The 12 O'clock Appointment

This is a story about a coin. It is a favorite story of mine about a coin that Brian gave to a doctor and a nurse, but before I tell it, you need to know the history of military coins. The following words come from the package that held the coin in this story. It is called the Armor of God coin.

History of Unit Coins

“According to tradition, military coins (also known as unit coins, commander’s coins and memorial coins) originated during World War I, when a bronze medallion carrying the insignia of his squadron saved a young American pilot from execution. As it did then, carrying a military coin today represents membership to the organization minted on the coin. Commanders use the coin to improve morale, honor exemplary service and foster unity. The coin should be carried with one always as its gift is a mark of trust and its presence a reminder of duty and allegiance. This special medallion was minted for warriors belonging to the Army of God as Paul states in Ephesians 6:12-13. On one side of the coin are two shields bearing the letters “RWH,” which stand for Return With Honor. This reminds us of the importance of not just serving but serving honorably.”

When Brian went through his stem cell transplant, we were both anxious about what he was about to endure, but like a good soldier, he did not show his anxiety. I may have shown mine a little, but let’s move on. When it was time for his transplant, we were transferred from Brian’s oncologist to the stem cell oncologist. We were told we would be in the care of this new oncologist and his team for the entire transplant and for 100 days following, then we would return to our regular oncologist.

This new oncologist worked exclusively with three amazing nurses at Huntsville Hospital. The four of them constituted the stem cell team and they worked closely with nurses on that wing of the hospital. This team of nurses and this doctor explained to us in detail what would happen in the days ahead and assured us they would be there for us for anything we needed. The whole team did exactly what they said they would do. They walked us through the entire transplant and like clockwork, everything they said he would experience, he did.

When Brian was discharged, he returned to CCI regularly for checkups. On the second visit after his discharge, it had become well known that this oncologist was retiring and this would be our last visit with him and his nurse. When that office visit was almost over, Brian said he had something for each of them.

He handed both the oncologist and his nurse an Armor of God coin. They each took the coin and looked at it closely. Brian explained the image on the front of the coin, which was a soldier in battle armor. He went over each piece of the armor. He said, the soldier had on, what the book of Ephesians describes as the armor of God. The soldier wore a belt, which constitutes the belt of truth, his breastplate represented the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet, salvation. His boots represented the Gospel of peace. He held in his hand a shield which is shield of faith and the sword represents the sword of the Spirit. Then Brian asked them to turn the coin over and if they looked near the bottom, they would see on each side two small gold shields. On the shield, they would see the letters RWH. He explained the letters stand for Return With Honor.

He went on to say, “For the military person, when they go off to combat, they follow the laws of combat, they follow the laws of civility and come back with honor.” Then he said, “For the Christian, every day we should fight the good fight and run the good race, so at the end of the day, we should return with honor.” Then he told the doctor and the nurse, “I think you all do that. Every day you both are on the front lines and you enter into battle of fighting this disease. So, keep this coin with you and at the end of each day, return with honor.”

The doctor and the nurse each expressed their appreciation at the thoughtfulness of the small gift and there may or may not have been a tear or two shed in that room that day. It was emotional to know this doctor was retiring and moving back home and we were not likely to see him again, so Brian wanted to give them something unique and special. I think he did just that.

Several weeks later, I began volunteering there and one day I passed the nurse who Brian gave the coin to and I asked her if she remembered Brian. She reached into her lab coat pocket and pulled out the coin.

She said it was with her every day.