In 1937, the Reunion Committee of the Rainbow Division Veterans proposed a half dollar "in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the organization of the Forty-second (Rainbow) Division, American Expeditionary Forces, of the United States Army, and to perpetuate the history of the exploits of said division, and to provide a lasting memento to posterity, and to afford each veteran of said division the opportunity to possess such a memento while still living." Coin bills were introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Brazilla Carroll Reece (R-TN), and in the Senate by Senator Robert Johns Bulkley (D-OH).
The Rainbow Division Veterans held their 19th Annual Convention - July 12-14, 1937 in Columbus, Ohio and were seeking to have the coins available at the Convention - they believed strong sales would be had among veterans at the Convention.
About the origins of the Rainbow Division, from the MacArthur Memorial web site:
As the United States geared up for entry into the Great War in 1917, a unit unlike any other in the U.S. Army was formed amid considerable political and military debate. Comprised of National Guard troops from 26 states and the District of Columbia, the Chief of Staff of the newly-created 42nd Division, Colonel Douglas MacArthur, remarked that the 42nd was truly a "national" unit, with its component units stretching across the country from coast to coast "like a rainbow." The name stuck and the 42nd became known as the "Rainbow Division." 42nd "Rainbow" Division Insignia
(Image Credit: Public Domain.)Of course, MacArthur would go on to be a five-star General in the US Army and vow "I will return!" as he left the Philippines ahead of the approaching Japanese/ His promise to later return and liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation was fulfilled between October 1944 and July 1945.
Note: Post 1937, the 42nd "Rainbow" Division would go on to serve with distinction in World War II and continues to serve today. I would suggest a few internet searches for those with an interest to dig more deeply into the history of the 42nd Division.The companion bills called for up to 25,000 half dollars of standard specifications to be struck at a single US Mint facility. All coins were to bear the date "1937" regardless of when struck, and could be struck for up to one year following enactment of its legislation. The minimum order size for coins by the Reunion Committee was specified as 10,000; this limit basically meant that only one or two orders could be placed (with a cutoff at 15,000 coins if all 25,000 were not ordered at the same time).
The House bill was referred to the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures; the Senate bill to the Committee on Banking and Currency.
The coin was one of many included in a Senate Hearing in April 1937. General FD Henderson was present at the Hearing to speak on behalf of the coin proposal and address questions of the Committee. During his testimony, General Henderson stated about the coin, "It is not a commercial proposition. It is not handled by coin dealers, if this legislation is authorized, it would only be handled by the Committee." IMO, this was clear evidence of the General's awareness of the then-current negative mood in Congress about the exploitation of collectors being perpetuated by some coin dealers. (Good prep work by the General and/or his staff!)
Even with bill language that adhered to the provisions established by the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency, and the follow-up promises of appropriate handling made by General Henderson during the coin's Hearing, neither bill was reported out of its respective Committee and died for lack of action.
IMO, it was a good thing to let this one go. If it was enacted, it would have set a bad precedent and it seems likely it would have opened the door to requests from many other US military organizations. Such organizations would argue, "How could you approve the Rainbow Division coin and not approve ours?" - the situation in Congress would have gotten "difficult" to say the least!
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other What If? stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 07/22/2022 09:19 am
