President Wainwright Presented with Challenge Coin

Southeastern President William S. Wainwright recently accepted a special Southeastern Challenge Coin from LaVetCorps Navigator and retired Captain Steve Worth and Alumni Association President-Elect and retired Air Force pilot Mike DuBois.

According to Worth, some believe that the challenge coin tradition started in Vietnam, where an Army Infantry-run bar tried to keep non-combat soldiers away by forcing outsiders to buy drinks for the whole bar by “coining” them. This tradition, now known as a coin check, continues today and is called a challenge coin.

Challenge coins have been an American Military tradition for centuries. They were meant to instill unit pride, improve spirit de corps and reward hard work and excellence, Worth explained. Over the years this tradition has expanded to non-military organizations, such as Southeastern.

“The most well-known story dates back to WWI, as the United States stated to build up its Army Air Services in which many young men wanted to volunteer. One of these young men was a wealthy lieutenant who wanted to encourage his soldiers and thank them for all of their hard work,” Worth said. “He had a coin size bronze medallion made for his soldiers. The young
lieutenant wore his coin in a small leather pouch around his neck and encouraged his soldiers to do likewise.”

Worth said during the war the lieutenant was shot down and captured by the Germans. As a prisoner of war all documents were taken from him, so if he escaped, his identity would be in question.

“The Germans did not take his coin because they didn’t know the significance of it. The young lieutenant did escape and made his way back toward the friendly line and ran upon a French garrison,” Worth continued. “The French thought he was a German spy and planned to execute him until he revealed the small bronze coin with his unit on it. One of the French
soldiers recognized the unit crest and he was saved from execution.”

Above image: Southeastern President William S. Wainwright, center, accepts a special Southeastern Challenge Coin from Steve Worth and Mike DuBois recently. On hand for the occasion are, from left, Southeastern Director of Military and Veterans Success Emily Anthony, Worth, Wainwright, Dubois, and Chief Enrollment Management Officer Kay Maurin.