The VET Card - Don't Leave home without it

[BOSSHOG]

Chances are if a fine upstanding "Patriotic" American argues that bush is great and the iraq war is a just cause, that person is a chickenhawk. If you are a veteran, whup their ass, pummel them with your experience, make them suffer and then drive them to a recruiting station.

[oneighty]

1. The Challenge Coin

Do you have one BOSSHOG?

180

[BOSSHOG]

2. Roger that Shipmate

and ByGod it works like a motherfucker. Brought a young lad (mid twenties) to tears in a local bar on the bayou. Told me I should sign up and go to Iraq cause I was a fucking liberal. I put my Retirees ID card and my CPO coin on the bar and asked him to tell me about his time in uniform. He didn't do any time in uniform and he hasn't been back to my bar since.

The Challenge Coin, one of the world's greatest inventions 180 and thank you for bringing it up.

[annabanana]

3. enlighten the rest of us BossHogg..

What is The Challenge Coin? Sounds like one hell of an argument tipper..

[Rebellious Republican]

5. Not to steal your thunder chief, you can still tell us about yours...

During World War 1, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One young pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck.

Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilots’ aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal identification.

He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine.

Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.


CHALLENGE COIN RULES

Note: A "Coin Check" consists of a Challenge and a Response.

1. RULES:
A. The challenge is initiated by drawing your coin, holding it in the air by whatever means possible and state, scream, shout or otherwise verbally acknowledge that you are initiating a coin check. Another, but less vocal method is to firmly place it on the bar, table, or floor (this should produce an audible noise which can be easily heard by those being challenged, but try not to leave a permanent imprint). If you accidentally drop your coin and it makes an audible sound upon impact, then you have just "accidentally" initiated a coin check. (This is called paying the price for improper care of your coin.)

B. The response consists of all those persons being challenged drawing their coin in a like manner.

C. If you are challenged and are unable to properly respond, you must buy a round of drinks for the challenger and the group being challenged.

D. If everyone being challenged responds in the correct manner, the challenger must buy a round of drinks for all those people they challenged.

E. Failure to buy a round is a despicable crime and will require that you turn-in your Coin to the issuing agency.

2. WHEN - WHERE:
A. Coin checks are permitted, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE.

3. EXCEPTIONS:
A. There are no exceptions to the rules. They apply to those clothed or unclothed. At the time of the challenge you are permitted one step and an arms reach to locate your coin. If you still cannot reach it -- SORRY ABOUT THAT!

4. A COIN IS A COIN

[HawkerHurricane]

6. Now, I did NOT know this...

I have 'coins' from many of my commands... they were given for re-enlistments and my retirement. Let's see...
(fumbles in ditty bag of stuff)
USS Harry W. Hill, 1st re-enlistment.
RTC San Diego, 2nd RE-enlistment.
USS Denver, 3rd re-enlistment.
USNS Mercy, 4th re-enlistment
and
NHSD, same.
And...
USS Thach, retirement (2 coins, one in shadow box).

Now...
Where were my CPO's to tell me these traditions?

[Rebellious Republican]

7. Sadly, I have none, just a plank owner in a couple of commands.

I feel cheated, I never got one for my one re-enlistment.

[oneighty]

9. I never heard of them

until receiving it in the mail. We had no such thing when I was in that I am/was aware of.

180

(Do not let 180 take the helm) hee hee hee

[Rebellious Republican]

10. The only ones that I was familiar with when I was in.....

Were CPO's, they were given one as part of their initiation to the Rank of Chief Petty Officer.

The initiation was a very secret tradition that only CPO's and above were allowed to be involved in.

However, being the very trusted (I carried a real Secret Clearance)Squadron photographers mate.

I was invited to photograph certain portions of the initiation process.

I was given an open tab and told to wait in the main bar of the CPO club until called for.

My lips are sealed to this day for fear of retribution by the likes of CPO's like BOSSHOG, as to what took place during these portions of the ceremony that I was privy to witness.

