Information that is totally unnecessary here

[liberty]

Were you aware that since 1997, veterans who served during the Cold War, along with DoD civilians, can receive Cold War Recognition Certificates? Until just recently, I didn’t know the program existed. It was signed into law by Bill Clinton. I reckon it’s kind of a slap in the face, since he was a draft evader and considered by many to be anti-military.

All I have to do is send a request to the organization that handles these certificates, along with a copy of any document you received during that time. A set of orders would do, and they’ll send you your certificate. I’m going to do it, because I’m proud of my service. I was a Cold Warrior, and I’m happy to receive official recognition.

I personally think that these certificates should be available to certain civilians other than DoD employees, say Scoop Jackson, the senator during the Cold War who was a great advocate of resisting the communists; Presidents Kennedy and Johnson for sure; Nadia Comăneci and other defectors from communism, whose lives were defined by choosing freedom over slavery; and certain Journalist like Howard K. Smith, who is dead now but importantly advocated strongly for resistance against the communists.

Who would not be qualified, in my opinion? Anyone involved in anti-war movements, anyone who ever expressed sympathy toward communism — Jane Fonda, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, and the like.

Now, some people — I imagine mostly liberals — may see it as silly, but I don’t. Communism was the evil it was, and I did everything I could to resist it.

[Burning Petard]

I think this 'certificate' is not issued by an organization that actually a part of the federal government. I do know that there is a real military medal that is given to anyone who served one day (or more) on active duty military service during a period that started during the mid 60's and continued until the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan during the previous presidency.

snailgate.

[liberty]

No, they are handled by the Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. I can provide you the link if you want, though I don’t think anyone here would need it. People would probably be embarrassed to have the certificate here. My suggestion is that it should be extended to civilians who didn’t serve in the government. It's not part of the program; that’s just my suggestion. I also think there are foreign civilians who should be recognized for their anti‑communist contributions.

How could I leave Ronald Reagan out? He was the decisive force behind winning the Cold War.

[MajGenl.Meade]

He was the decisive force behind winning the Cold War

I believe that was the Soviet economy, the synthesis of the Comintern thesis and the antithesis of cold hard reality.

[datsunaholic]

I think this 'certificate' is not issued by an organization that actually a part of the federal government. I do know that there is a real military medal that is given to anyone who served one day (or more) on active duty military service during a period that started during the mid 60's and continued until the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan during the previous presidency.

snailgate.

The medal you're thinking about (The National Defense Service Medal) wasn't continuously issued during that time period. It had actual start/stop dates:

June 27, 1950 (retroactive, Medal was established April 22 1953)- July 27, 1954 for the Korean War
December 31, 1960 - August 14, 1974 for the Vietnam War
August 2, 1990 - Nov 30, 1995 (Desert Shield/Desert Storm/Southern Watch)
September 11, 2001 - Dec 31, 2022

The last 2 periods also included Selective Reserve personnel with some eligibility requirements.

I have 2 awards of that medal- as I went on Active Duty in Nov 1992 I was eligible upon graduating Boot camp. I got a second award when my Reserve unit was recalled to Active Duty following 9/11. So there were times I saw service members with a mix on no awards (1996, mostly new recruits, and when I was in the reserves before 9/11), most everyone had one when I was on my first tour. A few very, very senior Chiefs-Master Chiefs had a star on theirs my first tour, particularly E-8/E-9s with over 20 years. Post 9/11, I saw a lot of folks with a star, as I had one by then, along with lots of 1st award folks who joined after Nov 1995. Folks with 3 awards (two stars) were extremely rare, usually very very senior officers nearing 30 years service post 9/11 but we had one in my reserve unit- he had joined in the late 1960s, did 4 years, got out, then went into the reserves near the end of his eligibility in the late 1980s and retired around 2004 when he was in his 50s.

(It's the one of the second row, first column below of what is my ribbon rack)

ribbonrack.png (53.05 KiB) Viewed 127 times