s to be proud of their service and to have a distinctive item that recognized that. Unit esprit was a big focus. Soldiers want to be a part of a special unit and the history of 2-506 served to reinforce that. We wanted them to have something that said they had served in 2-506 and where they had served. These were deployment coins, different from the Commanders excellence coins. These Deployment Coins were for everybody who served on this deployment. “Been there, done that, got the coin.” There were only a few Soldiers who didn’t get one and they didn’t deserve them based on their sub-standard performance and pending UCMJ and separation from the Army.
As such the 2nd Battalion presented a small, and large version of their deployment challenge coin (both with the same design). The smaller measures approximately 3” and the larger is 3.5” and both deployment coins use a base of highly polished brass for both sides of the coin.
Taken from the 506th “bug” the obverse features the famed pocket-patch worn during World War II. The origins of the bug are lost; however, the background is azure blue, which represents the Infantry (it should be noted the only variation between the versions of the 2nd Battalion’s 2010-2011 Deployment Challenge Coin is in the larger version the azure blue is instead a highly polished brass). Superimposed is a parachute, which is symbolic of the airborne history of the Regiment. A pair of dice stands for the nickname of the 506th — the “Pair-a-dice Regiment” — and these combined with the adjoining circle spells the numerical designation of the Regiment, “Five-O-Six”. The eagle stands for the exalted 101st Grand Eagle, poised and ready to strike. Along an outer edge of the Obverse is a white band where at the top; flanked by black spades (to be explained later) was the unit’s Task Force “White” designation during its 2010-2011 tenure in Afghanistan. On either side of the outer band is the name and rank of the unit’s Commander (LTC Hill on left) and Senior Enlisted (CSM Menton on right). At the bottom is written the unit’s motto “Currahee”.
Featured on the Reverse is a brass country feature of Afghanistan centered and against the black, red, and green colors of the Afghan flag as a field. Further centered on the featured Afghanistan is the 2nd Battalions historic black spade with a white “2”. During WWII the 101st Airborne Division Infantry regiments were represented by playing card symbols, Diamonds for the 501st, Hearts for the 502nd, Spades for the 506th, and Clubs for the 327th Glider Infantry. Above these features and written in white is the predominant location where the 2nd Battalion was deployed during OEF X-XI “East Paktika”. To the right is written “Stands Alone” again heralding back to the units historic translation of the word “Currahee”. At the bottom is written “OEF X-XI: 2010-2011” to commemorate the units time spent deployed. Again along the outer edge of the Reverse is a similar white band denoting the deployment locations for the 2nd Battalion “Gomal, Bermel, Gayan, Zerok, Sarobi, and Orgun” districts.
1. Center of Military History. “2nd Battalion 506th Infantry: Lineage and Honors.” 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile – Air Assault). April 12, 2013. http://www.506infantry.org/2506lineage.htm (accessed November 19, 2013).
2. 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office. “Casing of the Colors: 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry.” 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile – Air Assault). April 8, 2013. http://www.506infantry.org/his4bct/his2ndbn4bctphoto30.html (accessed November 11, 2013).
3. SPC Luther, Boothe L. “TF Currahee Conducts Largest Combined Air Assault So Far.” 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile – Air Assault). October 27, 2010. http://www.506infantry.org/his4bct/his2ndbn4bctarticle65.html (accessed November 12, 2013).
4. SGT Boothe, Luther. “TF Currahee Eliminates Enemy Stronghold during Operation Overlord.” 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association (Airmobile – Air Assault). April 10, 2010. http://www.506infantry.org/his4