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discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,771 posts)
47. This looks like the most special coin I've seen
Sun Jan 17, 2021, 10:15 PM
Jan 2021

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin#Origins
According to the most common story, challenge coins originated during World War I. Before the entry of the United States into the war in 1917 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 medallion, the pilot's 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. 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.

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0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Sounds legit. BusyBeingBest Jan 2021 #1
Testing the perimeter. C_U_L8R Jan 2021 #2
Yes the Recon People are out Wellstone ruled Jan 2021 #4
This was my first thought as well SledDriver Jan 2021 #15
She may have been... paleotn Jan 2021 #25
Texas will just release them from the cages. iemitsu Jan 2021 #26
That's why I think they all should be held abakan Jan 2021 #30
Amen. iemitsu Jan 2021 #40
Texas sends us the worst. Racists, seditionists, secessionists, and Republicans LakeArenal Jan 2021 #45
Yep. They send representatives who are just like them. iemitsu Jan 2021 #49
Yeah, and the Easter Bunny on Spring Break... TigressDem Jan 2021 #3
Here, I even have a hall pass note from Joe! RKP5637 Jan 2021 #5
Heh heh Ohiogal Jan 2021 #6
Didn't Speaker Pelosi give troops her Challenge Coin MontanaMama Jan 2021 #7
There Are Lots Of Places That Will Make Them COL Mustard Jan 2021 #12
Anybody can buy them Lasher Jan 2021 #34
If You're Interested, One Of Speaker Pelosi's Coins Is On eBay COL Mustard Jan 2021 #35
One of them sold for $2K in December Lasher Jan 2021 #37
A Lot Of People Work Hard For Recognition COL Mustard Jan 2021 #38
I doubt if they'd been invented yet back when I got out of the Army in 1970. Lasher Jan 2021 #39
I Went In In 1980 COL Mustard Jan 2021 #41
I was only in 2 years. Lasher Jan 2021 #42
In Those Days Everyone Was Counting COL Mustard Jan 2021 #43
Camp Nabors, South Korea Lasher Jan 2021 #44
Not Sure There Was Much Difference Then COL Mustard Jan 2021 #46
This looks like the most special coin I've seen discntnt_irny_srcsm Jan 2021 #47
Woah, the tradition goes back a long time! Lasher Jan 2021 #48
Mentally challenged, like most Trump suporters. But really, they should admit her to a.... machoneman Jan 2021 #8
The 2nd option will cure her much faster Escurumbele Jan 2021 #13
this llashram Jan 2021 #18
This is the Confederacy of old. They lost the war and won the peace and reconciliation. Marcuse Jan 2021 #22
Like velociraptors in Jurassic Park testing the fences. marmar Jan 2021 #9
And I'm The Next King Of England...The Whole Charles Thing Is A Conspiracy And He's Really A Lizard COL Mustard Jan 2021 #10
Good catch. Keep up the good work. TryLogic Jan 2021 #11
If this is their "A" game BlueIdaho Jan 2021 #14
Really. Giving a cop a challenge coin as ID?? What the actual fuck? Nay Jan 2021 #20
We have a mental health crisis in this country greenjar_01 Jan 2021 #16
True but we should not assume actions contrary to our beliefs taken by others is caused by mental usajumpedtheshark Jan 2021 #32
Claiming that one is on the Presidents cabinet is not an "action contrary to belief" greenjar_01 Jan 2021 #36
"I'm the Secretary of....Boat Parades. Yeah, that's the ticket!" tanyev Jan 2021 #17
A lot of these fools even though they are from LEO's, forget that Motorola is faster than they are. LiberalArkie Jan 2021 #19
It would be interesting to know which percentage TNNurse Jan 2021 #21
Thanks for the post...2 important points..One- She was sure that she would get away with it... Stuart G Jan 2021 #23
No wonder she thinks she will get away with it. Lasher Jan 2021 #33
Mentally challenged, like most Trump suporters. But really, they should admit her to a.... machoneman Jan 2021 #24
So she left out the fact that she was also a double-naught spy. maddogesq Jan 2021 #27
At the checkpoints they should set up... reACTIONary Jan 2021 #28
Is the water they drink heavily contaminated with industrial waste? Oscarthegreat Jan 2021 #29
Geez, you can't even trust Grandma these days usajumpedtheshark Jan 2021 #31
Post removed Post removed Oct 2023 #50
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