| Cold War Victory Medal | |
|---|---|
Cold War Victory Medal |
|
| Awarded by (1) United States National Guard (States of Alaska and Louisiana) (2) Commemorative medal for veterans and retirees by purchase from private vendors |
|
| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | 2 Sep 1945 - 26 Dec 1991 |
| Status | National Guard and commemorative medal for honorable service during Cold War |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1 Feb 2000 |
| Last awarded | currently to those who served from 2 Sep 1945 - 26 Dec 1991 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | U.S. marksmanship, training and development awards (Note: Veterans may wear commemorative medal on public holidays. However, it is not authorized for wear on active duty uniform. The medal may be worn only on civilian attire and only after other authorized awards.) U.S. National Guard Alaska Air Medal Louisiana War Cross |
| Next (lower) | Alaska Commendation Medal Louisiana Emergency Service Medal |
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 State of Louisiana 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, 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.
Contents |
In accordance with section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization Act[1] for fiscal year 1998, Congress commended the members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel who contributed to the historic victory in the Cold War, and authorized and instructed the then-Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, to prepare a certificate recognizing the Cold War service of qualifying members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense and other government agencies. The certificate became known as the Cold War Recognition Certificate available by request of the individual by all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991.
In October 2001, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA")[2] for fiscal year 2002, which is signed into law on December 28, 2001 by President George W. Bush. In the NDAA approved by both houses and signed into law by the president, was a Sense of the Congress resolution that the Secretary of Defense should consider authorizing 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. The then-Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, did not create such a medal.
The official US Navy web page states: "The Department of Defense will not be creating a Cold War Service medal" and that any commemorative medals made by private vendors are unauthorized on the military uniform.[3] At present the Cold War Victory Medal remains strictly commemorative and is unofficial other than for members of the Louisiana National Guard.
The Cold War Victory Medal is also referred to as the Cold War Commemorative Medal, Cold War Service Medal, or simply as the Cold War Medal. There are no devices or attachments authorized for the Cold War Victory Medal.
The Cold War Victory Medal was designed by Nadine Russell, the Chief of Creative Heraldry at the Army's Institute of Heraldry and the designer of many campaign and service medals, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.[4]
The National Guard Bureau does not issue nor recognize the Cold War Victory Medal. The medal is worn as a National Guard award and issued by the Louisiana National Guard. The Adjutant General of the State of Louisiana currently authorizes the decoration as the "Louisiana Cold War Victory Medal". Eligible members, including active duty members, of the Louisiana National Guard are authorized to wear the medal in uniform while in the state of Louisiana and not on federal property in that state (e.g., Fort Polk).[5]
The Cold War Victory Medal is also a civilian medal which may be privately purchased but is not distributed by the United States government. As such, the decoration is not presently authorized for wear on active duty military uniforms. However, the medal has been officially adopted by the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States and is thus frequently worn by U.S. military retirees, veterans and civilians on public holidays, parades and veterans functions. In this regard, the order of precedence of the Cold War Victory Medal is immediately after the lowest authorized U.S. award.
There are various versions of the medal privately struck by many different vendors. However, the only version which has been officially adopted by the Military Order of Foreign Wars has been the Cold War Victory Medal designed by Nadine Russell of the Institute of Heraldry. It has also been officially adopted by the American Cold War Veterans organization. The Germany Defense Veterans of America has also adopted and authorized this medal to all the members of the Germany Defense Veterans of America as this organization's wear of medals on the GDVA uniform.
