General Note: The 1st "Spiders" Challenge coin. Coin is oval in shape with a gold border around the entire coin. The front of the coin has text "Spiders" in gold on a black background at the top. Beneath that is an image of a spider over a helicopter on a red background. To the left is the text "Alpha" in black with a gold outline. To the right is the text "4/3 AVN" in black with gold outline. Beneath the spider and helicopter image is a white spider web outlined with gold. On the web is a blue scroll across the bottom of the coin. The scroll has the text "188th AHC EST 1968" in gold. The back of the coin is black. On the top is the text “Spider for life” in gold. Beneath that is the image of a spider with the text “Guns” on the left and “Up” on the right. Beneath the image of the spider are images of unit patches. On the left is an image of the 101st Airborne unit patch. The center is an image of the unit patch of the 1st Aviation Brigade. To the right is the insignia of 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment. Beneath the unit insignias is a gold bar. Beneath the gold bar to the left is the insignia of the rank of Captain with the text “Spider 06” To the right is insignia of the rank of First Sergeant with the text “Spider 07” beneath. Below that is the text “Coin of Excellence” which follows the bottom of the coin. Coin measures approximately 2 x 1 3/8 x 1/8 inches.

Perma Link: https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=069museum5103

Citation: Old Spiders A Company 4/3 AVN Challenge Coin, 069museum5103. No Date, Richard (Dick) Detra Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=069museum5103, Accessed 27 Jan 2026.

Pub Credit Line: 069museum5103, Richard (Dick) Detra Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University

Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive