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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;willieboyd2, post: 2952086, member: 4910&quot;]Although the subject of the article is the current US defense chief, it mentions handout coins several times.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is no mention of the term &quot;challenge coin&quot; in the article.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Defense-Secretary-Mattis-Not-Visiting-War-Zone-Troops-for-Holidays-467153343.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Defense-Secretary-Mattis-Not-Visiting-War-Zone-Troops-for-Holidays-467153343.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Defense-Secretary-Mattis-Not-Visiting-War-Zone-Troops-for-Holidays-467153343.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Defense Secretary Mattis Nixes Holiday Tradition of Visiting US Troops in War Zones </p><p><br /></p><p>Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns of Associated Press</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Like his predecessor, Gates ended his troop talks with the traditional lineup for handshakes, photos and the much-desired commemorative coin. The coins — different for each secretary or military commander and emblazoned with their names or unit designs — are ceremonial gifts that young service members embrace.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Many collect them or use them to get free drinks in bars. One game stipulates the service member with the highest-ranking coin wins.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Secretaries Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter followed suit, trailed by a military aide carrying the coins that they often handed out to hundreds after each event.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Mattis rarely gives public troop talks, in any season. Usually he meets privately with small groups of service members.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>And he has declined to hand out coins.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, I would have rather gotten a coin from Hopalong Cassidy.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.brianrxm.com/posts/post_hopalongcassidy_coins.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) hands out coins.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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