Over the years bills have been introduced in five separate Congresses 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.
| Congress | Cold War Medal Bill number | Sponsor | Co-Sponsor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112th Congress (2011–2012) | S.402 | Olympia Snowe (ME) | Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), John Kerry (MA), Jim Webb (VA) | 4 Co-Sponsors as of 10/5/2011 |
| 111th Congress (2009–2010) | S.2743 | Olympia Snowe (ME) | Russ Feingold (WI), John Kerry (MA), Paul G. Kirk (MA), Mary Landrieu (LA), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Robert Menendez (NJ), Mike Johanns (NE), Jim Webb (VA) | 8 Co-Sponsors |
| 110th Congress (2007–2008) | S.AMDT. 2163 to H.R.1585 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Susan Collins (ME), Blanche Lincoln (AR) | 2 Co-Sponsors |
| S.1097 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Susan Collins (ME), Chuck Schumer (NY), Mary Landrieu (LA), Olympia Snowe (ME) | 4 Co-Sponsors | |
| S.1763 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Blanche Lincoln (AR), Olympia Snowe (ME) | 2 Co-Sponsors | |
| 109th Congress (2005–2006) | S.AMDT.4212 to S.2766 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | None | 0 Co-Sponsors |
| S.1351 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Blanche Lincoln (AR), Dick Durbin (IL) Tim Johnson (SD) | 3 Co-Sponsors | |
| 108th Congress (2003–2004) | S.1841 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Blanche Lincoln (AR), Dick Durbin (IL) Mark Pryor (AR) | 3 Co-Sponsors |
| H.R.3388 | See H.R. 3388 below | David Vitter (LA) | David Vitter Co-Sponsored H.R. 3388 as Congressman from Louisiana's 1st district and is currently a US Senator from Louisiana.[6] | |
| 107th Congress (2001–2002) | H.R.2165 | See H.R. 2165 below | Lindsey Graham (SC) | Lindsey Graham Co-Sponsored H.R.2165 as Congressman from South Carolina's 3rd district and is currently a US Senator from South Carolina.[7] |
| 106th Congress (1999–2000) | S.AMDT.474 to S.1059 | Phil Gramm (TX) | Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), John Ashcroft (MO), Paul Coverdell (GA), Trent Lott (MS) | 4 Co-Sponsors |
| 105th Congress (1997–1998) | S.AMDT.743 to S.936 | Larry Craig (ID) | None | 0 Co-Sponsors |
| State | Senator | 106th Congress (1999–2000) | 107th Congress (2001–2002) | 108th Congress (2003–2004) | 109th Congress (2005–2006) | 110th Congress (2007–2008) | 111th Congress (2009–2010) | 112th Congress (2011–2012) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR | Mark Pryor | S.1841 | ||||||||
| IL | Dick Durbin | S.1841 | S.1351 | |||||||
| LA | Mary Landrieu | S.1097 | S.2743 | |||||||
| LA | David Vitter[6] | H.R.3388[6] | ||||||||
| MA | Scott Brown | S.402 | ||||||||
| MA | John Kerry | S.2743 | S.402 | |||||||
| ME | Susan Collins | S.1097 | S.AMDT. 2163 to H.R.1585 | S.402 | ||||||
| ME | Olympia Snowe | S.1097 | S.1763 | S.2743 | S.402 | |||||
| NE | Mike Johanns | S.2743 | ||||||||
| NJ | Robert Menendez | S.2743 | ||||||||
| NY | Chuck Schumer | S.1097 | ||||||||
| SC | Lindsey Graham[7] | H.R.2165[7] | ||||||||
| SD | Tim Johnson | S.1351 | ||||||||
| TX | Kay Bailey Hutchison | S.AMDT.474 to S.1059 | ||||||||
| VA | Jim Webb | S.2743 | S.402 | |||||||
| Congress | Cold War Medal Bill number | Sponsor | Co-Sponsor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112th Congress (2011–2012) | H.R.1968 | Steve Israel (NY-2) | Jason Altmire (PA-4), Judy Chu, (CA-32), Gerald Connolly (VA-11), Joseph (Joe) Courtney (CT-2), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Nan Hayworth (NY-19), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), David McKinley (WV-1), Michael Michaud (ME-2), William Lewis Owens (NY-23), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Todd Russell Platts (PA-19) | 12 Co-Sponsors as of 12/6/2011 |
