During World War I, American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons. Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war.

In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. One young pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck. Shortly after acquiring the medallions, the pilots aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and was immediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personal identification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small French town near the front.

Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personal identification.

He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. With great difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost.

Unfortunately, saboteurs had plagued the French in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the young pilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had no identification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed the medallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on the medallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity.

Instead of shooting him they gave him a bottle of wine.

Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the challenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them.

If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving members of the squadron were still alive. We proudly continue this tradition today with the challenge coin.

Reprinted from a Kelly AFB Dining Out Presentation.

There is a history that stands behind the symbols on our new coin. The PHS seal features the fouled anchor and caduceus and was developed by the first Surgeon General, John Maynard Woodworth. The fouled anchor signified a seaman in distress or sick seamen, a reference to our beginnings with the treatment of these sick and disabled seamen. Today, the caduceus is often associated with or used as a medical symbol but in 1871, this association was not as common as it is today. The caduceus was actually associated with the Roman god, Mercury who was the god of trade and commerce. The caduceus was probably intended to underscore the main task of merchant marines, who promoted trade. At the time, the PHS (known as the Marine Hospital Service) specifically served merchant marines so it is most likely that this was what Woodworth had in mind when he created the seal.

The Asian Pacific American Officers Committee (APAOC) was established in 1990 as one of the four minority officer advisory groups that constituted the Minority Officers Liaison Council. The committee was chartered in 1993. The APAOC advises the Office of the Surgeon General on professional and personnel issues which impact Asian and Pacific Islanders employed in the federal government. These issues include improving the recruitment, retention and career development of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the Public Health Service, whether they are Commissioned Corps or Civil Service. The APAOC also provides similar advice and assistance to the Operational Divisions of Department of Health and Human Services and other programs.

The APAOC logo is designed to have the US PHS Commissioned Corps logo in original color in the center, surrounded by four bamboos bound together at the ends to form a diamond shape. The bamboo is deeply rooted in many Asian and Pacific Islanders' cultures. It represents the unique characteristics of Asian and Pacific American Officers rooted in its rich cultural heritage: strength, perseverance, flexibility, and tenacity. The following text run outside the diamond shaped bamboos: "ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN OFFICERS COMMITTEE".