Throughout my Navy career I have utilized my design skills in crafting challenge coins. The challenge coin is a military tradition that dates back to World War I. Military personnel would carry medallions bearing their squadron's emblem to show their allegiance when other identification was stolen or lost. Nowadays challenge coins are presented as gifts of appreciation and are collected over the course of a career.
A modern tradition is using the coin to challenge a friend at the bar. The challenger will drop his/her coin on the table. If the challengee can not produce a coin of their own, they must buy the next round of drinks. If they do produce a coin, the challenger will buy the next round.
121st Great Lakes Hospital Corpsman Birthday
June 17, 2019 marked the 121st birthday of the US Navy's Hospital Corpsman rating. I designed a challenge coin to commemorate the birthday ball in Great Lakes, IL.
The biggest goal of the composition was to make it unique to Great Lakes and the base's close proximity to Chicago. This was achieved on the front side by incorporating the famous Clock Tower into the caduceus, the symbol Hospital Corpsman rating. The caduceus is flanked by the flags of America and Chicago. The reverse side features the Chicago skyline in the foreground with iconic buildings such as the Willis Tower that myself and old-school Chicagoans still call the Sears Tower, Cloud Gate (nicknamed "The Bean"), & Lake Michigan. The flag of Chicago is set in the background.
The Corpsman Ball Committee used the design in accompanying collateral including a t-shirt, sweatshirt, travel mug, program, and video board graphic.
Photo credit: NMRTC Great Lakes
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
Unable to find a challenge coin for my command at the local exchange or commissary, I pitched the idea for a Lovell FHCC command coin as a fundraiser for the 2019 command holiday party.
When establishing key elements for the coin's composition, an important aspect of the design was to incorporate symbology associated with command's namesake, Captain James A. Lovell. The three horses on the front are derived from the Apollo XIII patch that was worn by CAPT Lovell. Lumen Martin Winter, designer of the patch, adapted the horses from his 1969 oil painting, Steeds of Apollo.
The reverse side features the seals of the main hospital & four clinics. The command's motto "readying warriors, caring for heroes" reflects FHCC as the nation's first and only joint VA-DOD health care facility. The red stars connect the command with its close proximity to Chicago.
Winter, Lumen Martin. Steeds of Apollo. 1969. 20' x 8'. Oil on Canvas. Captain James A. Lovell FHCC.
Winter, Lumen Martin. Apollo XIII Mission Patch. 1970. Embroidered Patch.
Apollo XIII/Lovell FHCC Anniversary
The year 2020 has been blemished by the COVID-19 pandemic, civil rights protests, and political tension. Through all the despair, 2020 is a year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo XIII space mission (April 11, 1970) and the 10th anniversary of the opening of Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (October 1, 2010). As the command's Junior Enlisted Association Public Affairs Officer, I pitched the anniversary challenge coin as a fundraising opportunity for the JEA .
To tie in the connection to Capt. James Lovell, the coin's composition replicates the command module that Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise flew into space. The reverse features CAPT Lovell's portrait and his military awards.
123rd Great Lakes Hospital Corpsman Birthday
For the 123rd Great Lakes Hospital Corpsman Birthday coin, I focused on the number 123. In keeping with of designing Great Lakes challenge coins with a Chicago-theme, I centered the composition on Windy City sports legend, #23 Michael Jordan.
The shape & design of the coin is based off of the retired numbers banner that grace the rafters of the United Center. The front features MJ in his iconic "Jumpman" pose while donning Navy Dress Blues. The back has a collection of banners highlighting the multiple honors and accolades garnered by the Hospital Corpsman rate.
The two ships are based off relief sculptures that can be found at all of the gates at Naval Station Great Lakes.
NMRTC Great Lakes First Class Petty Officer Association
The coin's design is in the shape of the state of Illinois in which NMRTC Great Lakes is located. The front features the Great Lakes First Class Petty Officer Association logo and a Chicago Red Star indicating the location of base in North Chicago, IL. The back features the logos of the main hospital and all clinics apart of NMRTC Great Lakes.
124th Great Lakes Hospital Corpsman Birthday
For the 124th Great Lakes Hospital Corpsman Birthday coin, the client wanted a coin that was a little avant-garde. Instead of a traditional circular or square coin, the client wanted a Thor Hammer coin. The front features a caduceus the back features a World War II-style Corpsman helmet. The four red stars from the flag of Chicago were added to connect with Great Lakes' close proximity to the Windy City. The coin's thickness makes for miniture hammer.