COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR'S COIN

Today I was one of seven Training Assistance Group members at Camp Alamo who were awarded the Command Sergeant Major's (CSM) Challenge Coin. This was an honor. The CSM is the highest ranking enlisted man in Task Force Phoenix. He awards his coins to enlisted servicemembers and officers who have provided excellent service. I was not expecting this, but it was very nice to be recognized. These are pictures of both sides of the coin.




Challenge coins have a unique history in the United States military. During World War I, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy young men who left colleges in order to enlist in the military. In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered solid bronze medallions embossed with the squadron emblem for every member of his squadron. He carried his medallion in a small leather sack around his neck.

Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the lieutenant's aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire during a mission. He was forced to land behind enemy lines where he was 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. He was eventually taken to a small French town near the front lines where he managed to escape during a night bombardment. During the attack, he donned civilian clothes and fled without personal identification.

After escaping, the brave pilot succeeded in avoiding German patrols until he reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land and stumbled into a French outpost. Unfortunately, the French in this sector had been plagued by German saboteurs, who 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.

Just in time, the American remembered his leather pouch containing the bronze medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners. When the French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion, they gave the pilot enough time to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him, they gave him a bottle of wine. Eventually the pilot made it back to his squadron, where it became a tradition to ensure all members carried their medallion or coin at all times.

To make sure that everyone carried their coin, the tradition of a "challenge" emerged. A service member would ask to see the other servicemember's coin. If the challenged servicemember could not produce his coin, he was required to purchase a drink of choice for the member who had challenged him. If the challenged member produced his coin, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued through the war and for many years after while surviving members of the squadron were still alive.

Today, military service members often trade these coins while deployed. Only persons in high ranking positions have coins. Generals all have coins. Command Sergeant Majors have coins. Coins are earned meritoriously for a job well done.

This is my first coin and I'm proud to have received it.