I agree as well Jim. That post was very well thought out.

It's funny when people ask how the Russian's will react to a Victory Medal.

For Russian-Americans who fled and have been resisting the communist's takeover of their country (like my family) for the past 100 years, I believe that there would be dancing in the streets! Maybe the ACWV could solicit some of the American Russian (and other pro-democratic former communist controlled populations like the Polish, etc.) organizations here for support. I think non-profit organizations like the Russian Nobility Association in America, Inc. for example might offer support a CWVM.

I also believe that the Russians of today's democratic Russian Federation, regardless of Putin and the "old guard", would welcome it as a defining moment for their own country and their own liberation from Stalinist oppresion.
 
For communists in any country I think they would be pissed-off, but who really cares. What are they going to do, start another war? Certainly the Soviet Communists who are still active don't care about us or our military veterans and are more than happy to "rub our noses in it". Just check out the official "Medal to a Veteran-Internationalist", established in 1998:


 

The Reverse shows writing along the edge, "To a participant of National Liberation Movement" and, in the center, the list of faraway places where Soviets troops got involved over the years: Spain, North Korea, Cuba, Middle East, Vietnam, Afghanistan.
 

This is one of the "alternative medals" issued by the Communist-run Congress of Peoples Deputies of the USSR - legislative body of the Soviet Union that continues to operate even now, years after the Soviet Union's collapse!

Personally, if my government cares what Russian communists think at this stage of the game, I think they have severely missed the boat and they will be missing my vote!

Again, only my own two passionate cents.
David Fofanoff

(Message edited by AIRCAV1ID On 05/27/2008 15:13:23)

The Russians are building massive numbers of pipelines to transport natural gas into western Europe.  Keep Putin happy and he will allow the gas to flow.  Make him angry, and he will shut off the gas like a lawn spicket. Perhaps he will. Perhaps he will not.  Putin is very short fused about anything bad about his beloved former, Soviet Union.  He knows he lost the Cold War.  We know he lost it.  So, our liberals in the Congress do not wish to upset Putin by granting a "victory medal" to us former Cold War Vets.  Our government does not wish to cause any other energy problems with our so called European 'Allies."  We all know that this is a big joke.  Maybe this is one of the arguments our government gives for not granting a victory medal along with their duplication of already existing medals and or the cost factors.

  I look at it this way. I couldn't care less if anything I, my buddy veteran's, or my government does, or says, upsets the Russians.
  Sa far as the Lilly livered polititians are concerned, I put the commemorative Cold Way VICTORY ribbon just below, in order of precidance,  my AFEXM on my Boonie Hat, when I go to the V.A. Clinic, and WOE BE IT to ANYONE who says ANYTHING about it. So far, everyone who has asked me about it, has aggreed with my actions. 

Just above, our Guest said: "So, our liberals in the Congress do not wish to upset Putin by granting a "victory medal" to us former Cold War Vets". A short history lesson for Guest; it was two liberals, Senator Clinton and Rep. Andrews who introduced legislation year after year. Co-sponsors for the most part, Dermocrats or "liberals" put their money where their mouth is. Seems to me the "conservatives" are standing in the way of passage of the bills.

Seems if anything negative for Veterans pops up, a "liberal" will get the blame, regardless of the facts. Stay focused now. When liberal Webb introduced the new GI Bill, conservative McCain said no! It passed anyway thanks to a majority of liberals.

Damn, is this way off topic or what!

Okay, back to the medal name issue!

Dear Mr. Fofanoff,

I thought that I saw an earlier posting where you listed an affiliation with the Catholic War Veterans Association.  If I have this incorrectly, please excuse,  I can't seem to find the actual reference here ,
albeit, after only a very short serch I did of recent postings.  But if this is correct, can you tell me if Catholic War Veterans Association presently accepts Cold War veterans from the entire Cold War period as members, and do the CWV support by resolution issuance of a Cold War Medal?

Thank you.

T.S.B.

How many liberal senators have signed onto the Cold War Medal Act besides Hilliary and Charles "chuckie cheese" Schumer?

Any medal that has an AK-47 dead center in it is my kind of medal! Way kewl (as the youth are wont to say). Dang! Looks like I signed up for the wrong side - all I got was a lousy certificate!

