COLD WAR RECOGNITION
Many who served during the Cold War Era do not know that they are entitled to the Cold War Certificate and Cold War Medal if authorized. The information enclosed gives those who served in the U.S. Military and qualified Federal Government Civilian Personnel some information as to obtaining this recognition. Who is eligible? All members of the armed forces and federal government civilian personnel who faithfully served the United States during the Cold War era, September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. Individuals requesting a certificate will certify that their character of service was honorable. Take the time to download an application from the VVnW Website at http://vvnw.org or call 1-800-VIETNAM and ask us to send you out an application. Alternatively you can go to the Cold War Certificate website at http://coldwar.army.mil Remember, you earned this recognition and although the Government is slow to process these certificates and you can expect to wait at least 6 to 12 months, take the few minutes to complete the form and send it in. If not for you, do it for your family. You can either send them in direct or you can send them via the VVnW where we will catalogue the applications and send them in on your behalf. This way we hope we can bring pressure to bear on the powers to be.
Now for the Cold War Medal, below is information relating to this recognition medal and its status. Congress has specifically called upon Defense Secretary Rumsfield to “authorize” the Cold War Medal. Here is the legislative language: 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 at
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. End
of legislative language. We are focusing on the Cold War Service Medal and to
increase the likelihood that the brave men and women who fought and won the Cold
War will be recognized for their efforts.
(1) We urge YOU to contact your
Representatives and Senators and tell them: YOU want them to support H.R. 3417
which was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 5,2001. If
enacted this Law will mandate that all Cold War Warriors will receive their
medal.
(2) Write to Secretary Rumsfeld’s
office telling him YOU want him to authorize the Cold War Medal.
His address is: 1000 Defense, The Pentagon, Washington DC, 20301-1000
Don’t let this recognition die due to a change in policy between Russia and the United States. This change is certainly slowing down the authorization of the Cold War Service Medal as we would not want to offend them. This is a legitimate recognition and has been dearly paid for by the lives of so many. Take the time today to make a difference.
All rights reserved - Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. 2002