Trust me, becoming a CPO is not easy!!! Right BOSSHOG :evilgrin:

I think the tradition varies from service to service, and even from within the same branch of service, also the time frame probably adds to the mix as well.

[BOSSHOG]

14. To this day

My initiation (post initiation pinning ceremony) ranks second only to my marriage as a memorable event in my life. Being a Chief has to be one of the most gratifyiing jobs in the world, to spend your life leading and instructing Sailors. It don't get any better and on top of that you are a Chief for life.

[babylonsister]

24. Did Chiefs in the Navy like eggs, BH? I recall

a Coastie initiation...:evilgrin:

[driver8]

25. My father is a retired CPO. I know for a fact that making chief

is one of the most memorable moments of his life. He wore the uniform of a chief with so much pride...

When my father retired, he was sitting in a bar with a few of his bowling buddies. (A chief in a bar? How unusual!). Anyhow, the local Navy recruiter comes in (a chief), sits down at the bar, and orders a drink. My father sees this, notices that the chief has taken off his tie and has his sleeves rolled up. He goes over to the chief, introduces himself as a retired CPO, and tells the chief he is disappointed at the way he is wearing his uniform. The chief thinks for a minute and realizes that my father is absolutely correct. He rolls down his sleeves, goes out to his car and puts his tie on.

I remember as a kid we flew from Guam to upstate NY. My father wore his uniform the whole way and never loosened that tie. He is so proud of that uniform and all it stands for.

CPOs are the largest fraternity in the world...

[maxrandb]

16. Walked Into the CPO Club One Day With My Cover On

Never did that again.

Anyway, since where on the subject, here's a blast from the past for my fellow Navy Shipmates. If you're not a CPO and did not go through initiation, you won't get it.

"How long have you been in the Navy"?

"All me blooming life sir,
Me mother was a mermaid, and me father was King Neptune.
I was born in the belly of the deep, and rocked in the cradle of a wave. Barnicles is me clothes, and sea-weed and kelp is me hair. Every tooth in me head is a marlin spike, every bone in me body a pure spar. When I spits, I spits tar.

I am tough, I am, I is, I are. Arghhhhh"

[driver8]

26. Regarding initiation...

I never went through it, but my father told me a couple of stories. There was a guy at my father's command that made chief and refused to go through the initiation. Every chief refused to address this guy as chief. He finally went through the initiation and all was right with the world.

One other story my father told me. During chief's initiation, none of the chiefs could remember this one chief going through it. They asked him, "Hey chief, when did you go through initiation?" He said, "Oh, the recruiter in my hometown is a chief...he initiated me." All the chiefs said, "Not good enough...get up there with the rest of them." The guy realized that the chiefs were right...and got initiated "again" that day.

[hootinholler]

29. Neither do I...

Got some 'love me wall'-plaques though.

I just found out by following the back link for your ribbon image that there's a Certificate available for 'Cold War' service. Thinking of ordering one just to see what it looks like.


-Hoot

[BOSSHOG]

13. Hello Hawker

I have a sneaking suspicion that your Chief Petty Officers had something to do with the coins you got. They were all well deserved by you, and one in a shadow box makes a striking image. Great to see one of your posts shipmate.

[jonnyblitz]

17. wow i never got a coin, never even heard of them...

:shrug:

[BOSSHOG]

11. Thanks for passing the info shipmate

I would have screwed up your presentation for sure. Check out the website if you care to peruse for a coin:

http://www.4armedforces.com/

[Rebellious Republican]

28. Thanks BOSSHOG, just ordered a Navy Veteran Coin....

Picked up a Navy Aircrew and Navy Veteran window Decal to boot as well!

Yes I know my ribbons are not in official order of importance, the Navy Expeditionary Forces Medal (Beirut "83")is on top because it is the most important to me, next to my "Navy Wings of Gold" that is.

[BikeWriter]

21. I'd never heard that story, Pard. Thanks for sharing it.

[katinmn]

8. Here's an image of just one

There must be thousands of different designs

[symbolman]

15. Guess I better start carrying mine

time to give those little chickenhawks the razzin they deserve..