USMC_Kinda_Guy

Conservative congressmen/politicians generally supported giving us the tools and policies that allowed us to win the Cold War.  We wouldn't even be bringing up the possibility of a Victory Medal without them.  But, Paul is right in that the support of both sides is required to achieve our goals.

I know this note wasn/t meant for me, however, I felt obliged to answer you.  I was a member of this group years ago for about a year out of Maryland.  Just about same requirements as AMVETS eh?

CWV MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY

Any person who is both an American Citizen and a Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States as herein defined is eligible for membership in the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America Inc. An applicant shall be a member of the Catholic Church, enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned into any branch of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and/or including the National Guard or Reserve components, and who has served at least 90 days on active duty and who now has a discharge under honorable conditions - and shall include those who have served less than 90 days and are honorably discharged because of a disability incurred in the line of duty or any person currently on active duty or currently serving in the National Guard or Reserves. Also eligible are the U. S. Merchant Marines, provided that such applicant who has served in the Merchant Marines, served at least 90 days between 7 December 1941 to 15 August 1945, including service in the U. S. Army Transport Service or the Naval Transport Service.

I aslo want to ad...

August 17, 1984 - President Ronald Reagen signs legislation granting the Catholic War Veterans a Congressional Charter.  CWV is the only Catholic organization so honored.

(Message edited by 29Palms On 05/29/2008 08:42:13)

Hi T.S.B.

Yes, you are correct. I did put up in an earlier signature that I am a member of the Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. in one post. I have decided not to keep putting it up because I don't want to come off as an official representative of the organization and have what I say here  reflect on any official policy of the organization, nor to have people here think that I am recruiting on the ACWV forum for the other organization.

While I'm here on the ACWV forum, I am just a Cold War Vet like the rest of you voicing my own opinions.

Also, since 29Palms posted it up, he did get the eligibility requirements for the CWV correct. Specific "wartime" service is not a requirement to join them, only active-duty service.

One of the many resolutions of the National CWV is support for a Cold War Victory Medal, although I don't have a copy of any "official resolution" to pass on.

Hope this helps.
David

The only thing I saw different with Catholic War Veterans was that it requires you to be a member of the Catholic Church.  I don't recall reading that before when I joined, or missed it, but when I joined a few years ago, I didn't provide proof of Parish.  PLAV or Polish Legion of American Veterans is a veteran organization, anyone can join regardless of ethnicity, relilgion or when you served as long as its honorable.  One thing is certain.  Poles are predominately Catholic.  Allow me to say that both of thise FINE organizations are CHARTERED BY CONGRESS just like Amvets, American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League.   

(Message edited by 29Palms On 05/31/2008 08:16:39)

I can't remember how I voted, but after some thought, I think it should be victory medal, in line with the WW1 and WW2 precedent.

Hi Everyone,

Someone earlier mentioned Title 38 U.S.C. and what constitutes "wartime" service and how medals might not be a criteria for V.A. benefits.

To answer, in terms of the V.A. benefits angle, they do use Title 38 U.S.C. for their main criteria. For example, here are the relevant definitons from Title 38, U.S.C. for Cold War Veterans (I'm paraphrasing below from the January 3, 2006 version, the full text of the code can be found here: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+38USC101


TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS

                       PART I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

                           CHAPTER 1--GENERAL

Sec. 101. Definitions

    For the purposes of this title--

(2) The term ``veteran'' means a person who served in the active
military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released
therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

(11) The term ``period of war'' means the Spanish-American War, the
Mexican border period, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict,
the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, and the period beginning on the
date of any future declaration of war by the Congress and ending on the
date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of
the Congress.

(12) The term ``veteran of any war'' means any veteran who served in
the active military, naval, or air service during a period of war.

(6) The term ``Spanish-American War'' (A) means the period beginning
on April 21, 1898, and ending on July 4, 1902, (B) includes the
Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion, and (C) in the case of
a veteran who served with the United States military forces engaged in
hostilities in the Moro Province, means the period beginning on April
21, 1898, and ending on July 15, 1903.

(30) The term ``Mexican border period'' means the period beginning
on May 9, 1916, and ending on April 5, 1917, in the case of a veteran
who during such period served in Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in
the waters adjacent thereto.

(7) The term ``World War I'' (A) means the period beginning on April
6, 1917, and ending on November 11, 1918, and (B) in the case of a
veteran who served with the United States military forces in Russia,
means the period beginning on April 6, 1917, and ending on April 1,
1920.

