Special Events
US Challenge Coin .com and D.B. Sweeney teamed up to do a challenge coin for his new movie he produced and directed called Two Tickets to Paradise starring John C. McGinley, D.B. Sweeney, Paul Hipp’s, Ed Harris, Moira Kelly, and many more of Hollywood’s stars in a comedy film. This coin is special in many ways as it is the first coin put out by USCC.com that represents Hollywood and the military, one of Hollywood’s finest went out of his way to make a coin to present to the sailors and soldiers, and that we can debut this coin along with the new movie.
Now beyond the formalities, as the Owner and CEO of US Challenge Coins. com it is an esteem pleasure to do projects like this for someone who is not only famous on the big screen but more importantly, supports the troops in ways like this. I received a phone call from D.B. late one night and he wanted the low down on what it was going to take to get 1,000 coins in his hands. I told him simple enough that it was $2,000 to get that show on the road, and we had a deal. Over the next 3 days we knocked out some great artwork which you will notice the car on the one side is what the guys drove in the movie.
All I can say is D.B. was a great down to earth guy to work with on getting this done. I think he was expecting some high price quote from me but when I told him we weren’t like other companies he was pretty blown away. (See at US Challenge Coins. com we don’t really care what you do, and who you are…we just want to get the job done without emptying your wallet. - a shameless plug) I have to be honest for a minute and give a personal insight to this. I actually had no idea who D.B. Sweeney is because I don’t really watch much TV, or movies. In fact I really don’t know many people by name, just by face since they all use screen names in all the movies, who can possibly remember all of them?
Anyways, we completed the project like normal, about 8 days and over-nighted the coins straight to D.B.’s hands so he could get on the next flight out to Hawaii with the coins to hand out to the men and women stationed there. He told me he loved the coins and of course it felt nice to get another great coin finished and the end result to be that positive. Once I could breathe again (every order is not done till they are happy with the coin, so I seem to sweat it out till I have the “its great!” from the customer) I relaxed in my computer chair and was relieved.
After all was said and done I decided to do what I do best, surf the internet. I googled D.B. Sweeney and found the first page to be pretty loaded with information and then it clicked who he was. I thought it was the coolest thing and I emailed him to say thanks and that I just found out who he was…not in a rude way, I just didn’t know. This was the first coin out of Hollywood we have done. Sure we do the top brass’s coins and everyone in between but this was cool in the fact it has spread out like it has.
Finally, D.B. if you ever read my blog and see this I just want you to know that me and all the guys thank you for what you did in making this and giving the coins to the men and women serving. I think this is a very awesome gesture. Also thanks for being a decent guy and if you’re ever in Augusta, GA I will buy you a beer. Although I would be afraid of being mauled while everyone is trying to grab an autograph. As for everyone else, go out and support this actor and what he is doing! Two Tickets to Paradise here I come!
Check out the Two Tickets to Paradise Challenge Coins!
Being in the military, you tend to meet a lot of people. Some are good and some are bad.
However, during rare exceptions you meet a person that truly special. I have lived in a lot of places during my time serving in the Air Force and one of those places was Osan AB, South Korea. These places changed my life in many ways but one of those profound changes was meeting Matt Kuglics.
Here was one of the smartest, outgoing, shy, positive, and extremely friendly guys you could ever meet. For a boss he was the epitome of an Airman, as a friend he was dependable and one of the best guys to be around, and as a stranger he was someone to lift you up with his smile even on your worst day.
I first meet SSgt Kuglics (then SrA) in August 2003 when I arrived on the peninsula in South Korea. He showed me the ropes on the equipment and gave me tips and tricks on how everything worked. He was one of those guys that didn't go out every night party it up. In fact he was wholesome almost (for a lack of better words). I think in the 8 months I was with Matt I truly only seen him upset once.
He was the best SATCOM (Satellite, Wideband, and Telemetry System) Technician I had to depend on. I would try to take him on road trips with me to different antenna sites just to have him around for the day. I guess I am just trying to sum him up as one of the best damn guys you could ever meet and I was a bit saddened to see him apply and be accepted into AFOSI (Air Force Office of Special Investigations).
I knew once he left the possibility of working with him again was slim to none.
