Cold War Victory Medal
952874
222716018
2008-06-30T19:34:12Z
155.85.58.253
correct to past tense, and report outcome
{{Infobox Military Award
|name=Cold War Victory Medal
|image=[[Image:ColdWarMed.jpg|125px]]
|caption=Cold War Victory Medal
|awarded_by=N/A - Purchase medal from private vendors
|type=Medal
|eligibility= Sept 2, 1945 to Dec 26, 1991
|status=Commemorative
|first_award=
|last_award=
|total=
|posthumous=
|recipients=
|individual=
|higher=
|same=
|image2=
|caption2=
}}
The '''Cold War Victory Medal''' is an unofficial [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military medal]] of the [[United States]] which can be purchased by any member of the [[United States military]], or civilian employees of the [[Federal Government of the United States|federal government]], who served in their positions during the years of the [[Cold War]], specifically [[September 2]], [[1945]] to [[December 26]], [[1991]].
In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress authorized the Secretary of Defense to award a Cold War Victory Medal to all veterans of the Cold War. However, the Secretary of Defense instead awarded a [[Cold War Recognition Certificate]] to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991.
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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=154 |title = Cold War Medals |publisher = [[United States Navy]] |date = [[2002-02-01]] |accessdate = 2007-10-19 }}</ref> At present, however, the Cold War Victory Medal remains strictly commemorative and is unofficial.
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]].
Presently the Cold War Victory Medal is 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, but is frequently worn by retirees and civilians. However, the medal is worn as a [[Awards and decorations of the National Guard|National Guard award]] as issued by the [[Louisiana]] [[United States National Guard|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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.coldwarveterans.com/louisiana_ng_medal.htm |title = The State of Louisiana National Guard Cold War Victory Medal |publisher = Cold War Veterans Association |year = 2007 |accessdate = 2007-10-19 }}</ref>
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.
On [[April 12]], [[2007]] [[United States Senate|senator]]s [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Susan Collins]] announced they were reintroducing legislation in the Senate that will authorize the [[Secretary of Defense]] to issue the ''Cold War Service Medal'' to Cold War Veterans.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.senate.gov/~clinton/news/statements/details.cfm?id=272264&& |title = Senators Clinton, Collins and Representative Andrews Announce Reintroduction of Legislation to Establish Military Service Medal to Honor Cold War Veterans |publisher = [[Hillary Rodham Clinton|Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton]] |date = [[2007-04-12]] |accessdate = 2007-10-19 }}</ref> A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives. Both bills passed in both houses, but were later dropped in joint committee.
==List of past/present Senators who support the Cold War Medal==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Congress !! Cold War Medal Bill number !! Sponsor !! Co-Sponsor !! Notes
|-
|110th Congress (2007-2008)||S.AMDT. 2163 to H.R.1585||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)||[[Susan Collins]](ME), [[Blanche Lincoln]](AR)||
|-
|110th Congress (2007-2008)||S.1097||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)||[[Susan Collins]](ME), [[Chuck Schumer]](NY), [[Olympia Snowe]](ME)||
|-
|110th Congress (2007-2008)||S.1763||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)||[[Blanche Lincoln]](AR), [[Olympia Snowe]](ME)||
|-
|109th Congress (2005-2006)||S.AMDT.4212 to S.2766||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)||None||
|-
|109th Congress (2005-2006)||S.1351||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)||[[Blanche Lincoln]](AR), [[Dick Durbin]](IL) [[Tim Johnson]](SD)||
|-
|108th Congress (2003-2004)||S.1841||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)||[[Blanche Lincoln]](AR), [[Dick Durbin]](IL) [[Mark Pryor]](AR)||
|-
