Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

This special coin salutes the outstanding service record of Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Attacked by the Japanese minutes prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the base lost 27 Catalina flying boats and 18 sailors. From that moment forward the base trained thousands of Navy and Marine pilots for land, sea, and carrier operations that—once unleashed—defeated the enemy.

In 1994 the US Marine Corps consolidated all of its installations in Hawaii, and Kaneohe Bay became Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Comprised of Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 24, and 3rd Radio Battalion, the base provides electronic intelligence and tactical support, and maintains three squadrons of CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters, with attending maintenance and logistics squadrons.

The Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii challenge coin is minted in bronze with an antique finish. The obverse features Hawaiian King Kamehameha overlooking an outline of the Islands, with “Marine Corps Base Hawaii—Kaneohe Bay.” King Kamehameha was a great warrior, diplomat and leader, who united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom. The reverse is the United States Marine Corps insignia.