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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 12 y ago
Responses: 210
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Sign the petition: Authorize and create a Cold War Service Medal
I just signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama: Millions of veterans served during the Cold War and never received recognition or any type of award. Tell Congress to pass S.402, and H.R. 1968 The Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011. Tell President Obama to remember his pledge to honor Cold War Veterans, use an Executive Order to create this medal.
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This is the site where you can request the certificate: https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20and%20Decorations%20Branch%20-%20Cold%20War%20Certificate%20Program
Its run by the US Army but any DoD employee/service member from any branch can apply for the certificate. To this date no medal has been authorized that I know of.
"The Department of Defense will not be creating a Cold War Service medal, and commemorative medals being sold by private vendors are not authorized for wear on military uniforms. Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen approved a Cold War Recognition Certificate in 1999, and the Army, as executive agent, has been responsible for issuing them to any eligible applicant.
The certificate recognizes all service members and federal employees who faithfully served in the U.S. military during the Cold War era. For certificate purposes, that era is the end of World War II, Sept. 2, 1945, to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Dec. 26, 1991."
Its run by the US Army but any DoD employee/service member from any branch can apply for the certificate. To this date no medal has been authorized that I know of.
"The Department of Defense will not be creating a Cold War Service medal, and commemorative medals being sold by private vendors are not authorized for wear on military uniforms. Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen approved a Cold War Recognition Certificate in 1999, and the Army, as executive agent, has been responsible for issuing them to any eligible applicant.
The certificate recognizes all service members and federal employees who faithfully served in the U.S. military during the Cold War era. For certificate purposes, that era is the end of World War II, Sept. 2, 1945, to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Dec. 26, 1991."
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SGT (Join to see)
Yes, s draft dodger who came back after the pardon and spent one day as a janitor for the Post Office before the wall came down is eligible for the Cold War Certificate. Is this really appropriate recognition for military service members?
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Pardon my ignorance. What is it? I am a Cold War vet and have never been informed.
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SPC Richard White
The Cold War Victory Medal is both an official medal of the National Guard and an unofficial military medal of the United States. It is awarded by the States of Louisiana and Texas, and in ribbon form only by the State of Alaska. In the medal's unofficial capacity it can be purchased, but not worn in uniform. It may be worn by any member of the United States military, or civilian employees of the federal government, who served in their positions honorably during the years of the Cold War, specifically September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
It is an official NG medal only authorized in those 3 states. Generally state medals are awarded but not worn and take precedence below all federal awards. There are a few commemorative versions of a Cold War medal/victory medal but as SPC Richard White alludes to, they are neither official nor authorized for uniform wear.
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They didn't come out with a medal you couldn't wear. They created a certificate. Awards manufacturers like Medals of America and the like created commemorative medals that you can wear, but that's all they are, unofficial, commemorative medals.
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I also am not authorize the NDSM, This is the first time I heard of the Cold War Victory Medal, however I did get a certificate.
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Seems odd that they would honor those individuals with an award and not let them wear it. If you earned it you should be allowed to wear it.<div><br></div><div>Just my .02</div>
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Absolutely! I served from 1967 to 1990. I received my Vietnam service medal, but I was also in the Med and the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and all through the Pacific keeping the Russians from doing something stupid, out of 23 years in the Navy, I served 14 years of sea duty. And lets not forget that many in the military service died during the the cold war, maybe not from enemy action, but rather by being part of our single best weapon to keep the peace, shear military presence! Literally hundreds of patriots died during the course of the Cold War, that might be alive today had the Cold War not existed! Yes, an award should be issued for service during the Cold War.
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I would say yes, it may have been "cold" but tell that to the guys who died, too many from enemy action.
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I sent for my certificate a couple of years ago and put in a frame. There was actually a mention of the ribbon in the '80's, but you had to purchase it.
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