This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

I once went to a small business and tech conference in San Francisco,

and among all the people hobnobbing in hoodies or khakis,

a man emerged in full military attire. Dark green uniform with ribbons

on his chest and tiny pins all perfectly affixed, crew cut, whole nine yards.

He was a Marine lieutenant colonel, and he was by far,

the most interesting person in the room.

I was just glued to him.

Anyways, we parted ways. He handed me this coin-like thing.

I mean, it was bigger than a coin.

It was about an inch and a half in diameter, ornately decorated with the icon of the

lieutenant colonel's unit, and heavier than anything I'd care to keep in my wallet.

I felt incredibly honored, but I didn't know what it was or what the hell I was supposed to do with it.

I also got a coin-like thing. It was from a tour guide at the Pentagon.

I asked him what it was and he was like, eh, it's just something we do.

Producer Avery Truffelman. I told my housemate Ben about my coin and he was like, oh yeah, I have one of those.

It was my grandfathers.

Here it is.

I woke Ben up before I came to work, so we sound really sleepy.

So his coin is from the 101st Airborn. It's got the

101st Airborn Insignia and chose a couple of there their places that they fought.

Vietnam, World War II.

...