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Obverse Design
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The challenge coin has a spread eagle in the center, with the Ranger insignia
on the eagle's chest.
The Ranger
insignia is a shield with four cantons. A lightning bolt goes from the upper
right canton to the lower left canton.
The upper left canton has a 12 pointed star. The
lower right canton has a five pointed star.
The 12 pointed star is the Sun symbol from the Chinese Nationalist Flag and
represents the unit's close cooperation with the Chinese forces in the
China-Burma-India Theater. The five-point star represents the Star of Burma.
The lightning bolt is symbolic of behind-the-lines strikes, a specialty of
the Rangers. The eagle is holding a branch with berries in its right claw
(our left)
and a bundle of arrows in its left claw (our right). Above the eagle is a
banner which says "SUA SPONTE" which means "OF THEIR OWN ACCORD".
Along the bottom edge of the challenge coin is the motto "RANGERS LEAD THE WAY".
The coin has a smooth plain raised edge,
and a plain and smooth background.
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Reverse Design
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The center of the medal is blank, and this is where the name of the receipient
can be engraved.
There are two banners above the center. The top banner near
the top edge of the medal says simply "RANGER". The second banner
below says "2D
RANGER BN". In small font below the second banner
there are two lines "OCTOBER 1974" and "FORT LEWIS, WA". This is the date the
battalion was activated, and its home location.
Along the edge of the coin are different wars and combat locations of significance
to the Rangers. Between each name is a five-point star. Starting at the top
and going around the names are "POINTE DU HOC", "KOREA", "GRENADA", "PANAMA",
"VIETNAM" and "MYITKYINA".
The coin has a smooth plain raised edge,
and a plain and smooth background.
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Metal
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Pewter.
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Weight
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Unknown.
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Size and Shape
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Round, 40 mm in diameter.
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Dates Issued
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Unknown, after Just Cause Operation December 1989 and by September, 2001.
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Issuer
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2nd Ranger Battalion.
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Mintage
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Unknown.
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Rarity
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Common.
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Manufacturer
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Unknown.
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Source
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Plowman Collection.
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Varieties
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Four different 2nd Battalion varieties exist. Two varieties are similar, one in plain
pewter and one with a bronze finish, and have a large eagle on the obverse and list
battle locations on the reverse. The other two are also similar to each other, one
plain and one with colored added. They have a smaller eagle and list battle
locations on the obverse.
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Population Count
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As of March 30, 2004 these are being offered by at
www.eaglesofwar.com for $9.95. They are readily available.
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Historical Note
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The 2nd Ranger Battalion and A and B Companies, 3rd Battalion performed a combat
parachute assault on the Panamanian military base at Rio Hato starting about 1 AM
the morning of December 20th, 1989 as part of Operation Just Cause.
They were known as Task Force Red - Romeo. They took the runway in 30 minutes,
and spirited defense by the PDF ended within two hours. The Ranger killed
34 Panamanians and wounded an undetermined number. They captured 362 PDF soldiers.
The Rangers lost four soldiers, and suffered 18 wounded
in the fight and 26 injuried in the drop. The two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion
killed in action were Specialist Phillip Lear and PFC John Mark Price.
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