

Challenge Coins - A Custom That Began Over 100 Years Ago

During World War I, a wealthy American lieutenant had bronze medals created for each man in his flying squadron.  When one pilot’s plane crashed and he was captured by the Germans, they took all his identification except the squad medal, carried in a pouch around his neck.  The pilot finally escaped and made it to a friendly French outpost, but had no way to prove he wasn’t an impostor.  The French were going to execute him until he showed his medallion.  Thankfully, one of the French soldiers recognized it, and the pilot’s identity was confirmed soon after.  The French gave him a bottle of wine as an apology for their mistake.
After that, every man in the pilot’s squadron carried his medal at all times.  This was enforced by the periodic issuing of a challenge.  When one man issued a challenge to another, he’d have to produce his meal immediately or else buy a drink for the challenger – giving the medallion the nickname “Challenge Coin.”
Today, Challenge Coins are awarded for major accomplishments and as recognition of membership in a military group.  They are usually presented by way of a handshake.  The coins have become a long-standing military tradition.  Even the secretary of each branch of the armed services and the President of the United States distribute the specially designed coins. 

These pieces of proud military history and tradition have become popular collector’s pieces. Order your Vietnam War Challenge Coins today.