| 111th Congress (2009–2010) | H.R.4051 | Steve Israel (NY-2) | Jason Altmire (PA-4), Michael Arcuri (NY-24), Dan Boren (OK-2), Rick Boucher (VA-9), Bob Brady (PA-1), Christopher Carney (PA-10), Joseph (Joe) Courtney (CT-2), Mark Critz (PA-12), Kathleen Dahlkemper (PA-3), Geoff Davis (KY-4), Bill Delahunt (MA-10), Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08), Chaka Fattah (PA-2), Bob Filner (CA-51), Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Paul Hodes (NH-2), Mark Kirk (IL-10), Tom Latham (IA-4), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Jim McGovern (MA-03), Mike McIntyre (NC-7), Michael McMahon (NY-13), Michael H. Michaud (ME-2), Timothy F. Murphy (PA-18), John Murtha (PA-12), Bill Pascrell (NJ-8), Collin Peterson (MN-7), Pedro Pierluisi (PR), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), Todd Russell Platts (PA-19), Ted Poe (TX-2), Mike Ross (AR-4), Joe Sestak (PA-7), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Glenn "G.T." Thompson (PA-5), Mac Thornberry (TX-13), Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5), Joe Wilson (SC-2), Robert Wittman (VA-1), Frank Wolf (VA-10), Fred Upton (MI-6) | 46 Co-Sponsors |
| 110th Congress (2007–2008) | None | None | None | |
| 109th Congress (2005–2006) | H.R.2568 | Rob Andrews (NJ-1) | Rick Boucher (VA-9), Jo Ann Davis (VA-1), Phil English (PA-3), Bob Filner (CA-51), Virgil Goode (VA-5), Bart Gordon (TN-6), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), Randy Kuhl (NY-29), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Dennis Moore (KS-3), Jerry Moran (KS-1), Todd Platts (PA-19), Nick Rahall (WV-3), Silvestre Reyes (TX-16), Rob Simmons (CT-2), Bart Stupak (MI-1) | 17 Co-Sponsors |
| 108th Congress (2003–2004) | H.R.5112 | Steve Israel (NY-2) | None | H.R.5112: To provide for a certificate recognizing employees of defense companies for contributions to the national defense during the Cold War. |
| H.R.3388 | Thomas Tancredo (CO-6) | Phil English (PA-3), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Bart Gordon (TN-6), Mark Green (WI-8), Jim Leach (IA-2), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Mike Michaud (ME-2), Dennis Moore (KS-3), Jim Moran (VA-8), Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Jim Ryun (KS-2), John Shimkus (IL-19), David Vitter (LA-1), Joe Wilson (SC-2) | 14 Co-Sponsors | |
| H.R.3201 | Rob Andrews (NJ-1) | Rick Boucher (VA-9), Ben Chandler (KY-6), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Mike Honda (CA-15), Jim McDermott (WA-7), Jim McGovern (MA-3), Todd Platts (PA-19) | 7 Co-Sponsors | |
| 107th Congress (2001–2002) | H.R.3417 | Ron Paul (TX-14) | Virgil Goode (VA-5) | 1 Co-Sponsor |
| H.R.2165 | Floyd Spence (SC-2) | Cass Ballenger (NC-10), Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6), Gus Bilirakis (FL-9), Kevin Brady (TX-8), Steve Buyer (IN-4), Ed Bryant (TN-7), Howard Coble (NC-6), Randy Cunningham (CA-51), Jim Gibbons (NV-2), Lindsey Graham (SC-3), Van Hilleary (TN-4), David L. Hobson (OH-7), Nancy Johnson (CT-6), Sam Johnson (TX-3), Ken Lucas (KY-4), Ray LaHood (IL-18), Jim McGovern (MA-3), Cynthia McKinney (GA-4), Michael Oxley (OH-4), Joseph R. Pitts (PA-16), Jim Ryun (KS-2), Jim Saxton (NJ-3), Edward Schrock (VA-2), Rob Simmons (CT-2), John Spratt (SC-5) | 25 Co-Sponsors | |
| 106th Congress (1999–2000) | H.R.2440 | Rick Lazio (NY-2) | None | 0 Co-Sponsors |
| State | Representative | 107th Congress (2001–2002) | 108th Congress (2003–2004) | 109th Congress (2005–2006) | 110th Congress (2007–2008) | 111th Congress (2009–2010) | 112th Congress (2011–2012) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR-04 | Mike Ross | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| CA-15 | Mike Honda | H.R.3201 | ||||||||
