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seaneagan
Topic :   5 more cosponsors for H. Res 900


Hi guys we picked up 5 more cosponsors for H. Res 900 . We need 5 more Republican co-sponsors to bring this to the floor for a vote.



Hi Sean,

 

We have had some luck today with additional co-sponsors.  Today we got Reps. Aderholt, Rehberg, Bartlett, Emerson, and Mike Rogers to sign on.  If we get five more Republican cosponsors the legislation should be able to go to the floor very soon!

 

Mariah

 

MAJ Mariah Smith
Defense Fellow
Congressman Steve Israel (NY-02)


11/20/2009 21:45:39


seaneagan
Topic :   letter to obama

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?letter_id=4294799191

Photo: President Obama

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Letters To Leaders

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Letters To Leaders


All messages are published with permission of the sender. The general topic of this message is Defense/Military:

Subject:
Cold War Service Medal

To:
President Barack Obama

November 20, 2009

Mr. President, I am contacting you to ask for your support of H.R. 4051 (Authorization of a Cold War Medal). As a Retired Senior Chief Petty Officer who voted and support you and has proudly served our country for over 22 years I believe all of us who served during that most trying time should be recognized for our service in a tangible way. I believe it's just a small token that would go a long way to say thank you to all the Veterans who were either drafted of volunteered, but did their duty. All of us hear how "politicians support the Troops", but when it come to Veterans we are the first to be forgotten. Thank you for your time. AMCS(AW/SW) John M. Branning, USN(Ret.)

Depew , NY


11/20/2009 21:39:50


Jerald Ter
Topic :   On the Iron Bunny Blog

A nice article I found on another blog

http://ironbunny.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/cold-war-veterans/

We are gaining support from all over

Jerry


11/20/2009 15:09:50


nikehercul
Re :   House Bill update

I contacted House Republican Leader Boehners office and requested that the Repubs get on board as this is a win win for Vets and Republicans.
Bill


11/20/2009 08:36:58


PastNikeVe
Re :   News Cosponsors

Duh ! I suspect where they have been forwarded { passed in the house ? } it is Senate members we need to ask for support ?

Frank T. or Sean have I got this right remember be nice I am new at this LOL

PNV


11/19/2009 15:43:45


PastNikeVe
Re :   News Cosponsors

Okay folks here is the second bill (207) please note at the end { HI } as well HCON are needed when searching Washingtonwatch.com for the latest updates as well to voice your feelings folks keep up the fire : )

HCON 207 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. CON. RES. 207

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the victory of the United States in The Cold War and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 3, 2009

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. INGLIS, Mr. COBLE, Ms. FOXX, Mr. CALVERT, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. JENKINS, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. LATTA, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mr. WAMP, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mrs. MYRICK, and Mr. WOLF) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs


CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the victory of the United States in The Cold War and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Whereas The Cold War was an enduring struggle between totalitarian communism and democratic capitalism throughout the second half of the 20th century;

Whereas an estimated 24,000,000 members of the United States Armed Forces served during The Cold War ;

Whereas 400,000,000 people were freed from the bondage of communism during The Cold War in the countries then known as the Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria;

Whereas 139,000,000 people were freed from the bondage of communism during The Cold War in the former Soviet Republics, in countries now known as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan;

Whereas the events surrounding the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of The Cold War ignited the political transition to democracy in Yugoslavia, Albania, Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Mozambique, Benin, Ethiopia, Angola, and the Congo;

Whereas the victory of the United States in The Cold War signifies freedom and security and opportunity for the formerly oppressed, and will continue to do so for decades to come;

Whereas the Fall of the Berlin Wall, one of the most significant events of the 20th century, symbolized the triumph of democratic capitalism over totalitarian communism; and

Whereas, November 9, 2009, will mark the 20th anniversary of this historic event: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the Nation should celebrate the victory of the United States in The Cold War and the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall by--

      (1) promoting education about The Cold War and its historical significance;

      (2) celebrating peace, freedom, and the principles of democratic government;

      (3) honoring and reflecting upon the role of the United States in the international struggle for individual human rights and the evolution of the free enterprise system; and

      (4) recognizing the veterans who served during The Cold War

      Thanks PNV


11/19/2009 15:31:31


PastNikeVe
Re :   News Cosponsors

Here is thr correct bill and as you can see its been passed in the House and sent on call your Senator to ask for their support on this bill.

