Cold War Victory Medal/ Certificate
Veterans Service Organizations
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Updated
December
12,
2007
Cold War Victory Medal LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Cold War Medal does NOT win legislative approval
The
House and
Senate
have
completed
reconciling
their
respective
defense
authorization
bills for
Fiscal
Year 2008.
A
Cold War
Medal
provision
was NOT
included
in the
conference
report of
the
National
Defense
Authorization
Act for
2008 in
the
section of
the law
entitled:
SUBTITLE
F--DECORATIONS
AND AWARDS
Article: Veterans fight for Cold War medal (October 18, 2007)
Article: Why a Cold War Medal?
_______________
The following provision was included in the House of Representatives version of
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. It did NOT become law despite the fact that it was passed/agreed to in The House by a recorded vote of 397 in favor, 27 against]SEC. 556. COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL.
(a) Authority- Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 1135. Cold War Victory Medal
`(a) Medal Authorized- The Secretary concerned shall issue a service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Victory Medal', to persons eligible to receive the medal under subsection (b). The Cold War Victory Medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense , with ribbons, lapel pins, and other appurtenances.
`(b) Eligible Persons- The following persons are eligible to receive the Cold War Victory Medal:
`(1) A person who--
`(A) performed active duty or inactive duty training as an enlisted member during the Cold War;
`(B) completed the person's initial term of enlistment or, if discharged before completion of such initial term of enlistment, was honorably discharged after completion of not less than 180 days of service on active duty; and
`(C) has not received a discharge less favorable than an honorable discharge or a release from active duty with a characterization of service less favorable than honorable.
`(2) A person who--
`(A) performed active duty or inactive duty training as a commissioned officer or warrant officer during the Cold War;
`(B) completed the person's initial service obligation as an officer or, if discharged or separated before completion of such initial service obligation, was honorably discharged after completion of not less than 180 days of service on active duty; and
`(C) has not been released from active duty with a characterization of service less favorable than honorable and has not received a discharge or separation less favorable than an honorable discharge.
`(c) One Award Authorized- Not more than one Cold War Victory Medal may be issued to any person.
`(d) Issuance to Representative of Deceased- If a person described in subsection (b) dies before being issued the Cold War Victory Medal, the medal shall be issued to the person's representative, as designated by the Secretary concerned.
`(e) Replacement- Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a Cold War Victory Medal that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.
`(f) Application for Medal- The Cold War Victory Medal shall be issued upon receipt by the Secretary concerned of an application for such medal, submitted in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary prescribes.
`(g) Uniform Regulations- The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments under this section are uniform so far as is practicable.
`(h) Definition- In this section, the term `Cold War' means the period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending at the end of December 26, 1991.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
`1135. Cold War Victory Medal.'.
Contact your elected officials
Join the fight for the Cold War Medal by joining the CWVA or renewing your 2007 membership today: Join / Renew Thanks to our Honor Roll Members
Leadership Openings: The CWVA has a number of openings on our leadership team. If interested in helping us make a difference, please forward a brief résumé along with appropriate contact information and area(s) interest to:
leadership@coldwarveterans.com
The CWVA is
an aligned
organization representing the Cold War Veterans community.
The mission
of the Cold War Veterans Association is:
(1) To fight
for the rights of Cold War Veterans;
(2) To educate
people as to why the Cold War was fought and won and why vigilance must be
maintained; and
(3) To provide
a fraternal community for men and women whose patriotism binds them together.
American Legion endorses Cold War Victory Medal
EIGHTY-SIXTH
NATIONAL CONVENTION of
THE AMERICAN LEGION
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
August 31—September 2, 2004
RESOLUTION
No. 10: Awarding The Cold War Victory Medal
ORIGIN: District of Columbia
SUBMITTED BY: Convention Committee on National Security
WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces engaged the forces of international Communism continuously from the end of World War II until the disintegration of the former Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS, The United States, during this extended period, relied for its manpower source on a national service Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps made up of citizens performing their obligated duty to serve and defend the United States; and
WHEREAS, The defeat of the former Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies constituted the greatest success of American Armed Forces since the end of World War II; and
WHEREAS, Many American citizens served the nation in assigned duties without receiving tangible recognition for that service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National Convention assembled in Nashville, Tennessee, August 31, September 1, 2, 2004, That The American Legion urge the Congress to authorize and provide funding for the award of a Cold War Victory Medal to all Armed Forces members who served on extended active duty during the period 2 September 1945 through 26 December 1991, thereby commemorating service in the Cold War to eliminate the threat of a determined enemy to overpower the freely elected democracies of the world.
