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Ok, I know there are a number of discussions about the proliferation of awards but I have a slightly different question.
What is your opinion on the "Cold War Medal"?
Those of us that served between wars from 1945 through 1991 did not receive any recognition for keeping the Nuclear Peace. Over the years, bills have been introduced in five separate Congress' for the authorization of a Cold War Victory Medal or Cold War Service Medal. To date bills have successfully passed both houses but get stripped out in committee. All medal bills have been vehemently opposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. On February 17, 2011, Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) and on May 24, 2011, Representative Steve Israel (NY-2) reintroduced legislation in the Senate and House, respectively, that the Secretary of Defense concerned may issue a service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Service Medal', to Cold War veterans who meet the criteria.
If the concern is cost of distribution of the Medal, I, for one, would be willing to obtain my own. I just feel that there needs to be more recognition than the cheesy piece of paper that has been authorized. What say you?
What is your opinion on the "Cold War Medal"?
Those of us that served between wars from 1945 through 1991 did not receive any recognition for keeping the Nuclear Peace. Over the years, bills have been introduced in five separate Congress' for the authorization of a Cold War Victory Medal or Cold War Service Medal. To date bills have successfully passed both houses but get stripped out in committee. All medal bills have been vehemently opposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. On February 17, 2011, Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) and on May 24, 2011, Representative Steve Israel (NY-2) reintroduced legislation in the Senate and House, respectively, that the Secretary of Defense concerned may issue a service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Service Medal', to Cold War veterans who meet the criteria.
If the concern is cost of distribution of the Medal, I, for one, would be willing to obtain my own. I just feel that there needs to be more recognition than the cheesy piece of paper that has been authorized. What say you?
Posted in these groups: 
Cold War
Cold War
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 211
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I say a medal is well deserved and what does it hurt to show recognition for those that served during that time.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth - It's a commemorative medal and isn't "officially" supposed to be worn in uniform.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
CPT (Join to see) - not by someone that is active duty, that's what I was told by admin when I was in.
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SFC Leon Amer
when looking for t-shirts, hats and such to show my Veteran pride I also see a bunch of commemorative ribbons and medals at MedalsOfAmerica.com, but as a retiree, with 20 years-worth of chest candy and not being a very big fella, if I added a comm. for every event I was part of or had been officially recognized for, the rack would reach up too high and my jump wings would be under the shoulder loop of the jacket LOL ! If I was 6ft 9in instead of 5ft 7in, maybe ... but I do have a Cold War Vet t-shirt
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LTC Jason Bartlett
6yrs or so
Since this post. Still no movement on recognizing Cold War Veterans with a medal:(
Since this post. Still no movement on recognizing Cold War Veterans with a medal:(
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Talk about torn emotions. I really did not realize the some vets of the Cold War were NOT authorized the NSDM. Since I was on Active Duty from 1966 to 1996 I received TWO NSDM and really do not need a new medal, BUT if there are military members out there who were not recognized for their service, then YES we do need a MEDAL, not just a certificate (which I have) that covers the Cold War. <div><br></div><div>So, in light of the above I have to say YES. We really do need a Cold War (or Warrior) Medal. This is needed to make sure those who did NOT receive a NSDM get the recognition they so fully deserve!</div>
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MSgt David Peter
The two National Service Defense Medals you earned were for being on active duty during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War and are not awarded for Cold War service. I believe that people who served during the Cold War and helped protect the world from nuclear war definitely deserve the recognition of a Cold War Victory Medal.
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SPC John Parmenter
As a teenage Volunteer, I served in the Ground Observer Corps (most RP Members never heard of the Cold War GOC). We were trained & organized by the U.S. Air Force to scan North America's skies for Soviet air intrusion & strikes. Ground Observer Corps was deactivated in 1958 following deployment of sophisticated radar systems. I was awarded GOC "wings" & other medals & certificates for duty hours served. The Cold War Service Certificate does not recognize Volunteer service. My U.S. Army service (1961-1967) included a tour behind the Iron Curtain in West Berlin. For that unique tour, I was awarded a World War II Army of Occupation Medal (1945-1990) & U.S. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (14 AUG 1961-01 JUN 1963). In my time, "fruit salad" was worn by combat Veterans -- it never occurred to me that medals should be awarded for non-combat service. I felt fortunate to have my two "been-there buttons" -- Berlin service was unusual in that we were surrounded & confronted hostile forces daily for nearly a half century.
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PO1 Thomas B.
Thank you Master Chief. That was the gist of my post. Those of us that served but not during a conflict received nothing. If you look at the numbers... More military people died during this "Peace" time than a number of other declared wars/conflicts. Military service is placing your live on the line. Many unexpected things can happen.
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<span style="color: rgb(55, 64, 78); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12 [login to see] 91406px; line-height: 18px;">I served during these times. We had enough threats during the time I was in, just after Viet Nam. We were put on alert when N. Korea killed 3 American officers, alerted when Russian subs off the coast of California were found monitoring my unit's work. Then Libya, Grenada, Panama. Not to mention the Iron Curtain and threat of MAD.</span><br style="color: rgb(55, 64, 78); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12 [login to see] 91406px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="color: rgb(55, 64, 78); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12 [login to see] 91406px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: rgb(55, 64, 78); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12 [login to see] 91406px; line-height: 18px;">I helped develop the equipment and weapons that carried us through today's conflicts. Not even authorized for the NDSM.</span><br style="color: rgb(55, 64, 78); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12 [login to see] 91406px; line-height: 18px;">
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PO3 Paul Barger
SGT Dale Jackson Sr. - I am a "Red Devil" also Sgt Jackson 1/55th air defense 1983-86. Grenada was going on then. Looking back on this question I also agree on a Cold War Medal. As one of those service members I served in the Navy first from 78-82 I was involved in the Iran Hostage Crisis being stationed in the Persian Gulf. From 83-86 I was a Stinger Missile Team Chief at Ft Polk, 3 years Navy reserves and 3 years Air Force reserves after that. As stated above many events happened in those Cold War years that were not really recognized by anything, Like Check Point Charlie, Korea, Grenada, Libya just to name a few, and yes there were many killed or hurt during those years. The least they could do is recognize the sacrifices of the military personnel, by those Govt officials that did nothing but sit on their butts and make decisions that affected all of us in one way or another. God Bless Our military past, Present and future.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Maj Marty Hogan SPC Margaret Higgins COL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover Lt Col Charlie Brown Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. PVT Mark Zehner Sgt (Join to see) SSG Michael Noll SSG Robert Mark Odom SGT (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence SGT Steve McFarland CPL Douglas Chrysler PO3 Craig Phillips PO3 Bob McCord Maj Kim Patterson LTC Wayne Brandon
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SGT Steve McFarland
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I was in from '74 to '77, and all I got was the NDSM.
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