Cold War Service Medal 2017

The struggle for recognition for Cold War Veterans continues, a fight that has been ongoing for at least 15 years.

On March 7 2017 Representative David Young, Republican  representing Iowa's third district introduced a new bill
H.R. 1419 The Cold War Service Medal 2017 that would
authorize a Cold War Medal to be issued to those who served
in the military between 1945 and 1991.

The long struggle to contain Communism cost many American
lives. Remember Korea and Vietnam were part of the  Cold War

In total there were over 81,481 battle deaths the Cold War ranks
as third most combat deaths. So the old line of "no shots were fired" is proven to be false and misleading.

Everyone in the United States (and much of the free world)
owes much to these brave men and women who placed their
lives in danger every day.

Contact your Congressman/woman ask them to cosponsor
this bill H.R. 1419 The Cold War  Service Medal Act 2017.
Also contact both of your Senators ask them to introduce a
companion bill in the Senate. And ask all your family and
friends to do the same. We need all the support we can get.

Those of you that belong to the VFW, American Legion,
AmVets or any other Veterans Service Organization, ask your
leadership to back the American Cold War Veterans in this
deserving and long delayed recognition and respect for
the Cold War Warriors.

The Cold War ended in 1991, 26 years is too long to wait for
these men and women to be told that what we did mattered
and we as a nation should thank all of them.

Let this be the year that our quest finally comes to fruition.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman Emeritus American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Now That Congress Is in Recess

The month of August is here, that means that Congress is in recess for the month; and everyone is back in their home state.

Now is the time to call the local office, closest to you, of your elected official. Ask for a meeting with said official. A chance to look them in the eye and present your case. Get your facts together first, then

put it on the table. 

Be polite, courteous and smile. Then discuss Veterans issues...VA problems, maybe your experience with VA; other general concerns about our Armed Forces and Veterans, our US Military and the budget crisis.

Then....ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 2067 The Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015 and be sure to vote for passage when it reaches the floor for a vote.

Ask BOTH of your Senators to introduce an identical bill in the Senate. We need it on both sides to gain any traction. It is too late to have it included in the NDAA, so stand alone bills from the House and the Senate have to happen.

If anyone seems a little wishy-washy about it ASK THEM WHY NOT. 

Also ask for an investigation into the USS LIberty and the coverup. There has never been an official Congressional investigation into the murder of 34 Americans and wounding of another 174. 

An attack by the IDF (Israel Defense Force) on a clearly marked American

ship; practically unarmed,  with the purpose of killing all onboard and sinking the ship.

We as Cold War Veterans have been waiting since 1991 for recognition, it is time. The USS Liberty 

Veterans have been waiting since 1967 to get the truth, to finally know the why and the who.

DoD did have a very quick and brief investigation and called it a case of "mistaken identity."

The huge America Flag flying from the mast, and the big hull numbers on the side meant 

nothing to those who attacked the Liberty.

Write the letters, send the faxes, send the emails, make the phone calls, make the visits;  do it often.

Remember that you can visit or call the local office anytime. You can call the DC office and

ask to speak to their Veterans/Military aide and tell them what you want them to know.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman Emeritus American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

H.R. 2067 Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015

A new bill H.R. 2067 introduced by Representative Steve Israel and 7 other members of the House
of Representatives on April 28, 2015 would authorize a Cold War Service Medal.

Please contact your Representative asking him/her to become a cosponsor to H.R. 2067 The Cold
War Service Medal Act of 2015. It is very important that members of Congress see that there is
strong support for this bill and medal within the Veteran Community. Veterans are a very large
voting block and if enough veterans reach out to their elected official, said officials will take notice.

Cold War Veterans have been attempting to have this medal authorized for several years. Bills have
been introduced in both the Senate and the House, these bills have been read and the  sent to the
Armed Services Committee of the Senate/House for further consideration.

There have been provisions written into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to
authorize the medal. In 2001 the NDAA included such a provision. The wording of that provision
was that "the Secretary "may" issue a Cold War Medal. At that time the Department of Defense (DoD)
declined to allow the medal to be issued.

