McChord Air Force Base

Located adjacent to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, McChord Air Force Base is named in honor of U.S. Army Colonel William C. McChord, one of the chief architects of American military aviation.

Originally dedicated as McChord Field in 1940, the air base has played an important role in securing America’s defense and strengthening the nation’s military arsenal for more than 65 years. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Colonel Jimmy Doolittle recruited volunteers from McChord for his secret bombing mission to Tokyo. At least 10 aircrew with McChord training participated in the 1942 Doolittle raid launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet. Today, McChord is home to the 62nd and 446th Air Mobility Wings and serves as a critical component of Air Mobility Command (AMC). During World War II, throughout the Cold War, and today in the midst of the War on Terrorism, McChord Air Force Base has strengthened America’s global reach.

This coin honors the distinguished heritage of McChord Air Force Base and salutes all the brave men and women who support this installation. The obverse features a montage that reflects both McChord’s history and its ongoing mission. In the foreground is a C-17 Globemaster, the main strategic air mobility platform utilized by McChord-based units. Two hangars are depicted in the shadow of Mount Rainier.

The HC-130 can fly in the day against a reduced threat or fly night, low-level, air refueling and airdrop operations using night vision goggles (NVG). It can fly low-level NVG tactical flight profiles to avoid detection. To enhance the

Minted in a brass alloy and gently brushed with an antique bronze finish, this coin is struck using special “splash” dies, which give the design an exceptionally high relief.