(8) The term ``World War II'' means (except for purposes of chapters
31 and 37 of this title) the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and
ending on December 31, 1946.

(9) The term ``Korean conflict'' means the period beginning on June
27, 1950, and ending on January 31, 1955.

(29) The term ``Vietnam era'' means the following:
        (A) The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May
    7, 1975, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of
    Vietnam during that period.
        (B) The period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7,
    1975, in all other cases.

(33) The term ``Persian Gulf War'' means the period beginning on
August 2, 1990, and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by
Presidential proclamation or by law. (I believe this has been recently established as ending on November 30, 1995)

Title 38 U.S.C. still needs to be ammended to add the Persian Gulf ending date and the Global War on Terrorism campaigns etc.

The V.A. uses this "wartime" criteria exclusively for just medical / pension benefits eligibility etc. This would tend to show that medals are not connected at all to any veterans benefits. However, for veterans preferences in jobs etc. the Federal Office of Personnel Management uses slightly different criteria that includes medals as follows:

VetGuide Appendix A: Wars, Campaigns and Expeditions of the Armed Forces Since WW II Which Qualify for Veterans Preference War Service Creditable for Veterans Preference.  In the absence of statutory definition for "war" and "campaign or expedition," OPM considers to be "wars" only those armed conflicts for which a declaration of war was issued by Congress.  The title 38, U.S.C., definition of "period of war," which is used in determining benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, includes the Vietnam Era and other armed conflicts.  That title 38 definition is NOT applicable for civil service purposes.   Thus the last "war" for which active duty is qualifying for Veterans preference is World War II.  The inclusive dates for World War II service are December 7, 1941, through April 28, 1952.   Non-combat operations that are not qualifying for Veterans preference.  Many medals are awarded for non-combat operations.  These medals are not a basis for preference and include the following: Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for service from September 11, 2001, to date to be determined. The Medal of Merit for meritorious service in World War II. The Medal of Freedom for meritorious achievements or meritorious service to the United States on or after December 7, 1941, in the war against an enemy outside the continental limits of the United States. The Antarctica Service Medal for participating in a scientific, direct support, or exploratory operation on the Antarctic Continent. The National Defense Service Medal for honorable service between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954 or January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974; or for the period between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995. The Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a United States military operation deemed to be a significant activity for which there was no threat of encounter of foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal for 10 years of honorable service in a Reserve component; or active duty service in a Reserve component on or after August 1, 1990; or volunteer service for active duty on or after August 1, 1990. Military Operations Since 1937 for Which a Campaign or Expeditionary Medal Has Been Awarded, Except for Operations Occurring During a Declared War Military personnel receive many awards and decorations.  To help agencies make decisions concerning entitlement to Veterans preference and other benefits, the following list identifies those awards that are campaign and expeditionary medals. Any Armed Forces expeditionary Medal, whether listed here or not, is qualifying for Veterans preference. The Department of Defense, not OPM, determines who is entitled to receive a medal, and under what circumstances.  The list below is derived from DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of  Military Decorations and Awards. DD 214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference.   Campaigns and Expeditions Which Qualify For Veterans preference Campaign or Expedition Inclusive dates  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) A veteran's DD Form 214 showing the award of any Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is acceptable proof.  The DD form 214 does not have to show the name of the theater or country of service for which that medal was awarded.   