Matt finally left Korea to go straight into field training for AFOSI and I had never seen him again. This morning when I woke up a mutual friend had told me that Matt was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb on June 5th, 2007. I didn't look around on the net till 8 hours later because I just didn't want to think about it. I finally came home from work and typed Matt Kuglics in Google and found his guestbook.
I read only a line before my first tear dropped. All I could think about was laughing with Matt and enjoying a beer with Enzo, Sean, Holbert, and the other guys over some Russian soup and food after a long day at work. I started going through some old photos with Matt in them. I posted a couple of him out of uniform and just spending time with me and our friends.
I felt compelled to write something for him and share my experience with him to the world. Matt is my first friend that I have lost in this war so I guess it just never hit home till today. I can only hope that his family is coping with the huge loss. Our condolences go out to them along with our prayers.
Matt was truly an amazing person and he died serving his country whether people agree with the war or not he still was willing to do something many people can't. He will always be a hero in my eyes for giving the ultimate sacrifice to his country.
This was the last send off we had. Regardless of the taste of the picture this was one fine memory for all friends with Matt. This man will live on in many memories for a very long time...
General Rules
Challenge coins are more than just display pieces, they are also a game as well. Here we will depict a few models of rules that we have come to know through careers in the military. There are a few different sets of rules so you must know which one you are playing with.
All Coins Go (Any Challenge Coin, Any Place, Any Time)
1. One person in the area (any area) pulls out their coin (any challenge coin) and let's everyone around know they have a coin and are doing a check. Simply dropping a coin initiates the coin check. You do not have to say anything to initiate the check. The coin must be slammed on the table, dropped on the floor, or hit some other kind of surface. Once the coin makes it's token "ting" sound the challenge is underway.
Hint: A surprised launch of a challenge yields the best chance of winning.
2. Once the first coin has been brought out in whatever fashion you choose, everyone else has to produce a coin (any challenge coin). Generally, you are not allowed to leave the area to get a coin, no one is allowed to give you a coin, and you can't say you are not playing (this makes you look really bad). You also have to produce a coin within a reasonable amount of time. Reasonable time would be around 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Note: All these rules are within reason, for example if you have your coin in your purse or bag on the table 3 ft away you may get it. You can't go outside and come back with a coin.
3. If you cannot produce a coin, you are buying a round of drinks be it soda or beer. When you are in the game you can't just ditch out on this. If you are not in a place where you can buy a round you must do it soon as you are.
4. If everyone has a coin in the group then the person who initiated the coining has to buy the round. This is the risk you take by starting the challenge.
One Coin Wins (Same coin, Any Place, Any Time)
1. One person in the area pulls out their coin and let's everyone around know they have a specific coin and are doing a check or simply dropping a coin initiates the coin check. You do not have to say anything to initiate the check. The coin must be slammed on the table, dropped on the floor, or hit some other kind of surface. Once the coin makes it's token "ting" sound the challenge is underway.
2. This rule set is different because you must present the same coin that the challenge was started with. For example, if everyone in the unit is issued a unit coin then you must be ready with your unit coin at anytime. Once the first coin has been brought out in whatever fashion you choose, everyone else has to produce a coin (the same challenge coin as the "coiner"). Generally, you are not allowed to leave the area to get a coin, no one is allowed to give you a coin, and you can't say you are not playing (this makes you look really bad). You also have to produce a coin within a reasonable amount of time. Reasonable time would be around 30 seconds to 1 minute.
3. If you cannot produce a coin, you are buying a round of drinks be it soda or beer. When you are in the game you can't just ditch out on this. If you are not in a place where you can buy a round you must do it soon as you are.
4. If everyone has a coin in the group then the person who initiated the coining has to buy the round. This is the risk you take by starting the challenge.
Disclaimer: Adam wrote these rules so misspellings are inevitable, and will probably be needing some tweaks. However, these should get you going...if you feel these are incorrect then let us know and we will listen and adjust as needed.
I meet a great guy that goes by Luther over New Year's holiday. He told me about the great things he and his group are doing for our soldiers out there coming back with serious illnesses. I the highest respect for those that continue to serve those in uniform even after there time. I would do this for any organization and the following is their article copied to our site to help get the exposure for them. You can fine the original article here . Help spread the word and we will too! We are serious about military stuff here, not just collectibles.
Luther to you, thanks for doing what your doing!
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