HRES 900 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 900

Supporting the goals and ideals of a Cold War Veterans Recognition Day to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War and encouraging the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities honoring the sacrifices and contributions of those individuals.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 6, 2009

Mr. ISRAEL submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services


RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of a Cold War Veterans Recognition Day to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War and encouraging the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities honoring the sacrifices and contributions of those individuals.

Whereas the Cold War involved hundreds of military exercises and operations that occurred between September 2, 1945, and December 26, 1991;

Whereas millions of Americans valiantly stood watch as members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War ;

Whereas many Americans sacrificed their lives during the Cold War in the cause of defeating communism and promoting world peace and stability; and

Whereas May 1 is an appropriate day to observe a Cold War Veterans Recognition Day: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

      (1) supports the goals and ideals of a Cold War Veterans Recognition Day to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War ; and

      (2) encourages the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities honoring the sacrifices and contributions of those individuals.



      Thank folks PNV



11/19/2009 15:24:42


seaneagan
Topic :   House Bill update

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1] - 11/17/2009

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5] - 11/17/2009

Rep Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1] - 11/17/2009

Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [D-NY-24] - 11/17/2009

Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [D-NY-1] - 11/16/2009

Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [D-VA-11] - 11/17/2009

Rep Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] - 11/17/2009

Rep Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7] - 11/17/2009

Rep Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] - 11/17/2009

Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-14] - 11/17/2009

Rep Hall, John J. [D-NY-19] - 11/17/2009

Rep Harman, Jane [D-CA-36] - 11/17/2009

Rep Heinrich, Martin [D-NM-1] - 11/17/2009

Rep Higgins, Brian [D-NY-27] - 11/17/2009

Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22] - 11/17/2009

Rep Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] - 11/17/2009

Rep Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] - 11/17/2009

Rep Loebsack, David [D-IA-2] - 11/17/2009

Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [D-NY-29] - 11/16/2009

Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-6] - 11/17/2009

Rep Murphy, Scott [D-NY-20] - 11/17/2009

Rep Ross, Mike [D-AR-4] - 11/17/2009

Rep Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-47] - 11/17/2009

Rep Sestak, Joe [D-PA-7] - 11/17/2009

Rep Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] - 11/17/2009

Rep Snyder, Vic [D-AR-2] - 11/17/2009

Rep Taylor, Gene [D-MS-4] - 11/17/2009

Rep Tonko, Paul D. [D-NY-21] - 11/17/2009

Rep Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10] - 11/17/2009

Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9] - 11/17/

 

Sean, Good news, Rep. Higgins has signed on to both H.R. 4051 and H.Res.900!  Mr. Israel got a lot of signatures on the floor Tuesday and Wednesday for H.Res.900.  In addition to the 30 above for H.Res.900 we also have Reps. Franks, McMahon, Glenn Thompson, Owens, Moore, and McGovern who signed on today.

 

Since we want this to be a bipartisan bill and Thompson and Franks have already signed on, we hope to increase the amount of Republican cosponsors.  We’d especially love to see Republican members of HASC sign onto the H.Res.


Here is list of some members we need 25 percent Republican cosponsors to get it to the floor soon.


Key Members to contact for House Res. 900 and HR H.R. 4051 The Cold War Medal Act

Buck McKeon, Ranking Member

Roscoe G. Bartlett

Mac Thornberry

Walter B. Jones

W. Todd Akin

J. Randy Forbes

Jeff Miller

Joe Wilson

Frank A. LoBiondo

Rob Bishop

Michael Turner

John Kline

Mike Rogers

 

Bill Shuster

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

K.Michael Conaway

Doug Lamborn

Rob Wittman

Mary Fallin

Duncan Hunter

John C. Fleming

Mike Coffman

Thomas J. Rooney

Todd Russell Platts




11/19/2009 15:23:25


PastNikeVe
Re :   News Cosponsors

nikeherclues1 good job brother now for the membership have contacted Senator Shaheen,Congresspersons Paul Hodes,Carol Sha-Porter asking for them to sponser.