Afghanistan (Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF)) OEF September 11, 2001, to present; OIF March 19, 2003, to present Berlin August 14, 1961, to June 1, 1963 Bosnia  (Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, and Joint Forge) ) November 20, 1995 to December 20, 1996; December 20, 1996 to June 20, 1998; June 21, 1998 to present Cambodia March 29, 1973, to August 15, 1973 Cambodia Evacuation  (Operation Eagle Pull) April 11 - 13, 1975 Congo July 14, 1960, to September 1, 1962, and November 23, to 27, 1964 Cuba October 24, 1962, to June 1, 1963 Dominican Republic April 28, 1965, to September 21, 1966 El Salvador January 1, 1981, to February 1, 1992 Global War on Terrorism September 11, 2001 to present Grenada  (Operation Urgent Fury) October 23, 1983, to November 21, 1983 Haiti Operation Uphold Democracy) September 16, 1994, to March 31, 1995 Iraq  (Operations Northern Watch, Desert Spring, Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Iraqi Freedom (OIF)) January 1, 1997 to present; December 31, 1998 to December 31, 2002 (projected); OEF September 11, 2001, to present; OIF March 19, 2003, to present Korea October 1, 1966, to June 30, 1974 Kosovo March 24, 1999 to present Laos April 19, 1961, to October 7, 1962 Lebanon July 1, 1958, to November 1, 1958, and June 1, 1983, to December 1, 1987 Mayaguez Operation May 15, 1975 to May 15, 1975 Operations in the Libyan Area  (Operation Eldorado Canyon)  April 12, 1986 to April 17, 1986 Panama (Operation Just Cause) December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990 Persian Gulf Operation  (Operation Earnest Will) July 24, 1987, to August 1, 1990 Persian Gulf Operation  (Operation Southern Watch) December 1, 1995, to present Persian Gulf Operation  (Operation Vigilant Sentinel) December 1, 1995 to February 1, 1997 Persian Gulf Operation  (Operation Desert Thunder) November 11, 1998 to December 22, 1998 Persian Gulf Operation  (Operation Desert Fox) December 16, 1998 to December 22, 1998 Persian Gulf Intercept Operation December 1, 1995, to present Quemoy and Matsu Islands August 23, 1958, to June 1, 1963 Somalia (Operations Restore Hope and United Shield) December 5, 1992, to March 31, 1995 Taiwan Straits August 23, 1958, to January 1, 1959 Thailand May 16, 1962, to August 10, 1962 Vietnam Evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind) April 29, 1975, to April 30, 1975 Vietnam (including Thailand) July 1, 1958, to July 3, 1965 Note: Section 572 of Subtitle G of the Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85), signed into law on November 18, 1997, allows the Secretary of the military department concerned to determine whether individual members who participated in Operation Joint Endeavor or Operation Joint Guard in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in such other areas in the region as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, meet the individual service requirements for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). Generally, service members will be considered eligible if they: deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (or other area that the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate) in direct support of one or both of the operations; served on board a ship in the Adriatic in direct support of one or both of the operations; or operated in airspace above Bosnia, Herzegovina (or other area that the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate) while the operations were in effect. Navy expeditionary Medal and Marine Corps Medal for these Operations: Campaign or Expedition Inclusive dates  Cuba January 3, 1961 to October 23, 1962 Indian Ocean/Iran November 21, 1979, to October 20, 1981 Iranian/Yemen/Indian Ocean December 8, 1978 to June 6, 1979 Lebanon August 20, 1982 to May 31, 1983 Liberia  (Operation Sharp Edge) August 5, 1990 to February 21, 1991 Libyan Area January 20, 1986 to June 27, 1986 Panama April 1, 1980 to December 19, 1986 and  February 1, 1990 to June 13, 1990 Persian Gulf February 1, 1987 to July 23, 1987 Rwanda  (Operation Distant runner) April 7 - 18, 1994 Thailand May 16 - August 10, 1962 Other Campaign and Service Medals Qualifying for Preference: Campaign or Expedition Inclusive dates  Army Occupation of Austria May 9, 1945 to July 27, 1955 Army Occupation of Berlin May 9, 1945 to October 2, 1990 Army Occupation of Germany  (exclusive of Berlin) May 9, 1945 to May 5, 1955 Army Occupation of Japan September 3, 1945 to April 27, 1952 Chinese Service Medal (Extended) September 2, 1945 to April 1, 1957 Korea Defense Service Medal July 28, 1954 to (date to be determined) Korean Service June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Operation Allied Force March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Operation Joint Guardian June 11, 1999 to (date to be determined) Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Operation Allied Harbor April 4, 1999 to September 1, 1999 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Operation Sustain Hope/Shining Hope April 4, 1999 to July 10, 1999 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Operation Noble Anvil March 24, 1999 to July 20, 1999 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Task Force Hawk April 5, 1999 to June 24, 1999 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Task Force Saber March 31, 1999 to July 8, 1999 Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Task Force Falcon June 11, 1999 to (date to be determined) Kosovo Campaign Medal (KCM)  Task Force Hunter April 1, 1999 to November 1, 1999 Navy Occupation of Austria May 8, 1945 to October 25, 1954 Navy Occupation of Trieste May 8, 1945 to October 25, 1954 Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM)  (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm) August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 Units of the Sixth Fleet (Navy) May 9, 1945 to October 25, 1955 Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) July 4, 1965 to March 28, 1973 Rwanda  (Operation Distant runner) April 7 - 18, 1994 Thailand May 16 - August 10, 1962

 

That was a long message so I decided to cut it off.