DoD has objected on two main issues: Cost, DoD has vastly over estimated the cost of issuing this
medal. Not every Cold War Veterans would apply for the medal at one time. It would take several
years for word to spread, and many veterans might not even apply for the medal. So this objection
is not strong enough to deny the medal.

The other reason DoD has objected is "duplication of awards" There have been instances when
both the Armed Forces Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal have been
issued. So this objection also is meaningless and invalid.

Another fallacy is "not a shot was fired", many lives were lost during America's Longest War,
lasting from Sept. 1945 to Dec. 1991. Communist forces shot down our planes from the sky,
our ships were attacked, troops on the ground were attacked. There are still over 120 Missing
In Action fromt he Cold War.

America won the Cold War, we stopped the spread of Communism and freed millions of people
from the oppressive regimes they suffered under.

President George H.W. Bush and many other leaders of our nation and other countries all
have made comments abut the end of The Cold War.

Now some 24 years after the end of the Cold War our veterans are still not recognized or
remembered. Often Cold Warriors are told they are not "veterans" as they did not serve
in a combat zone.

Yet the many places where American blood was spilled, and lives were lost, Armed Forces
members injured or captured can not be ignored. Do not forget that Korea, Vietnam and
other "Hot Spots" were all part of the Cold War.

Our numbers are steadily declining as we grow older and depart this mortal plane. Is that why
DoD continues to block all attempts for recognition-they are just waiting for us all to pass away?

So now is the time, contact your Representative asking them to cosponsor H.R. 2067 The
Cold War Service Medal Act of 2015 and urge for the bill to be brought to the full floor for
a vote; and vote for passage.

Also contact both of your Senators asking them to introduce a bill with the wording of
H.R. 2067.




---- Jerald Terwilliger,  Chairman Emeritus,  American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Cold War Service Medal Act 2015

On April 28, 2015 Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY3), and Congressman David Jolly(R-FL13)
introduced a new bill H.R. 2067 The Cold War Service Medal Act 2015.

This bill was introduced with 7 cosponsors, and has been sent to the House Armed Services Committee.

The Cold War was waged for more than 45 years as the United States and our allies combated
the spread of Communism, from 1945 through 1991.

There were many lives lost in this decades long battle. Despite the common misconception that
"Not a shot was fired", our planes were shot down from the sky by Communist forces, our ships
were attacked and damaged, troops on the ground were attacked and killed and or wounded

Korea, Vietnam, the Congo, Lebanon, Granada, Panama, Dominican Republic and many other
"hot spots" were all a part of the Cold War.

Many members of the Armed Forces were placed in dangerous and difficult situations on a daily
basis; often during missions that even today remain classified, and we were not; and still not
allowed to speak of what we did to family or friends.

Now, more than 25 years since the downfall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War;
we should finally bestow on our veterans the thanks of a grateful nation. It is time to offer these
veterans the respect and honor they so deserve.

Contact your Congressman/Congresswoman urging them to become a cosponsor to H.R. 2067
and demand the bill be brought to the full floor for a vote, and vote for passage.

Please also contact your Senator asking them to introduce a similar bill in the Senate immediately,
let us not wait another year, do it now.


No longer allow our Cold Warriors to be a forgotten and dismissed generation of veterans.



---- Jerald Terwilliger Former  Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

2014 Cold War Medal

On June 5, 2014 Congressman Steve Israel of New York introduced a bill to authorize the Cold War
Service Medal. It if H.R. 4807 The Cold War Service Medal Act of 2014.

We all know how important this is to our Cold Warriors, as our numbers are declining due to age.
The Cold War ended 23 years ago, and we are still waiting and petitioning Congress and DoD to
authorize and issue the Cold War Service Medal.

Please contact your Representative ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4807. You can go to their website
and leave an email, get their phone number and call their office, write a regular mail letter (be advised
it may take two weeks to get delivered), ask for a visit at either their Washington office or the local office in your area.

You can also go to POPVOX here https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr4807
You wil have to create an account if you do not already have one. Then you can post your comments
and it will be sent directly to your Representative.

Then contact both of your Senators ask them to introduce legislation similar to H.R. 4807.