AMVETS endorses Cold War Victory Medal
AUGUST 12, 2004—Spokane, Washington
RESOLUTION 05-70:
CREATION OF A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COLD WAR VICTORY MEDAL
SOURCE: COLD WAR COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has authorized the Cold War Certificate for those Americans who served in the Armed Forces, or in other government agencies, during the period Sept. 2, 1945 through Dec. 26, 1991, and whose duties contributed directly to this nation’s Cold War efforts; and
WHEREAS, the 1990 Census indicates that at least 18 million Cold War veterans were alive at that time, and further estimates indicate that as many as 22 million Americans served honorably during the Cold War; and
WHEREAS, the Cold War was of such magnitude and scope that there is no comparable event in history, and therefore must be treated as singularly unique; and
WHEREAS, the American victory in the Cold War changed the world forever, and those Americans who served honorably in the Armed Forces should be recognized in the form of a medal: Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That AMVETS — [a] veterans organization which represents every Cold War veteran — proposes that Congress direct the Department of Defense to design, authorize, and supervise distribution of a Cold War Victory Medal; and be it further
RESOLVED, That all congressionally chartered and/or recognized veterans organizations, pending their individual requests, may be authorized to act as witnesses to the honorable services through visual inspection of the appropriate documents — and will at the local post level issue affidavits attesting to the eligibility of each applicant; and be it further
RESOLVED, That any requirement for posting of the award to individual military personnel records be waived, and a separate record of issuance of Cold War Victory medals be maintained.
VFW endorses Cold War Medal
104th National
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
San Antonio, Texas — August 2003
RESOLUTION
No. 471: Cold War Foreign Service Medal
Submitted by Department of
New York
To Committee on NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The intent of this resolution is:
To petition Congress to authorize a Cold War Foreign Service Medal only for all military personnel who served anywhere overseas duty during the period 2 September 1954 to 26 December 1991.
WHEREAS, Executive Order 12985, signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton, on 11 January 1996, authorized the Armed Forces Service Medal for members, who as a unit, participate in a military operation of the United States of America deemed to be significant and no armed foreign opposition is encountered or no imminent hostile action; and
WHEREAS, the Armed Forces Service Medal is a non-combat parallel of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and
WHEREAS, foreign service during America’s longest war, the Cold War between September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991, has yet to be recognized with a foreign service medal; and
WHEREAS, imminent hostile action with an armed foreign power was always a possibility during the Cold War and was a reason American troops were stationed in foreign countries that were members of NATO and SEATO or other world organizations; and
WHEREAS, American troops were killed and wounded overseas during the Cold War, yet their service has never been recognized by a campaign and/or foreign service medal; and
WHEREAS, during the Cold War, millions of United States service personnel served in foreign countries and could become significant population of male and female eligibles for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that we petition the Congress to authorize a Cold War Foreign Service Medal to recognize foreign service personnel who served in foreign countries that currently are not recognized during America’s longest war, the Cold War.
APPROVED AS AMENDED by the 104th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
ROA endorses Cold War Medal
Resolution
No. 04-14: Cold War Service Medal
WHEREAS, the Fiscal Year 2002 Defense Authorization Act encouraged the Secretary
of Defense to consider authorizing the Cold War Service Medal, for the period 2
September 1945 through 26 December 1991; and
WHEREAS, the veterans of the Cold War faithfully served our country during a
campaign of Soviet Block aggression, Eastern Europe occupation, and the constant
threat of nuclear attack; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Defense has not yet authorized the wearing of the Cold
War Service Medal on the military uniform;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Reserve
Officers Association of the United States, chartered by Congress, urge the
Congress to direct the Secretary of Defense to authorize and issue the Cold War
Service Medal.
Adopted by the National Convention June 12, 2004
Combat
Infantrymen's Association endorses Cold War Medal
Reunion of the
Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc.
6-9 October 2005, Tucson, Arizona
RESOLUTION No.
100805:
The Awarding of the Cold War Service Medal
WHEREAS, the Armed Forces of the United States of America (USA) confronted and engaged the forces of worldwide Communism continuously from the end of World War II until the dissolve of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), constituting the extended time period of 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991; and
WHEREAS, the United States of America, throughout this prolonged time period, depended upon its citizen volunteers and draftees to perform national military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to defend the USA and its allies from Communist aggression; and
WHEREAS the collapse of the USSR constituted the greatest military success for American arms and the US Armed Forces since the end of the Second World War; and
WHEREAS, those Americans who honorably served in the US Armed Forces during Cold War without explicit recognition, should now be recognized with a service medal;
Now, therefore, let it be by the Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc. in assembly during the General Membership meeting of 8 October 2005, that the Combat Infantrymen's Association, Inc. beseeches the members of the United States Congress to authorize the awarding of a Cold War Service Medal to honorably recognize all Armed Forces military personnel who served on active duty during the period 2 September 1945 through 26 December 1991, and thereby recognize their military service during the Cold War, America's longest war.
Cold
War Medal Adopted by Louisiana National Guard
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CWVA Member Dick Isaac lays wreath at Arlington in honor of fallen Cold War Heroes
CWVA made Official Partner of the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project
Cold War Victory Day Declared!
Rumsfeld declares Cold War was a war and we won it
Ex-CIA Director declares that the "Cold War [w]as the Third World War."
CWVA recognized by Kansas House of Representatives
JOIN THE COLD WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION
At 9:43PM EST on January 28th, 2003, President Bush stated that The United States of America Defeated Communism.* Now that you agree, Mr. President, when can we expect our Cold War Victory Medals?
*[Here is the relevant excerpt of President Bush's 2003 State of the Union Speech as delivered:] "Throughout the 20th century, small groups of men seized control of great nations, built armies and arsenals, and set out to dominate the weak and intimidate the world. In each case, their ambitions of cruelty and murder had no limit. In each case, the ambitions of Hitlerism, militarism, and communism were defeated by the will of free peoples, by the strength of great alliances, and by the might of the United States of America."