53rd Wing historian helps create expeditionary wing coin

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Dr. Chuck Merkel, 53rd Wing historian, recently assisted the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in redesigning their commander's coin, which now illustrates past and present elements of the 386th AEW's history.

Merkel contributed to the coin's new look through reasearch into the 386th AEW's history, while serving a six-month Southwest Asia deployment in 2013. He also received input and guidance from Col. David Farrow, then the 386th AEW commander, and other staff members.

Farrow initiated the request for a new coin near the end of his deployment, according to Merkel. When he left, Col. John Klein, the incoming 386th AEW commander, took up the project and Merkel collaborated with him on the coin design.

"Col. Klein wanted the coin to reflect the unit's heritage," said Merkel, the 53rd's historian since 2008.

A unit commander's coin, also called a challenge coin, contains the organization's insignia and emblem. A commander usually presents a coin to a member in recognition of special achievement. A member can also receive a coin for successfully meeting a challenge; for morale enhancement; or for his or her collection.

The coin highlights the 386th's World War II participation with a raised image of a B-26 Marauder aircraft. The 386th AEW's emblem and slogan are located above the B-26. The twin-engine medium bomber was utilized in European theater combat missions by the 386th Bomb Group, which was later renamed the 386th AEW, according to Merkel.

The original emblem was designed by Col. Lester Maitland, the 386's first commander. It features a dog, a whippet named Marauder, sitting on five stones. The stones represented the four squadrons and group headquarters that composed the unit during World War II. The stones depicted a solid foundation for the 386th to build upon, which inspired the slogan, "Marauders... Rock Solid," according to the doctor.

Those symbols, and the two stars on each side of the coin, were extracted from the original design and included in the updated design. On the back of the coin are images of a C-130, an MQ-1 Predator and an MQ-9 Reaper, which illustrate the 386th AEW's present air combat capabilities, Merkel said.

The coin design was completed in May of last year, Merkel said.

Merkel completed his deployment in June 2013. In October 2013, Klein presented the coin to Maj. Jason Green, then the 386th executive officer, via video teleconference, in recognition of Merkel's collaborative efforts, in a 'virtual coining' ceremony at Eglin's chapel.

Green physically gave the coin to Merkel when they met at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. in June 2014.

Merkel called the coin presentation a 'wow' moment.

"To have the wing commander level of interest in redesigning the coin, with all of the other mission responsibilities the wing had, was special," he said. "I'm grateful to have received one."