We need a big push from everyone to get this accomplished. I have been told in the past that there
was not enough support from veterans in the past and is a possible reason the previous bills never
got through the Armed Services Committee in both the Senate and House.

Lets make this the year this medal finally becomes a reality, and all our brave men and women
finally get the recognition we have been seeking for so many years.

America: It Is Time To Say Thank You to our veterans.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Cold War Veteran Honors Fellow Cold Warriors

Press of Atlantic City

By LUCIA C. DRAKE, Staff Writer

Robert Haller will spend this Memorial Day as he has for many years, remembering and honoring all members of the American military.

But there is one group of veterans in particular that the Egg Harbor Township resident thinks about especially at this time of year: those he refers to as the Cold War veterans.

A South Jersey native, Haller is himself a Cold War veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy and in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1974 to 1992.

Haller served in Operation TAGOS, a mission to collect underwater acoustic data in support of Cold War anti-submarine warfare operations during the 1980s.

It is his belief that the Cold War with the former Soviet Union is too often overlooked in history, and the dangerous work done by those enlisted men and women in the early days of nuclear activity and the Iron Curtain has gone widely unrecognized.

Now semi-retired, he feels compelled to get more support for Cold War veterans and to show how important they were in this country's fight against terrorism.

"Those were dangerous missions, and our job was to protect the United States of America," Haller, 57, said recently from his home. "I voluntarily served because I love my country so much. I have always lived by the code of duty, honor and country."

Mostly, he said, he would like to see credit given that is justly due.

The author of two books, "Life of a Bluenose" (2006) and "Adventures of a Cold War Veteran" (2009), Haller has spent years lobbying the Department of Defense for legislation to authorize a Cold War Victory Medal for veterans.

Commemorative Cold War medals are available for sale by private vendors, and Congress did issue a certificate in 1999, but to date there is no official congressional medal, he said.

"I just feel so strongly about the work we did," said Haller, who served aboard the sub-hunter USNS Stalwart and achieved the rank of QMED, the highest unlicensed position in the Merchant Marines, before becoming an officer. "We were the first lines of defense during the height of the Cold War."

With U.S. troops still fighting terrorism, an official Cold War medal would validate the important role men and women in the armed services provided at that time, he said.

In writing of his military service, his goal was to educate readers about the sacrifices members of the military made in the fight against communism.

A member of the American Legion, AmVets, the Navy League and Knights of Columbus, as well as an associate member of several F.O.P. lodges, Haller said he knows what it's like to experience post-traumatic stress and hopes his insights can help other veterans.

An avid writer of fiction, poetry and commentary, Haller also dabbles in art work and plays classical violin. He is working on another military memoir about the Cold War, which he said might be called "Life of a Bluenose, Part II."

"There's a lot to get off my chest, a lot of things that need to be said on behalf of all Cold War vets," he explained.

When he raises his American flag this Memorial Day, as he does daily, Haller said he will offer a silent prayer for all service members who gave so much to help make possible the freedoms every American enjoys today.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

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Military Veterans Serving In Congress Decline Again

Perhaps the biggest reason that Congress is ignoring or downplaying our military and our
veterans is the fact that each year fewer and fewer Members are veterans or still serving
in the military

The 113th Congress now is session has only 108 members or 20 percent that are veterans or
still serving in our military. That figure is 10 less than the 112th Congress.

These numbers break down to 88 veterans in the House-this includes 2 female Members and also
2 delegates. The Senate has 18 veterans of Military Service.

According to lists from GQ Roll Coll, these Members have served during WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo as well as during times of peace
(read Cold War). Many have served in the Reserves and National Guard.

Eight House Members and one Senator are still serving in the Reserves, and six House Members
are still serving in the National Guard. Of special interest, Both female veterans are Combat
Veterans.

The diminishing numbers of veterans follow the steady decline of the number of Members who
have served in the military. In 1981-1982 the 97th Congress 64 percent were veterans, and in
1971-1972 the 92nd Congress 73 percent were veterans.

So, as the number of veterans in Congress declines, so to does the number who would look
favorably on current military and our veterans.

It also means that fewer understand the Cold War and it's meaning. The Cold War gets pushed
further into the corner of darkness, neglect, and indifference.