You'll notice above that the Victory medals of WWI and WWII do not show up as qualifying for veterans preference in the OPM manual. For their criteria, only Expeditionary Medals and selected Campaign and Service medals qualify. Further, they even restrict the timeframe for some medal criteria even further, like the NDSM for example.

So, I guess the easiest way to state things is that the issuance of a medal does not necessarily grant you exclusive veterans benefits across the board, however, medals and benefits are linked in different ways. It depends on who is determining the eligibility criteria for the specific benefit you are looking for.

Here is the big crux of the matter though and I believe any Cold War Medal would be considered a "can of worms" for DoD as follows:

If you designate the period of the Cold War as a war and define a time period and issue a Victory Medal for it, then once you've taken that step, then how do you define campaigns of the war? After that, how do you define who is eligible for campaign credit? Then if someone has official campaign credit, then they should be entitled to some recognition for their campaign service. If so, how do you honor it? Clasps on the Victory medal like WWI? Separate campaign medals for areas of service like WWII? Then, once you have designated campaigns and "medals" issued for participation in the campaigns, how do you designate benefits like other campaign and service medals?

You can see, the current awards and decorations system intertwined with the federal veterans benefits systems causes a multitude of headaches for the bean counters to sort out. Basically, they just don't want to sort it out on their own, but they will need to be ordered to do it for it to get done, just as in other times in our history.

We currently have record support in Congress for the CWVM. Last session it passed the House unamimously, it's just the Senate where it gets bogged down everytime and gets stripped out of the final bill. Tell your Senators that you're tired of their partisan games and fillibustering on the CWVM. Just work together and get it done or we don't vote for you.
 
Thanks for listening to my rant again. :-)
David

I have said similiar statements in the past in this discussion forum, as you have just stated, David.  Then after Iwould raise issues about this CWVM, I would get chopped off at the ankles.

David,
Good research and post.  The Senate is our current obstacle, but we should repress the case to the new Secretary of Defense Gates, also.  Lets, push for the medal first, then benefits.  One bite at a time.

That kills me.  Who sits back with a pad of paper and pencil and thinks.  "Ok, we have a ship on an expedition to somewhere in the middle east.  I think we should issue a CAMPAIGN MEDAL".  Who in DOD has this quite irregular job?  "Ok, lets see, these ships are in the Indian Ocean, I think we should give a campaign medal." 
Did anyone know before joining the military that the military rewarded one based on Campaign medals?  And much less, these medals means more benefits.  The U.S. government rewards the military BASED ON WHAT CAMPAIGN MEDALS you received.  How many EXPEDITIONS you made, because you were in the front lines or somewhat MORE AT RISK.  Nobody ever told me when I was in the reserves that if I went to Korea for 30 days, I could receive a campaign medal and one day get benefits.  Why dwell on the subject?  I re-educated, make more money than ever as an aircraft technician.  I fly for free.  I have bennies and insurance through my job. I can do my own personal EXPEDITIONS of my choosing, and not have to float around on ships or get treated like a cattle.  I didn't choose to reenlist either or go active duty once in reserves.

"If you designate the period of the Cold War as a war and define a time period and issue a Victory Medal for it, then once you've  taken that step, then how do you define campaigns of the war?"

That's easy, most of the existing Campaign Medals define the "campaigns" of the Cold War:

China Service Medal  (1945-57) - For Service in the China Sea and the defense of the Republic of China.

Humane Action Medal  - For service during the Berlin Airlift.

National Defense Service Medal - For service on Active Duty during "hot" parts of the Cold War.

Korean Service Medal - For Service in the Korean Conflict.

Vietnam Service Medal - For Service in the Vietnam Conflict.

Korea Defense Service Medal - For service in defense of the Republic of Korea.

The only one I think would cause a problem is the KDSM, as it's still being issued today. Maybe a "Cold War" Clasp or a "1954-1991" Date Bar to show the award is for Cold War service.

I don't think the NDSM will be a problem as it's not truely tied to a campaign or conflict.

Great follow-up Shuman.

I didn't mean to sound defeatist in any way. I believe that as you say most of the Cold War "campaigns" already have their respective campaign medals assigned.