|108th Congress (2003-2004)||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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h108-3388 |title = H.R. 3388:Cold War Victory Medal Act |publisher = GovTrack |date = [[2003-10-29]] |accessdate = 2008-03-20 }}</ref> ||
|-
|107th Congress (2001-2002)||H.R.2165||See H.R. 2165 below||[[Lindsey Graham]](SD)||Lindsey Graham Co-Sponsored H.R.2165 as Congressman from South Carolina's 3rd district and is currently a US Senator from South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-2165 |title = H.R. 2165:To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the award of a Cold War service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War era |publisher = GovTrack |date = [[2001-06-13]] |accessdate = 2008-03-20 }}</ref> ||
|-
|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)||
|-
|105th Congress (1997-1998)||S.AMDT.743 to S.936||[[Larry Craig]](ID)||None||
|}
==Current Senators who support the Cold War Medal==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|1||[[Hillary Clinton]](NY)
|-
|2||[[Susan Collins]](ME)
|-
|3||[[Larry Craig]](ID)
|-
|4||[[Dick Durbin]](IL)
|-
|5||[[Lindsey Graham]](SD)<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-2165 |title = H.R. 2165:To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the award of a Cold War service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War era |publisher = GovTrack |date = [[2001-06-13]] |accessdate = 2008-03-20 }}</ref>
|-
|6||[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]](TX)
|-
|7||[[Tim Johnson]](SD)
|-
|8||[[Blanche Lincoln]](AR)
|-
|9||[[Mark Pryor]](AR)
|-
|10||[[Chuck Schumer]](NY)
|-
|11||[[Olympia Snowe]](ME)
|-
|12||[[David Vitter]](LA)<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h108-3388 |title = H.R. 3388:Cold War Victory Medal Act |publisher = GovTrack |date = [[2003-10-29]] |accessdate = 2008-03-20 }}</ref>
|}
==List of past/present Representatives who support the Cold War Medal==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Congress !! Cold War Medal Bill number !! Sponsor !! Co-Sponsor !! Notes
|-
|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)||
|-
|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.||
|-
|108th Congress (2003-2004)||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)||
|-
|108th Congress (2003-2004)||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)||
|-
|107th Congress (2001-2002)||H.R.3417||[[Ron Paul]](TX-14)||[[Virgil Goode]](VA-5)||
|-
|107th Congress (2001-2002)||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)||
|-
|106th Congress (1999-2000)||H.R.2440||[[Rick Lazio]](NY-2)||None||
|-
|}
==Current Representatives who support the Cold War Medal==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|1||[[Rob Andrews]](NJ-1)
|-
|2||[[Roscoe Bartlett]](MD-6)
|-
|3||[[Gus Bilirakis]](FL-9)
|-
|4||[[Rick Boucher]](VA-9)
|-
|5||[[Kevin Brady]](TX-8)
|-
|6||[[Steve Buyer]](IN-4)
|-
|7||[[Ben Chandler]](KY-6)
|-
|8||[[Howard Coble]](NC-6)
|-
|9||[[Phil English]](PA-3)
|-
|10||[[Bob Filner]](CA-51)
|-
|11||[[Jim Gerlach]](PA-6)
|-
|12||[[Virgil Goode]](VA-5)
|-
|13||[[Bart Gordon]](TN-6)
|-
|14||[[Maurice Hinchey]](NY-22)
|-
|15||[[David L. Hobson]](OH-7)
|-
|16||[[Mike Honda]](CA-15)
|-
|17||[[Steve Israel]](NY-2)
|-
|18||[[Sheila Jackson-Lee]](TX-18)
|-
|19||[[Sam Johnson]](TX-3)
|-
|20||[[Randy Kuhl]](NY-29)
|-
|21||[[Ray LaHood]](IL-18)
|-
|22||[[Thaddeus McCotter]](MI-11)
|-
|23||[[Jim McDermott]](WA-7)
|-
|24||[[Jim McGovern]](MA-3)
|-
|25||[[Mike Michaud]](ME-2)
|-
|26||[[Dennis Moore]](KS-3)
|-
|27||[[Jerry Moran]](KS-1)
|-
|28||[[Jim Moran]](VA-8)
|-
|29||[[Marilyn Musgrave]](CO-4)
|-
|30||[[Ron Paul]](TX-14)
|-
|31||[[Joseph R. Pitts]](PA-16)
|-
|32||[[Todd Platts]](PA-19)
|-
|34||[[Nick Rahall]](WV-3)
|-
|35||[[Silvestre Reyes]](TX-16)
|-
|36||[[Jim Saxton]](NJ-3)
|-
|37||[[John Shimkus]](IL-19)
|-
|38||[[John Spratt]](SC-5)
|-
|39||[[Bart Stupak]](MI-1)
|-
|40||[[Thomas Tancredo]](CO-6)
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050713-veteran-award.htm 2005 news article]
*[http://www.foxfall.com/cwm.htm#BACKGROUND Cold War Victory Medal at Foxfall Medals]
*[http://www.AmericanColdWarVets.org American Cold War Veterans]
*[http://www.coldwarveterans.com Cold War Veterans Association]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of the United States]]
[[Category:Cold War]]