And, the chances for a Cold War Service Medal seem to shrink exponentially, it seems that
no one wants to remember the Cold War. No on except those veterans who placed their lives on
the line and faced danger every day in places far from home in harsh and trying times. Never
sure if "this is a drill" or if "the ballon went up."

The number of Cold War Veterans is also rapidly declining, as age creeps up on us and silently
steals away one more life, leaving one less voice to be heard that wants to tell our story.

Before the last Cold War Veteran passes away America it is time to say Thank You to these
brave men and women.

Urge Congress that this year our nation will remember and recognize these veterans. Ask your
elected officials to introduce legislation that will authorize and DIRECT DoD to issue
a Cold War Service Medal.

Yes, bills have been introduced in the past, but they either are removed during the House/Senate
Committee meetings, or even worse: lie on the desk in their respective Armed Services Committee
and never get to see the light of day; are never brought forth for a vote.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

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American Cold War Veterans/USS Liberty Association Annual Meeting

We have made some changes this year for our Annual Meeting and Commemoration. This year it will be held June 6-8

We will also be joining with the USS Liberty Veterans Association in their Memorial Service for those lost during the

attack on June 8, 1967. We will also lay a wreath at the Victims of Communism Memorial.

American Cold War Veterans Annual Meeting and Commemoration-06-08 June 2014

USS Liberty Veterans Association Commemoration

Business meetings, luncheon and address to be held at the Rosslyn Holiday Inn, 1900 Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22209.

A special room rate of $89.00 is available to conferees. 

Please contact the hotel direct at (703) 807-2000 for reservations.  Mention that you are with the American Cold 

War Veterans

The hotel contact Ms. Melanie Smith may be reached by e-mail at Melanie.Smith@HIRosslyn.com

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, June 06, 2014

9:00 am-12:00 pm 12:00 pm-1:00 pm 1:30 pm-2:00 pm 3:00 pm-7:00 pm 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Congressional Visits Lunch-Dubliner Wreath-Laying: Victims of Communism Memorial Registration and Check-In at Holiday Inn Rosslyn Dinner (on your own) Hospitality

Saturday, June 07, 2014

7:30 am to 8:00 am	Breakfast
8:00 am to 10:00 am	Opening of ACWV Business Meeting
10:00 am to 10:30 am	Break
10:30 am to 12:00 pm	ACWV Business Meeting Continues
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm	Lunch-Speaker (tentative): Dr. Lee Edwards, Chairman, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
1:30 pm to 2:00 pm	Transit to Arlington Cemetery Cold War Commemoration; USS Liberty Commemoration
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm	Arlington Cemetery Cold War Commemoration; USS Liberty Commemoration
4:00 pm to 4:30 pm	Transit to Holiday Inn Rosslyn
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm	Informal Social Hour Followed by Dinner-TBD

Sunday, March 09, 2014

7:30 am to 9:30 am	Breakfast and Religious Observance
9:30 am to 10:15 am	Transit to US Navy Memorial
10:00 am to 10:30 am	Break
11:30 am to 12:30 pm	Commemoration of the USS Liberty and Wreath-Laying-U.S. Navy Memorial
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm	Check Out-Holiday Inn Rosslyn
	EVENT COORDINATOR: CH (COL) Charles H. Nalls, cnalls@canonlaw.org; 202-262-5519

We hope to see you there. If you plan to attend please advise Fr. Charles Nalls cnalls@cannonlaw.org, Frank Tims ftims@aol.com, Al Lepine

ajlepine@roadrunner.com or myself Jerry Terwilliger jerterw@hotmal.com

---- Jerald Terwilliger Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Cold War Service Medal, Let Us Try Again in 2014

As we all know the year 2013 was a do nothing year. There was no concerted effort or push to have the Cold War Service Medal authorized.

Our request to President Obama to issue an Executive Order to create the medal went unanswered and ignored.

All elected officials are now home and will return to Washington on Jan. 2, 2014. Please let us all try to contact them in their local offices before

they return to Washington.

Ask them to please introduce legislation that will authorize a Cold War Service Medal. One good idea would be to use the same wording used by

then Senator Clinton in the bill she introduced.

