My first KIA

Major Maxillary · Post by **Major Maxillary** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:03 pm

I was firing party for a KIA funeral today.

Some highlights included an escort of Freedom Riders, and afterwards a two-star General came up to us, shook our hands, and asked me "Are you guys from DC?"
afterwards he handed out challenge coins like candy.

Clarification: he thought we were from Arlington we were so crisp.

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:01 pm

Very nice, Max.

LeftTentacleGreen · Post by **LeftTentacleGreen** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:00 pm

Did you manage to hit any Phelp Phanatics?

MistressMaggie · Post by **MistressMaggie** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:45 pm

wow, I totally was thinking Kia, the car... couldn't figure out why this car was so important that you would have a funeral for it...

LeftTentacleGreen · Post by **LeftTentacleGreen** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:00 am

Hey Major,

There was something in the news today about an elected official who wiped away a sentence for one of his cronies much like that one sheriff wiped away Paris Hilton's sentence last month.

Can I borrow that gun of yours for a sec?

Major Maxillary · Post by **Major Maxillary** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:19 am

LeftTentacleGreen wrote:Did you manage to hit any Phelp Phanatics?

none were present.

and we don't use live ammo.

SpiffyKlingon · Post by **SpiffyKlingon** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:12 am

I get the impression the Patriot Guard Riders have done a good job of discouraging the Phelps clan. My Uncle is in the group, and they always try to place themselves between the funeral party and the fuckwits. Doesn't matter how loud they try to be, they can't shout over the noise of a dozen or so reving Harleys.

Squidflakes · Post by **Squidflakes** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:52 am

Whats on the challenge coin?

Major Maxillary · Post by **Major Maxillary** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:14 pm

squidflakes wrote:Whats on the challenge coin?

Heads: US ARMY - RESEARCH * DEVELOPMENT * ENGINEERING COMMAND -TECHNOLOGY TO THE WARFIGHTER QUICKER!

Tails: COMMANDING GENERAL'S - COIN OF EXCELLENCE

Squidflakes · Post by **Squidflakes** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:29 pm

woah, sweet!

BriHahn · Post by **BriHahn** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:08 pm

*has several coins as well*

I have... Gen. Shinseki's from when he was Chief of Staff of the Army... and SMA Tilley's (when he was still SMA; that's Sergeant Major of the Army to you non-military folk), I also have my CG's (Commanding General's) coin, my brigade commander's, my battalion commander's, and another battalion commander's when I was attached to his unit for about... three months for a guard force mission (I was the OIC, or Officer in Charge of the guard force).

I feel like I'm forgetting one, but I can't think what it is.

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:55 pm

I have a gold plated half dollar... my grandfather used to work in a gold plating factory.

Antharas · Post by **Antharas** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:49 pm

So what is the concept behind these challange coins? they just like mini-medals or something?

ManaUser · Post by **ManaUser** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:16 pm

Antharas wrote:So what is the concept behind these challange coins? they just like mini-medals or something?

I think you're supposed to carry them in case you're captured by the French without any other ID.

But I may have some details wrong.

Lulujayne · Post by **Lulujayne** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:54 am

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no idea about all these army shenanigans.

However, congratulations Mister Max and welcome back

Prettydragoon · Post by **Prettydragoon** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:25 am

Major Maxillary wrote:challenge coins

Ooo, you guys got all sorts of fancy stuff. All I ever got was some coupons for a coffee and doughnut.

Also, welcome back Max!

WangyJohn · Post by **WangyJohn** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:30 am

I don't know anything 'bout any challange coins, but I bought some surplus US Army trousers today. First I'll cut them shorter, then add some patches and maybe some other forms of uniform desecration.

Alswo, I noticed they're 5% kevlar. Probably not a real bullet stopper...

BriHahn · Post by **BriHahn** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:57 am

The general purpose of challenge coins (as it was explained to me, so I could be wrong) is to challenge someone to one-up you.

At military social gatherings you can whip out a coin, and if no one can top it, they all owe you a drink. If someone can produce a coin that tops yours, you owe them a drink. For an idea of the rankings; the President's Coin trumps everything (but almost no one has one), and it goes down from there. The Sec Def trumps the Chief of Staff's coin, but the Chief of Staff's coin trumps all other general coins, because he's the highest ranking general in the Army (assuming there's no one with the title of General of the Army; a five-star general, and the last one of those was either Eisenhower or... or.... crud, I forgot his name, but I know he lived in El Paso for a while, but there hasn't been a five star general since the Vietnam or Korean war).

I believe the original purpose of the coins was meant to honor a particular accomplishment by a soldier (that's why they're awarded in the first place usually; I've gotten mine for performing well at assignments given to me or doing something innovative) and the "challenge" part of it came later.

Squidflakes · Post by **Squidflakes** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:19 am

The challenge coin legend says that a pilot in WW1 had the coins stuck as a memento for all the pilots in his unit, and when one of them was shot down and captured, then escaped, it was his only means of identification.

Since then, you were supposed to keep your challenge coin on you at all times.

The current tradition is more about esprit de corps, and still quite awesome. They are also given out as attaboys and recognition for small deeds where a ribbon or medal recommendation would be too much, or too time consuming.

As an odd bit of trivia, my dad has about 3 dozen coins from when he was in Viet Nam. He only personally earned 1, which was the coin for his unit. The rest were stolen. According to him, there is some protocol involving stolen challenge coins, and he's got a few from some special forces, ranger, and other full on bad-ass units. (my personal favorites are his SAC coin, and Gen. Westmoreland's coin)

Major Maxillary · Post by **Major Maxillary** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:51 am

In essence; if you're in a bar, You challenge the other soldiers by placing your coin down. they all have to produce theirs, anyone who doesn't buys everyone a drink. If everyone else has their coins, you have to buy them all drinks unless you can one-up them with a higher coin.

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My first KIA

My first KIA

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