Military commanders give out specially minted coins to those who go above and beyond the call of duty. Above are coins I received for sending donations to Iraq. Likewise, military personnel carry a unit coin to demonstrate their camaraderie. Below are coins I received in Hawaii.
It becomes a point of pride on Friday night at the club when someone yells "coin challenge". Military personnel pull out their coins and place them on the bar. Those who do not have a coin buys the round of drinks. Those who do have coins determine who has the highest ranking coin. In theory, a coin from POTUS - President of the United States - is the highest ranking coin. However, I have a coin from John Baca, a Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, one that I treasure.
On October 12, 1945, President Truman had the honor to present the Medal of Honor (link),
As I have told the rest of these young men who have been here before me, I would much rather have that Medal around my neck than to be President of the United States. It is the greatest honor that can come to a man. It is an honor that all of us strive for, but very few of us ever achieve.
John Baca's Medal of Honor coin is the lower left, nestled among my SEAL coins.
I invite the readers and authors attending the RT Booklovers Convention to bring their favorite military coins. Tuck it into your badge holder, especially at the bar, as you never know when I will call for coin challenge.
If you don't have a coin, make your own! Find your favorite state quarter, half dollar, foreign coin, or even a poker chip!
I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Do you have a military coin? Have you seen one? If not, what would you select for your substitute coin?
2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 28, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 29.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
Sign up for free tickets to the Military Tribute during the RT Booklovers Convention at this link. The Military Tribute is open to anyone who would like to honor military families (do not have to be registered for the convention).
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| My husband's coin rack in the shape of the Pentagon. |
I think we have one military coin that was given to my husband by a veteran. We were shocked when he gave it to my husband.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a military coin. I have a good substitute, though--the Soldier's Medal (for non-combat heroism) that my father earned in WWII. Thanks for an interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI've got a POTUS but don't count it as "real" since I ordered it on line. The ones that are real to me are the ones I earned - VN, Bronze Star, AWACs, KC-135s, OK Nat'l Guard (given to me after I wrote a book featuring them), etc.
ReplyDeleteOoops, don't know why my name didn't come thru on the above comment but it's moi, Merline Lovelace
ReplyDeleteI don't have any military coins.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a military coin. But I do have a German old money coin my sister gave me. It's my lucky coin and I carry it with me always :)
ReplyDeleteI've been carrying the USO coin you gave me around in my conference badge holder, so I'm ready...as long as I remember to pack the badge holder. I thought you'd given me another one, too. Maybe it's in another badge holder. I've got quite collection of them.
ReplyDeleteI don't have one and have never seen one.
ReplyDeleteI don't have one, but I would use my Kentucky state quarter!
ReplyDeleteI don't really have a coin. I thought maybe my husband would have one but although he served in Vietnam as a SeaBee he just saw his first one about a year ago at our American Legion.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a military coin. I do have one from the sheriff's office that I worked at for many years. And speaking of the Medal of Honor. Two days ago we visited the Medal of Honor Memorial in downtown Indianapolis. It was very touching to see.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen one before but I'm so glad you posted about them. I always learn something new when I visit your blog!
ReplyDeleteNo - I never heard of them til you mentioned them on your blog - I do have a gold British coin - not sure of it's denomination - got it from a family friend years ago
ReplyDeleteNo,
ReplyDeleteKimh
The military coins are amazing. I do have some very old English pennies that I inherited.
ReplyDeleteI do not have one but my father does.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a military coin, but I'm sure my brother does.
ReplyDeleteWe do have a pin from my husband's grandfather (USN WWII): a Ruptured Duck.
Denise
That's amazing. I had no idea the history or meaning of the coins.
ReplyDeleteI have a half dollar that has been passed down :-)
I don't think these coins were around when my husband was in. I have seen them, just this Tuesday. A friend who heads the local Honor Flight group was given one by Army and Marine representatives. They were nice with a thank you and her name engraved on it. Since I do not have a challenge coin, I will be using my Red Cross Service To The Armed Forces pin I received tonight at a Red Cross dinner.
ReplyDeleteno and haven't seen one
ReplyDeleteNo, I've never seen a military coin before.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen one either.
ReplyDeletepattyb43