As of the moment H Res. 900 is showing over 30 members of Congress supporting and it looks like it couls be as many for H.R. 4051 stay positive folks.

Now as to the issue about N.G. & Reserves being forgotten no folks your not out in the "Cold" it has provisions to cover in H.R. 4051 so the final product is what is going to matter when its worked out in the House & Senate also keep in mind to exclude you folks would be a first as it has not been done before.

Keep up the faith stay on target for our goals and remember be positive keep pointing to the mission and what was done !

PNV


11/19/2009 14:57:05


nikehercul
Re :   News Cosponsors

Just got off Phone with Senator Menendez's office his staff told me that he would be co sponsoring S. 2743.


11/19/2009 13:45:49


JIM WELLER
Re :   Vietnam

Thanks Jerry for posting this.  We tend to forget that Korea and Vietnam were campaigns/theaters of the Cold War.  It was a very costly war, but one that liberated millions and protected billions.


11/18/2009 18:01:18


JIM WELLER
Re :   service requirement

COLDWARRIOR,
I enjoy and am usually educated by your posts.  You have more time than most that aren't recognized as veterans.  It is a CRIME as far as I'm concerned.  Thanks for your service to our country and ACWV.  I have been recognized as a veteran, but I remember when I returned from almost four years overseas during the Cold War and being told I wasn't.  I won't stop till all our honorable Cold War veterans are recognized.  Leave no comrade behind.  The current GWOT Service Medal does not differ between Title 10 or 32, so I hope DOD writes this properly into regulation and you qualify.



11/18/2009 17:56:01


JIM WELLER
Re :   H.R.4051 (Companion Bill to S.2743)

AIR FORCE TIMES is a good avenue as are other service and VSO papers/magazines.  I have had a letter to the editor published in AF Times before.  I also tipped them about the DOD Poll.  But, be advised Bob Dorr fro AF and Military Times is not a friend of our cause.


11/18/2009 17:32:40


donnknow
Re :   is Cold War ended?

Would Russia really use nuclear weapons against neighbors?


A new Russian doctrine – which says it can use nuclear weapons preemptively against small regional adversaries – is seen either as a sign of aggression or bluster to mask insecurity.

from the November 15, 2009

The Kremlin is drafting a new military doctrine, due by year's end, that may authorize the armed forces to use nuclear weapons not only to counter a massive conventional attack but even to launch a preemptive strike against a small regional adversary – such as neighboring Georgia or Ukraine – that might be deemed a threat to Russia.
...
Experts divide between those who see the new, forward-leaning nuclear doctrine as a sign that the Kremlin is becoming more menacing toward its post-Soviet neighborhood, and those who view it as an expression of extreme vulnerability at a moment when the Russian military is undergoing its most radical reorganization in almost a century.

A warning or expedient?

"It seems that even in the case of small conflicts, such as the war Russia had with Georgia last year, where there is a fear that the US or NATO might intervene," says Pavel Felgenhauer, a military expert with the opposition weekly Novaya Gazeta, "we are now going to invoke nuclear deterrence. Nobody is really intending to use nuclear arms, but the point here is to warn other big powers to stay away in the event of conflicts in our own neighborhood," such as a hypothetical crisis with Ukraine over Crimea, or with Georgia over the breakaway state-lets of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, he says.

Other experts suggest the bombastic – and very public – nuclear talk might be a temporary expedient, to cover Russia's extreme weakness as it undergoes a quiet reorganization of its armed forces.

...

Scaling back Russian army

Under the military reform, the number of officers in the armed forces will be slashed from 355,000 to 150,000, while overall manpower will fall from around 1.2 million to 1 million. The most dramatic change will be the abolition of hundreds of "phantom" divisions, with officers but no troops, which were meant to be filled out in wartime through the mobilization of millions of reservists. Plans call for cutting the number of Russian Army units from the present 1,890 to just 172 by 2012.