| CA-32 | Judy Chu | H.R.1968 | ||||||||
| CA-51 | Bob Filner | H.R.2568 | H.R.4051 | |||||||
| CT-02 | Joseph (Joe) Courtney | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | |||||||
| FL-09 | Gus Bilirakis | H.R.2165 | ||||||||
| IA-04 | Tom Latham | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| IL-19 | John Shimkus | H.R.3388 | ||||||||
| KS-01 | Jerry Moran | H.R.2568 | ||||||||
| KY-04 | Geoff Davis | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| KY-06 | Ben Chandler | H.R.3201 | ||||||||
| MA-03 | Jim McGovern | H.R.2165 | H.R.3201 | H.R.4051 | ||||||
| MD-06 | Roscoe Bartlett | H.R.2165 | ||||||||
| ME-01 | Chellie Pingree | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | |||||||
| ME-02 | Mike Michaud | H.R.3388 | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | ||||||
| MI-06 | Fred Upton | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| MI-11 | Thaddeus McCotter | H.R.3388 | H.R.2568 | H.R.4051 | ||||||
| MN-07 | Collin Peterson | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| MO-08 | Jo Ann Emerson | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| NC-05 | Virginia Foxx | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| NC-06 | Howard Coble | H.R.2165 | ||||||||
| NC-07 | Mike McIntyre | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| NJ-01 | Rob Andrews | H.R.3201 | H.R.2568 | |||||||
| NJ-08 | Bill Pascrell | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| NY-02 | Steve Israel | H.R.5112 | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | ||||||
| NY-19 | Nan Hayworth | H.R.1968 | ||||||||
| NY-22 | Maurice Hinchey | H.R.2568 | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | ||||||
| NY-23 | William Lewis Owens | H.R.1968 | ||||||||
| NY-27 | Brian Higgins | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| OH-13 | Betty Sutton | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| OK-02 | Dan Boren | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| PA-01 | Bob Brady | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| PA-02 | Chaka Fattah | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| PA-04 | Jason Altmire | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | |||||||
| PA-05 | Glenn "G.T." Thompson | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| PA-06 | Jim Gerlach | H.R.3201 | H.R.3388 | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | |||||
| PA-12 | Mark Critz | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| PA-16 | Joseph R. Pitts | H.R.2165 | ||||||||
| PA-18 | Timothy F. Murphy | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| PA-19 | Todd Russell Platts | H.R.3201 | H.R.2568 | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 | |||||
| SC-02 | Joe Wilson | H.R.3388 | H.R.4051 | |||||||
| TX-02 | Ted Poe | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| TX-03 | Sam Johnson | H.R.2165 | ||||||||
| TX-08 | Kevin Brady | H.R.2165 | ||||||||
| TX-13 | Mac Thornberry | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| TX-14 | Ron Paul | H.R.3417 | ||||||||
| TX-16 | Silvestre Reyes | H.R.2568 | ||||||||
| TX-18 | Sheila Jackson-Lee | H.R.2568 | H.R.4051 | |||||||
| VA-01 | Robert Wittman | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| VA-08 | Jim Moran | H.R.3388 | ||||||||
| VA-10 | Frank Wolf | H.R.4051 | ||||||||
| VA-11 | Gerald Connolly | H.R.1968 | ||||||||
| WA-07 | Jim McDermott | H.R.3201 | ||||||||
| WV-01 | David McKinley | H.R.1968 | ||||||||
| WV-03 | Nick Rahall | H.R.2568 | ||||||||
| Delegate to Congress | ||||||||||
| Puerto Rico | Pedro Pierluisi | H.R.4051 | ||||||||