That is an interesting and valid question. There were a lot of personnel on the front lines during the Cold War with NATO in Europe, along the DMZ in Korea, and aboard Navy nuclear submarines and surface task forces, Marine Expeditionary Units afloat, Air Force Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command, Military Airlift Command and remote early warning posts around the world, and all when the world was literally on the brink of nuclear war. I joined the Navy just three months after the last post-Vietnam War National Defense Service Medal was issued. It was not issued again until the early 90s in spite of Lebanon, Grenada, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and numerous other wars and conflicts, well known and clandestine, that were encountered in those days before the 90/91 Persian Gulf War and the two decades of post-Cold War conflicts since. I don't think presidents and congressmen are against bestowing awards on armed forces personnel whenever a photo-op arises. However, I think that by issuing awards that coincide with conflicts and national defense during their watch, they perceive it as a reflection on them as “enablers” of those conflicts and having a hand in any deaths or injuries. Therefore, to say we are at peace and not involved in conflict keeps them in good political standing.
Warriors in previous days, even decorated combat veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam just did not adorn themselves with every medal awarded to them or adorn their cars and trucks with “ribbon bar” decals which are common today. That of course does not mean that these later veterans should not be recognized for their excellent service. They just express themselves differently. On a more personal note, my only concern was getting qualified in submarines and the receipt of my dolphins. Unknown to me, the only award that I received that would consider me as a "conflict" veteran was my SSBN Deterrent Patrol Pin which was awarded by simply participating in a missile patrol. A couple of years ago, I realized that my Deterrent Patrol Pin is not even mentioned on my DD-214. For the sake of historical accuracy, I will try to get that corrected. In the meantime, there will be no Navy Sea Service Medal for me because it did not exist when I was active duty and at sea. Likewise, there will never be a National Defense Service Medal for me since my only "wartime" service was as a Defense Department civilian specialist assigned to the 1st Marine Logistics Group, MNF-W, OIF. The Marines are good about awarding letters, citations and Marine Expeditionary medals to civilian specialists assigned to their units while in harm’s way, but those awards are between them and the recipient and have no bearing or official recognition as far as our previous active duty service records are concerned.
Finally, the Cold War Service Medal and the accompanying National Defense Service Medal need to be made official in the service records of all Cold War warriors who served honorably from 1945 to 1991. Anybody who lived back then certainly knows that we were always in a state of national defense and on the brink of the absolute worst kind of war. I will certainly write my congressional delegation and ask that they make those awards a consideration … while we are still alive to receive them.
There is a Cold War Certificate authorized and sighed by the Secretary of Defense. You can recieve it by contacting your local VA rep. Go to my profile and click on photos to see what it looks like.
No Cold War medals or ribbons have been approved for wearing on the uniform. It has been proposed before and turned down, and will be brought up again in 2011 by the powers that be in Washington DC. That is what I understand of the situation.
There are more than one renditions of the medal/ribbon, probably can be googled, but none approved.
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Warriors in previous days, even decorated combat veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam just did not adorn themselves with every medal awarded to them or adorn their cars and trucks with “ribbon bar” decals which are common today. That of course does not mean that these later veterans should not be recognized for their excellent service. They just express themselves differently. On a more personal note, my only concern was getting qualified in submarines and the receipt of my dolphins. Unknown to me, the only award that I received that would consider me as a "conflict" veteran was my SSBN Deterrent Patrol Pin which was awarded by simply participating in a missile patrol. A couple of years ago, I realized that my Deterrent Patrol Pin is not even mentioned on my DD-214. For the sake of historical accuracy, I will try to get that corrected. In the meantime, there will be no Navy Sea Service Medal for me because it did not exist when I was active duty and at sea. Likewise, there will never be a National Defense Service Medal for me since my only "wartime" service was as a Defense Department civilian specialist assigned to the 1st Marine Logistics Group, MNF-W, OIF. The Marines are good about awarding letters, citations and Marine Expeditionary medals to civilian specialists assigned to their units while in harm’s way, but those awards are between them and the recipient and have no bearing or official recognition as far as our previous active duty service records are concerned.
Finally, the Cold War Service Medal and the accompanying National Defense Service Medal need to be made official in the service records of all Cold War warriors who served honorably from 1945 to 1991. Anybody who lived back then certainly knows that we were always in a state of national defense and on the brink of the absolute worst kind of war. I will certainly write my congressional delegation and ask that they make those awards a consideration … while we are still alive to receive them.
There are more than one renditions of the medal/ribbon, probably can be googled, but none approved.
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