The Secretary concerned shall issue a service medal, to be known as the `Cold War service medal', to persons eligible to receive the medal under subsection (b). The Cold War service medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense, with ribbons, lapel pins, and other appurtenances.
`(b) Eligible Persons- The following persons are eligible to receive the Cold War service medal:
`(1) A person who--
`(A) performed active duty or inactive duty training as an enlisted member during the Cold War;
`(B) completed the person's initial term of enlistment or, if discharged before completion of such initial term of enlistment, was honorably discharged after completion of not less than 180 days of service on active duty; and
`(C) has not received a discharge less favorable than an honorable discharge or a release from active duty with a characterization of service less favorable than honorable.
`(2) A person who--
`(A) performed active duty or inactive duty training as a commissioned officer or warrant officer during the Cold War;
`(B) completed the person's initial service obligation as an officer or, if discharged or separated before completion of such initial service obligation, was honorably discharged after completion of not less than 180 days of service on active duty; and
`(C) has not been released from active duty with a characterization of service less favorable than honorable and has not received a discharge or separation less favorable than an honorable discharge.
`(c) One Award Authorized- Not more than one Cold War service medal may be issued to any person.
`(d) Issuance to Representative of Deceased- If a person described in subsection (b) dies before being issued the Cold War service medal, the medal shall be issued to the person's representative, as designated by the Secretary concerned.
`(e) Replacement- Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a Cold War service medal that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.
`(f) Application for Medal- The Cold War service medal shall be issued upon receipt by the Secretary concerned of an application for such medal, submitted in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary prescribes.
`(g) Uniform Regulations- The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments under this section are uniform so far as is practicable.
`(h) Cold War Defined- In this section, the term `Cold War' means the period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending at the end of December 26, 1991.'.

Should your official object to this version you can ask them to use wording similar to H.R. 1968 The Cold War Service Medal Act

of 2011

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Cold War Service Medal Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. COLD WAR SERVICE MEDAL.

(a) Medal Authorized-

(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 1136. Cold War Service Medal

`(a) Medal Authorized- The Secretary concerned may issue a service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Service Medal', to persons eligible to receive the medal under subsection (c).

`(b) Design- The Cold War Service Medal shall be of an appropriate design approved by the Secretary of Defense, with ribbons, lapel pins, and other appurtenances.

`(c) Eligible Persons- A person eligible to be issued the Cold War Service Medal is any person--

`(1) who--

`(A) served on active duty in the Armed Forces for not less than 24 consecutive months during the Cold War;

`(B) was deployed as a member of the Armed Forces outside the continental United States for a period of at least 30 days during the Cold War; or

`(C) performed such other service in the Armed Forces during the Cold War as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe for purposes of this section; and

`(2) who, if discharged or released from the Armed Forces, was so discharged or released under honorable conditions after service in the armed forces characterized as honorable.

`(d) One Medal Authorized- Not more than one Cold War Service Medal may be issued to any person.

`(e) Issuance to Representative of Deceased- If a person described in subsection (c) dies before being issued the Cold War Service Medal, the medal may be issued to the person's representative, as designated by the Secretary concerned.

`(f) Replacement- Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a Cold War Service Medal that is lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.

`(g) Regulations- The issuance of a Cold War Service Medal shall be subject to such regulations as the Secretaries concerned shall prescribe for purposes of this section. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any regulations prescribed under this subsection are uniform to the extent practicable.

`(h) Cold War Defined- In this section, the term `Cold War' means the period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending on December 26, 1991.'.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 57 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`1136. Cold War Service Medal.'.

(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate actions to expedite--

(1) the design of the Cold War Service Medal provided for by section 1136 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)); and

(2) the establishment and implementation of mechanisms to facilitate the issuance of the Cold War Service Medal to persons eligible for the issuance of the medal under such section.

I am sure you will hear about the "Cold War Certificate", remind whoever you are talking to that this is just a piece of 

paper that anyone who worked for the government in any function is eligible to the certificate; it makes no mention of 

military service and most veterans have not bothered to apply for it.

Also mention that in 2011 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that in the first year or two of the medal it

would cost about $2 million dollars, with a cost of $30 million over a 7 year period. That is much less that the cost

estimate given by the Department of Defense.