Now we need to create an Enlistment form Dispenser that you can wear around your neck and print out a form on demand :)

USAF 1971-74 Last of the Draft

[katinmn]

18. LOL! I like that idea.

A miniature enlistment card dispenser. I need some of those cards to carry with me.

I saw a car with a Condi 08 bumper sticker parked yesterday near a university campus. That person was begging to be recruited.

[trogdor]

31. Got a 10th Mountain Division coin at home.

I guess I better go find it. Hated 10th Mtn., but I'll carry the coin anyway because you guys are.

[BOSSHOG]

12. Rebellious Republican did an outstanding job of summation

In the Navy's Chief Petty Officer community, new Chiefs are given a coin with their date of initiation engraved on it and their CPO Anchors. Some choose not be initiated and that's their business but they don't get a coin and are subject to challenge (amongst other things.)

I have several of them but the one I got upon initiation is beautifully displayed in my shadow box with my other career memorabilia. I took one to Saudi Arabia with me on my last deployment and had it gold plated and encased in a plastic holder. Lest someone deem it necessary to question my patriotism due to my political stance it makes a striking visual on a bar. Especially when the questioner hasn't served a day in his life.

[driver8]

27. BossHog -- you are the man! I love your attitude and the fact

that you "walk the walk". I never made chief, but served in the Navy for 6 years. My father is a retired CPO and you remind me of him.

[BOSSHOG]

32. Thanks Shipmate

for the kind words. Actually I'm a rather unassuming, quiet friendly kind of guy who can get along with anyone but when the conservatives start huffing and puffing I get pissed. I resented having to use the VET card, but it works 100% of the time with mouthy chickenhawks. I didn't serve to brag about my service but I also didn't serve to see ignorance transformed into power. Thanks to you and your Dad for your service. I look forward to your future posts.

[oneighty]

4. I received one from the Commanding Officer

Naval SchoolExplosive Ordnance Disposal about a year ago. He was helping us with research on a Russian Mine we recovered in Wonsan Harbor, Korea years ago.

I do not carry the coin for fear I might lose it.

"Initial Success Or Total Failure" it says on the back side.

180

[Touchdown]

19. This must be a Navy thing, cuz I never heard of it in the Army.

Nobody gave me, and I never saw any coins. I never even heard of that coin challenge game. We just got into fights with the turks or irish (in Germany), then buy them biers anyway.:shrug:

Is there a veteran's card I should have? Never recieved one.

[BikeWriter]

22. The Retirees ID card BossHog refered to entitles retirees...

to access base facilities they're entitled to. If you apply to the Veteran's Administration for services you'll be given another ID card which allows them to automatically access all your medical records. As far as I know, your DD-214 is all the ID you need to identify yourself as having been honorably discharged.

[Jai4WKC08]

23. Nope, the Army has challenge coins

Not sure when they started up. I never saw them at Ft Hood in the '70s, but they were the thing by the time I got to Korea in 1980. Commanders would have them made, I guess from MWR funds, and hand 'em out when someone did something good. Then it got to be everyone had to carry one from their own unit, and present it challenged or buy a round.

My son is in the Air Force, and they have 'em too. But he's not old enough to drink yet. Which sucks, since he's obviously old enough to die for BushCo.

[BOSSHOG]

30. Hello Teammate

You may want to check out:

http://www.4armedforces.com/

They have Army gear for your perusal. Thanks for your Service Veteran.

[BikeWriter]

20. My Veteran's Administration card is in my ass pocket...

Along with my DD-214, orders to VietNam, and membership cards for the Veterans of Foriegn Wars, American Legion, and VietNam Veterans of America. Screw the chickenhawks!

[5thGenDemocrat]

33. Oh, I will and I do

Nothing like getting into the middle of it with a chickenhawk, pulling out the ol' pre-camo M-65 jacket, field, olive drab, one each and asking them where theirs is.
I happily left the Army behind. But I kept the field jacket (and I'm not afraid to use it).
John
US Army (SigC), 1974-76.