The day of no return for the military reorganization is coming up fast, Dec. 1," says Shlykov, a former deputy chair of Russia's State Defense Committee. "At that point, Russia will have a totally new army, at least on paper. Of course, it will take a few years to bring it up to speed. Until then, we have only our nuclear weapons to rely on."

Russia currently deploys about 2,780 strategic nuclear warheads – though negotiations for a new arms-reduction deal with the US could bring that down to around 1,500 – plus another 2,000 tactical weapons.

Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces will be only slightly affected by the ongoing reform, and remain in full operational shape during the current transition, experts say.


'We envisage only small, regional wars'

Experts say the old Cold-War equation, in which numerically overwhelming Warsaw Pact legions prompted NATO to emphasize its tactical nuclear options, has been reversed since the USSR and its alliance disbanded.

"In earlier times, when we had conventional superiority," says Gen. Makhmud Gareyev, president of the official Academy of Military Sciences in Moscow, "we didn't need nuclear weapons so much. But their importance has been growing. We need to preserve the strategic parity that we had in the past."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1117/p06s13-wogn.html



11/18/2009 10:16:06


Jerald Ter
Re :   News Cosponsors

We actually do have post cards printed you can see one on the main website. If you want some contact
Dr. Frank Tims, he will be glad to send you some that you can use.

Jerry


11/18/2009 00:53:07


jcochr
Re :   H.R.4051 (Companion Bill to S.2743)

There was a nice little article in the current issue of Air Force Times (and I assume in some of the other military "Times" newspapers) about the current push for the Cold War Medal and its backing by Senator Jim Webb.  The article included a photo of Senator Webb and empasized the importance of his influential position on the Armed Services Committee.

Hopefully this will help stir up some more interest beyond the confines of this website and some of the other veteran forums and blogs.

Hopefully this time it will happen.


11/17/2009 21:18:53


coldwarrio
Re :   service requirement

Hey, I want to clarify something.  My anger isn't at ACWV or anyone on the blog.  It's at those in power that view the National Guard and Reserves as substandard.

Jim, thanks for your consolation.  I am not giving up.  I am just angry at the double standard when it comes to Guard and Reserve service and what it counts for.   We trained to the exact same standards as our AD counter parts, we just did it in less time.  Our schools had the exact same Program of Instruction (POI), and we had the exact same SQTs.  We trained just as hard, we had training casualties like the AD folks, and we had a real world mission in addition to our Civil Disturbance role and Natural Disaster roles.

It irks me that Active Duty training time and service time count for a Cold War Medal, while Guard and Reserve time does not count at all...even if all the times are added together, they don't count.  I have 3 years, 9 months, and 18 days of ACTIVE DUTY Title 32, and I don't even know how much ADT reserve time over my 17 1/2 years of service, yet I am still not considered a real veteran, because my service was Title 32.

I meant what I wrote.  Congratulations to the Active Duty folks.  You earned it.  I only wish that Guard and Reserve time was valued, too.


11/17/2009 20:50:58


coldwarrio
Re :   service requirement

Very true.  My ancestor, Thaddeus, was at first granted a pension in 1818 for his Revolutionary War service.  He had to document 2 years of service in the continentals, which he did.  He actually started out in the Connecticut Militia at the age of 16 in 1775 and served until 1783.  He started out as a foot soldier in the militia, went on to serve in the State Levies (Continental Service, including the Battle of Trenton), transferred back to the militia and into the 3rd Reg.t Connecticut Light Horse Militia, 2nd Troop, where he climbed the ranks (Quartermaster, Cornet, Lieutenant) during the war and ended up a Captain after the war in 1784.

His pension was revoked.

He applied again for the 1832 pension, documented his service again, and it was granted as a single cash pay out to his widow, my g-g-g-g-g-g-great grandmother.  You see, he actually died before receiving his pension for serving his country in the militia and Continentals for 8 long years of war and one year of peace time service.

The Army has always looked down on the Guard.  It isn't right.  A lot of the glory that the Army claims was actually earned by the Militia/National Guard.  So much for honor in their code. 