Make note of the fact that DoD authorized both the Armed Forces Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 

for operations in Bosnia. So the excuse by DoD of "duplication of awards" does not make sense. plus we all know veterans

who served their tour of duty and received no award of medal of any type.

We must make the push hard and often. Contact your elected officials by phone, email, fax, in person or by mail. Do it now

and continue doing it.

Congress will begin working on the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 in just a matter of days. Let this be the

year that the Medal is at long last authorized and issued.

Jerald Terwilliger

Former Chairman

American Cold War Veterans

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

New Jersey Cold War Medal Followup

I received information today that the New Jersey Legislature is still considering two bills that will authorize

a Cold War Medal.

In the Assembly is bill number A3828 and in the Senate is a mirror bill S2589. Both bills is currently sitting in

the Budget and Appropriations committees of both the Assembly and the Senate. The Assembly bill is also

in the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

I urge everyone who lives in New Jersey to contact their State Senators and Assembly persons and ask them

to cosponsor and forward the bills.

Or contact the chairpersons of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committees: in the Senate: Senator James Beach,

in the Assembly: Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker.

If we can add another state that will issue a Cold War Medal it just might help in our national push for recognition,

and a medal issued by the federal government.

One thing about the New Jersey bill, it would be for anyone who is living in New Jersey, or lived in New Jersey

at the beginning of the time of service. It would not be limited (at least at this time) to the guard or reserves.

This could be a big step in the process and a push in the correct direction. If we continue to attract attention

and garner local and state backing and support we just might be able to convince Congress and DoD that

the time has come to standby our veterans and finally say Thank You For Your Service

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

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Texas Passes Cold War Medal, New Jersey Still Debating

Texas H.B. 402 was passed by the House on April 3, 2013 Yeas 147, Nays 0. The bill was passed by

the Senate on May 17, 2013 Yeas 31, Nays 0.

The bill will be effective Sept. 1, 2013.

So if you served in the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 29, 1991

can apply to the adjutant general's department. Veterans will have to pay the cost of the medal. At this time

there is no information available as to just what that cost will be.

So now Texas, Louisiana and Alaska have authorized a medal/ribbon for Cold War Service. 

Lets all keep contacting your elected officials, both state and federal to get this medal issued to all who served.

There is no further word on the state of New Jersey House Bill A-3828 and in the Senate an identical bill S2589 

New Jersey estimates that there are 122,000 Cold War Veterans and the cost would be
about 1.9 million dollars. That is a cost of $15.00 per medal and would require two additional staff members with salary of $35,000 each per year. The state does not expect that all veterans would apply and that not all who do apply would do so in the first year. 

So that cost would be spread over several years. 

That is exactly what we have been telling DoD, the costs would be spread over several years. Even the Congressional Budget Office has stated the same theme, it would not be an
all at once cost and would take several years to have the medal issued to all veterans.


---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

State of Texas- Cold War Medal

Texas State Representative Sarah Davis has introduced a bill H.B. 402 that would authorize a
Cold War Medal to be awarded to a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas State Guard
who served between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 26, 1991.

The Cold War Medal is to be awarded only if a fee in the amount necessary to cover the costs of awarding the medal is paid to the adjutant general's department.

In other words the veteran would have to buy their own medal. This is something that the American
Cold War Veterans have been saying in regards to a national/federal issued medal, most of us
would be willing to pay the cost of our own medals. Just give us the authorization and necessary
information and certification.

Anyone who lives in Texas please contact your local state representative asking them to cosponsor
H.B. 402 and vote for passage. You might also contact your local state senator asking them to introduce
a similar bill in the senate.

Perhaps one state at a time will provide the impetus for Congress and DoD to finally provide a federal/national Cold War Service Medal.

Louisiana and Alaska have already authorized the Cold War Medal or Ribbon, now if Texas joins them
it just might start the ball rolling. We know that in the past New Jersey has looked at a medal, and the
New York legislature approved a Cold War Service Medal that was vetoed by the governor.

This could be the start, get each state to issue a Cold War Medal and lead on to the federal medal.


---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996