I have bought My own
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
South West Asia Service Medal
Liberation of Kuwait Medal ( Kingdom of Kuwait)

I was given
Liberation of Kuwait Medal ( Kingdom of Saudi Arabia )

When My DD215 reflects a Cold War Service/ Victory Medal  then I would have no problem buying that one either. Although  if I were to buy a commemorative medal, I would buy one from Foxfire and one from Medals of America, then I would combine  the bottom section of the Foxfire with the top half of the Medal of America.

I like the way the bottom section of the Foxfire looks, and I like the top half of the MoA. Those colors seem to pop.

Cannon Cocker, I've bought some of my own, too, but it shouldn't happen that way.  It would be a break with military tradition.  Where does it stop?  The cost thing is just a cop out.  I don't buy it.

Jim,

I agree, the cost is just a cop out.

While an overwhelming majority would pay for the "might never happen" medal, I found the House has laid the ground work for Veteran soldiers regarding the Combat Action Badge. Making it retroactive from December 7th, 1941 would mean millions of Veterans could become eligible. Familiar sounding when compared to a reason for not awarding a Cold War Medal. Seems like those who would want their earned CAB would be directed to purchase their own:

SEC. 575. RETROACTIVE AWARD OF ARMY COMBAT ACTION BADGE.

(a) Authority To Award- The Secretary of the Army may award the Army Combat Action Badge (established by order of the Secretary of the Army through Headquarters, Department of the Army Letter 600-05-1, dated June 3, 2005) to a person who, while a member of the Army, participated in combat during which the person personally engaged, or was personally engaged by, the enemy at any time during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on September 18, 2001 (the date of the otherwise applicable limitation on retroactivity for the award of such decoration), if the Secretary determines that the person has not been previously recognized in an appropriate manner for such participation.

(b) Procurement of Badge- The Secretary of the Army may make arrangements with suppliers of the Army Combat Action Badge so that eligible recipients of the Army Combat Action Badge pursuant to subsection (a) may procure the badge directly from suppliers, thereby eliminating or at least substantially reducing administrative costs for the Army to carry out this section.

We will see how far the CAB proposal goes.  I tried to get a state Cold War Medal approved by Pennsylvania, but I'm getting cost issues thrown up with our state budget.  They might introduce a resolution to recommend that that U.S. Congress or DOD create one.

Jim,

I am facing the same problem here in Maine. Cost is a problem, and there are some members of the legislature who were opposed to the idea.

I did manage to get a joint House/Senate resolution signed and sent to our delegation in DC last year. That sailed through in a couple of weeks.

This year attempting to get the state to at least issue a Cold War Certificate, for which there is support. It is
just getting dragged out a bit. We had hoped for May 1, then July 4 but not sure when it will happen now.

Jerry

Jim,
Here is the joint resolution from Maine, was signed by over 2/3 of members from both houses

WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Special Session, most respectfully present and petition the United States Congress as follows: 

WHEREAS, the United States Armed Forces confronted and engaged the forces of worldwide Communism continuously from the  end of World War II on September 2, 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991; and 

WHEREAS, this period is known as the Cold War, and although not technically a declared war in the traditional sense, it was a war where our citizens were committed to freedom and risked their lives; and 

WHEREAS, the United States, throughout this prolonged period, depended on its citizen volunteers and draftees to perform national military service in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard to defend the nation and its allies from communist aggression; and 

WHEREAS, the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest military success for the United States Armed Forces since the end of World War II; and 

WHEREAS, Americans who honorably served in the armed forces during the Cold War should now be recognized with a service medal; and 

WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 1097 and Senate Bill No. 1763, as well as the 2008 fiscal year's defense appropriations bill, are viable legislative vehicles to authorize and fund the medal; now, therefore, be it 

RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, respectfully urge and request the United States Congress to authorize the awarding of Cold War service medals to recognize foreign service personnel who served admirably during this period of time; and be it further 

RESOLVED: That a Cold War service medal be authorized to honorably recognize all military personnel who served on active duty during the period September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991 and thereby recognize their military service during the Cold War; and be it further 

RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation. 

READ and ADOPTED. 

Question.  What about foreign service on board ships outside the INTERNATIONAL WATERS of the USA in 1984?  I was on a ship off North Carolina and know dam well we went into international waters on board the USS HARLEN COUNTY for about 5 days.  I don't know how I would be able to prove this, only maybe unit records of that time period.  And its not listed in a DD-214 as sea service. 

I would be willing to pay for the medal.

The medal is not for my self agrandiesment.  The medal is an official recognition that the Cold War was an actual war and that those who have earned the right to wear it, participated in that conflict.  More than that, and more importantly, it is a testament and a touchstone to the defeat of Soviet Communism, the most evil and murderous government system to ever plague humanity.  It serves as a witness to succeeding generations that sacrifice, hardship, blood, sweat, tears, treasure, and lives were spent defeating the forces of evil that murdered over 100,000,000 people during the 20^th Century.  It is a memorium to those who gave their last full measure of devotion for the defense of freedom.

 

It’s not about us personally…it’s about our sacred dead, the global victims of Communism, and the future generations…lest we forget.

 

I would be willing to pay for the medal.