My Coins - LTC Joseph M. Cox

This has to be my favorite of all of my coins. This particular coin was presented to me on 07 December 2007 by LTC (now Colonel) Joseph M. Cox--the Commander of the 519 Military Intelligence Battalion. LTC Cox was the first person in the Army to ever sit me down and tell me that I should really consider going to Officer Candidate School. To this day, I have nothing but the highest respect for COL Cox. He is a good man and I could tell that he really cared about his Soldiers. I still remember the first time I ever appeared before a promotion board. I was not at all prepared for that board and it did not go well. When I walked out of the board room, LTC Cox was stepping out of his office. He asked me how it went and I just shook my head, looked down and told him that it didn't go well. He put his arm around my shoulder and told me to keep my chin up, not to worry, and that I would get it. I believed him because I knew he believed in me. Now, if my last post gave an example of what an Army leader ought NOT to be, here we have an example of what an Army leader SHOULD be. LTC Cox was the best.

The coin is shaped like a "dog tag" and on one side has the unit patch of the 525 BfSB, along with the silver oak leaf rank insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel and the three chevron/three rocker with wreath and star insignia of a Command Sergeant Major. The words "PRESENTED BY THE BN CDR/CSM" are at the top, while the words "AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE" appear at the bottom. The other side of the coin depicts the batalion crest of the 519th MI BN, along with the accronym "BfSB" which stands for Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (the 519th MI BN is a sub-unit of the 525 BfSB). The Battalion's motto, "STRENGTH THRU INTELLIGENCE" appears on the crest. The campaigns in which the Battalion has participated are listed along the top and bottom.

He gave me this particular coin because I used my own personal equipment to get some pictures onto a CD for him. He had come up to FOB Sykes to check on the company and to preside over a promotion ceremony for one of our Lieutenants. Several pictures were taken, but LTC Cox needed them put on a CD. Well, F Co was in the process of moving from FOB Sykes down to COB Speicher and all of our equipment was packed up. Not to be thwarted, I went back to my hooch and grabbed my personal lap top and CD burner. Upon discovering that I was using my own personal equipment to accomplish a mission, LTC Cox was impressed. He felt that I had gone "above and beyond the 'call of duty'." For my efforts, he presented me with the above pictured coin. Now, for my part, I just figured that I was only doing my job. I didn't realize that I had done anything special. I just knew that my Battalion Commander needed pictures put on a CD and I was going to get it done for him, if there was any possible means of getting it done. I think that LTC Cox was the first person, besides my Drill Sergeants in Basic and AIT, to recognize my potential in the Army.

COL Cox, if you ever read this post, know that this one is for you. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration.