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
States of Louisiana and Texas, 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. It may be worn 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. Background and history
In accordance with section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
fiscal year 1998, Congress commended the members of the Armed Forces and civilian
personnel who contributed to what the US government sees as their own 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 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. 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. Design
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. National Guard awards medal
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.
Various commemorative versions of the medal
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.
Bills introduced in Congress to enact authorization to wear medal
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 and on May
24, 2011, Representative Steve Israel 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. = Bills in the United States Senate=
= List of 12 currently-serving senators who have supported the enactment of the
medal= = Bills in the U.S. House of
Representatives= = List of 42 currently-serving
representatives plus 1 delegate to congress who have supported the
enactment of the medal= References
External links McGowan, Marina. "American society is in
dire need of a wake-up call". Globalsecurity.org.
American Cold War Veterans Cold War Veterans Association
Germany Defense Veterans of America