Round shaped poker chip, black and gray in color, 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Click to enlarge
Unit/Organization Information
  • Montana Army National Guard
  • Combat Aviation Brigade
  • 34th Infantry Division
  • 1st Battalion 189th Aviation Regiment
Location
Coin Location: 17G13
Homebase: Helena, Montana
Deployment: Afghanistan
Additional Information
Date Acquired: 4 March 2014
Donated by: LTC Wilkins
Copies: 1 of 1

C004548

Location: 17G13

Coin: Command - Deployment

National Guard » U.S. Army » Aviation - Helicopters

Narrative

Round shaped poker chip, black and gray in color, 1 3/4 inches in diameter.

SIDE 1 -

SIDE 2 -

Journal - Page 103 - Line 24

The nickname, "Vigilantes", refers to a period in Montana history when law enforcement had a very low profile in the territory. The tradition of vigilante justice began in the 1860's in what was then a remote part of the eastern Idaho Territory. At this point, the territorial courts had very little power in the remote mining camps of what would eventually become western Montana. Vigilantes first came into existence to bring order to what was becoming a lawless community. Lawbreakers in the area were encouraged to get out of town by being left a message featuring the numbers 3, 77, and 7.

The warning was that, if they didn't leave, they would inherit a plot 3 feet wide, 77 inches long and 7 feet deep, the usual demensions of a Montana grave.