That's why keeping the focus on the Victory Medal incarnation of the Cold War medal makes the most sense and has the most support over other medal types. It's the most simple method for recognizing the achievements of every service member who participated in our country's victory over Soviet communism and has a significant precedence already cemented into the current awards and decorations system.

From our conversations above you can see that the CWVM incarnation neither takes away from the service of someone who participated in one of the hot war campaigns, nor adds any un-earned veterans benefits to someone who didn't actually participate in combat operations. It merely adds an appropriate uniform wearable recognition device that accurately gives credit to military personnel where credit is due, and puts the Cold War into the history books as THE defining global military operation of the latter half of the 20th century for future generations of Americans to look back on with pride.

On a personal note, it also would redeem the pride in our armed forces that was lost with all of the social and political unrest of the 60s and 70s. It shows that our military service members were fighting for a cause bigger than anything the socialist agitators of the times (Have I mentioned Jane Fonda at all in this rant yet...) could even imagine given their narrow and uninformed views.

Merchant Marines of WWII got their medal finally, along with VA benefits.  They weren't even associated with the U.S. MILITARY.  I'm not saying that they don't deserve the medal.  More seaman lost their lives on ships per ratio then the military.  If they got this medal, we should definately be able to get a Cold War Victory Medal.  It's only right.  Question.  Is WWII victory medal good for veterans preferance?  Here is the criteria for it.

     

3. Criteria: The WW II Victory Medal was awarded to all military personnel for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946. 

Does this include reservist that never deployed?????

(Message edited by 29Palms On 06/04/2008 16:24:50)

29palms,
Speaking of that, I am afraid that is what is going to happen with these contractors they have in Iraq now, they are going to be given VA and Vets benefits. I think that is the reason the VA is so bogged down with people having to prove service related claims now, because once that happens, some Vets won't have a chance of getting in, ever.............

Contractors in Iraq won't get benefits from the VA EVER!  It will be a cold day in hell.  It is up to their company to provide healthcare through insurance.  In WWII, it was a FREE FOR ALL to be honest with you....you will never see it again as such.  Flying Tigers, got VA benefits.  The WASP got their VA benefits.  You heard of them didn't you?  Those were the females that flew planes from the states to England.  I think some PANAM employees that were caught up in Wake Island got VA benefits, and FILIPINOS fighting alongside Americans got it too.  Including US citizenship.  I think even reservist got benefits during WWII..It was a free for all.  They don't make em like that anymore.  

Wasps were given Veteran status in 1977 by congress, and the Air Force gave them military status in 1979..............

Some 30 years after the fact.  I calculate based on this assumption that we will get the medal in 13 more years. 

13 more years!

Well, I don't MRD until 2023, I MIGHT get to wear it on a uniform before I retire.

As of June 5th, 2008, the last time someone visited the Poll, 93 folks have answered the question. "Any Medal Recognizing the Cold War is Okay" was the most popular response by a two to one margin over all the answers combined.

The reason for rehashing the poll is simple. First, because it was buried, new members might not be aware of it and second, since traction in the Senate seems unlikely, I was just wondering if the "Any Medal" would actually become a more popular response? More popular because of fatigue, wanting to put the issue to bed and move on to the monument issue.

Mr. Dudkowski and all,

I've responded to the poll, I think we should push for a "victory" medal.  I think history will show it as a great, if not the most signal victory over the greatest threat to the free world ever faced by the United States, with thousands of casualties.  And I think award of some medal of recognition is inevitable.  Senator Clinton's influence in Senate seems key to me.  I've written her, even though I'm not from New York.  Let's keep up the communication with her so she knows there's a lot of support and interest out there.  She may see herself as champion of our common cause.  I served during this period at sea, and was never awarded any medal.  I received some "ribbons", i.e. Unit Commendation, Marksman (not a very good shot), Sea Service, "E" ribbon, but no meda.  It sure would be nice to be able to give my kids and grandkids some medal as testament that I served my country when they called.  Me and a million others.

T.B.

OMG humm T.B. we just call him Paul try to ALLWAYS REMEMBER THAT jesh Jerry,Sean or Scott try to get to Paul before he can see this or for T.B.s sake delete that passage !

Paul remember buddy hes a nubie okay/

Glen

Perhaps the DoD's logic for not issuing us a CWVM is because money can be saved to issue a Global War on Terrorism 'Victory" Medal when we pull out of the Middle East.