The militia were the majority of troops during the Mexican-American War, at the start of the American Civil War, and during the Spanish-American War.The Battle of San Juan Hill...you got it, Rough Rider MILITIA under the command of Teddy Roosevelt.  The Rainbow Division of WW 1 fame...yep, National Guard.  The National Guard made up 40% of the combat divisions in France during WW 1.  During WW II, the National Guard made up 19 Divisions.  There were 140,000 National Guard in Korea during the war.  About 23,000 Army and Air Guardsmen were called up for a year of active duty during Vietnam and about 8,700 were deployed to Vietnam.  There were 63,000 in country during Desert Storm.  All that CONUS training time doesn't count though, because we are National Guard.  That Total Force Policy of 1973, that requires all active and reserve military organizations be treated as a single force, well I guess it's just a d--n LIE.

You see, Active Duty training and CONUS service counts for something, while Guard and Reserve training and CONUS duty does not count.  There are still two different Armies and they still have two different criteria for awards, and if you ain't AD, you ain't nothing.

The National Guard; "Always Ready, Always There" except when awards are being handed out.


11/17/2009 20:23:11


nikehercul
Re :   News Cosponsors

Sean,
Who is the ACWV person down in South Jersey he really needs to get letters out to Senators Lautenberg and Menendez. I sent letters to their senior staff yesterday and spoke with Menendezs' Senior Staff on the phone.
Members can go to Congress.org type in their zip and pull up their Reps, there is normally a page for their staff.
Send mail to house at First Name.Last name@house.mail.gov for senators its first name_last name@senators name @senate.gov. Maybe the ACWV can purchase post cards and we can bombard the entire house and senate requesting they co sponsor both bills.
Bill


11/17/2009 20:03:38


JIM WELLER
Re :   service requirement

ColdWarrior,
Well the National Guard has always been treated as 2nd Class even back to the War of Independence, when the Continentals looked down on the Militia.


11/17/2009 19:40:59

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Honoring Cold War Veterans on NPR Weekend America 12-27-08



MISSION

The American Cold War Veterans is a nonpartisan 501c nonprofit veterans service organization incorporated in the State of Florida and founded on August 18, 2007 at The Truman Library in Independence, MO. As a group we are dedicated to all of our Brother and Sister Veterans, with special dedication to those who served during the Cold War era September 1945 to December 1991. Our Mission is to bring respect, recognition and awareness to Veterans of the Cold War era no matter what branch of service, whether active duty, reserve or National Guard. We are committed to honoring the sacrifices made by millions of American men and women during the Cold War, especially those who paid the ultimate price of life or liberty. We intend to see that the Cold War's history is completely and accurately understood by people everywhere. We are united in these goals and speak with one voice.


NDAA 2002 - FACT


The NDAA 2002 was passed by congress October 2001 signed into Law Dec. 28 2001, In the NDAA that was approved by both houses, signed into law by the President, was the Sense of Congress to authorize the Campaign Medal for service in the Cold War.

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002

115 STAT. 1118 PUBLIC LAW 107–107—DEC. 28, 2001 Code, that the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to that individual is warranted and that a waiver of time restrictions prescribed by law for recommendation for such award is recommended.

SEC. 556. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN MEDALS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should consider authorizing—

  1. the issuance of a campaign medal, to be known as the Korea Defense Service Medal, to each person who while a member of the Armed Forces served in the Republic of Korea, or the waters adjacent thereto, during the period beginning on July 28, 1954, and ending on such date thereafter as the Secretary considers appropriate;

  2. the issuance of a campaign medal, to be known as the Cold War Service Medal, to each person who while a member of the Armed Forces served satisfactorily on active duty during the Cold War; and

  3. the award of the Vietnam Service Medal to any member or former member of the Armed Forces who was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for participation in military operations designated as Operation Frequent Wind arising from the evacuation of Vietnam on April 29 and 30, 1975.


The Medal was not created! Why?

Were Cold War veterans casualties of the Iraq War planning?

We will continue to fight!

Wikipedia Background - Cold War Victory Medal




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