H-13 Sioux Helicopter - Engravable

H-13 Sioux Helicopter  - Engravable

The Bell H-13 Sioux first entered military service in 1948 as a three-seat observation and basic training helicopter that performed observation, reconnaissance, and MEDEVAC operations. The Sioux was named after the renowned Native American tribe, establishing a tradition of naming US Army rotary-wing aircraft that continues to this day. The H-13 Sioux quickly earned the soldier’s respect during the Korean War by scouting for enemy troop movements and rescuing the wounded from the field, carrying them swiftly to the nearest medical unit.

When used in the MEDEVAC role, protective stretcher pods were mounted on each skid. This feature helped the H-13 Sioux earn the nickname “Angel of Mercy” for evacuating more than 18,000 casualties during the Korean War. One source credits a single H-13 pilot with moving more than 900 personnel through 545 sorties in a term lasting a mere 14 months.

The H-13 proved its value in MEDEVAC service, reconnaissance, wire-laying, mission liaison, general service, and even pilot training roles. The MEDEVAC service alone was crucial to military operations across the Peninsula. The spartan helicopter could carry two injured over the challenging Korean terrain faster than any vehicle. Known to millions for its iconic role in the long-running television series M*A*S*H, the Bell H-13 Sioux was manufactured in 20 different configurations and was flown by more than 40 different countries.

Minted in the USA from solid bronze using special deep-relief coining dies, and hand-finished with an antique patina for exceptional quality and detail, this coin displays the H-13 Sioux helicopter in incredible detail. The obverse of the coin shows an H-13 in midflight patient evacuation, with profiles of the helicopter in the background and a special clear epoxy dome covering the chopper's cockpit. The reverse has the proud Army motto “This We’ll Defend” above an open space perfect for engraving a name or personal message, with the army core values along the outer edge: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service, Honor, Integrity, Courage.