A Brief History of Army Challenge Coins in the Vietnam War

Before the US Army used challenge coins in the Vietnam War, they used bullets and other munitions. Brave soldiers joined "bullet groups-" groups of brave servicemen who carried an extra bullet for their primary weapon in their front hip pocket. These bullets were used to identify them as members of the United States Armed Forces, but they were used as insurance of sorts in the event of capture. Knowing that they would be tortured if the Communists captured them, soldiers that were part of a bullet group made a shared commitment to take their own lives rather than let their captors force information out of them that may endanger their fellow brethren. 

Fiercely proud of the sacrifices they were making for corps and country, these bullets were used in the challenge coin drinking game that you may be familiar with. As you know, things get competitive in the Army. Soldiers began increasing the caliber of bullets until bullets turned into grenades and other explosives! Hazardous as it is to slam an explosive on a bar counter, challenge coins were phased in to make the tradition safer.

Click the following link if you’d like to find out more about the history of custom challenge coins in the Vietnam War.

Unit Coins was founded by a veteran with in the hopes that our brave men and women are awarded only the best and most beautiful custom challenge coins. Unit Coins specializes in custom military challenge coins including custom Army challenge coins, custom Marine challenge coins, custom Navy challenge coins, and custom Air Force challenge coins. Visit our site at www.unitcoins.us.

Custom Military Challenge Coins

The tradition of using challenge coins to reward exemplary behavior in the armed forces really started when an American pilot was shot down in World War 1. The airman was able to crash-land and extricate himself to French lines alive, but he had no identifying papers. The only thing that saved him from being executed on suspicion of espionage was his squadron coin. Ever since then, challenge coins have become a celebrated tradition in the Armed forces, especially in the U.S. Army.

Unit Coins was founded as a resource so that our armed forces could have access to the best custom military challenge coins, as well the customer service and assistance that they deserve in ordering those coins. We recently wrote an article with a brief history of challenge coins and of Unit Coins, with links to galleries of past custom Army challenge coin orders that we are proud of. Please click the link below to read more.

http://www.unitcoins.us/custom-military-challenge-coins/