American Cold War Veterans and Victims of Communism

We will be holding a joint ceremony to honor all Victims of Communism, and all American Veterans of the Cold War on June 14.



---- 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

Another Cold War Veteran On A Mission

A Navy Veteran from Dixon, CA is in our battle to have Cold War
Veterans recognized. He has made it his quest to ensure that all Cold Warriors receive what they deserve.

He feels he is alone in this, but he is not, our organization American Cold War Veterans have been trying for 15 years or
more to convince Congress to authorize and DoD to issue a Cold War Service Medal.

This year the bill in the House of Representatives H.R. 1419
The Cold War Service Medal Act 2017 is the latest attempt to
reach this goal.

Please ask your Representative to cosponsor this bill and vote for passage. Ask all your family and friends to do the same. Also ask
both of your Senators to introduce a companion bill in the Senate.
From Another Veteran Trying For Cold War Recognition

---- 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

VA Issued Veterans ID Card

At long last the VA will begin to issue a photo Veterans ID Card to every honorably discharged Veteran. You do not need to be enrolled in the VA Health Care system.

We have pushed for this for many years, and in 2015 Congress finally approved it. The VA plans to begin issuing these ID Cards
in November, almost two years after the bill was passed and
signed into law.

This means that you will no longer have to carry a copy of your
DD-214 with you to prove you are a veteran. This will come in
handy in the many places that offer special terms or discounts for military and veterans.

More information from Military dot com
Veterans Photo ID Card


---- 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 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

Veteran's I.D. Card-VA Answer To Question

Some of you may be aware of the bill H.R. 91 The Veteran's I.D. Card Act of 2015. This bill was passed by the House and the Senate and signed by President Obama becoming Public Law 114-31
on 07/20/2015.

This directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue a VA ID card to those veterans who did
not retire from our Armed Forces, nor are they enrolled in the VA Health Care System.

This is a simple ID Card, it does not entitle the bearer to VA benefits. It would be an easy way
for someone to prove that they are indeed a Veteran.

There are many business and enterprises that offer discounts to Active Duty and Veterans. For those
not covered by the retired/VA proof is usually a DD-214 which carry some information that many
do not want made public. So this ID Card is perfect, an official US Government issued method
of identification and verification of being a Veteran.

The bill as written said that within 60 the VA could begin to issue these cards.  More information can
be found in earlier posts, scroll down for that info.

I contacted the VA and questioned when the cards would be issued. Here is the response from the VA.

Recently you requested assistance from VA. Below is our response. If you wish to reopen this issue, you may do so within the next 14 days. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you. Response By Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) (09/02/2015 02:45 PM) While VA intends to issue Veteran ID cards to all veterans in the near future,we await more information and instructions on the issuance of these cards. At present, the Department of Veterans Affairs provides a Veterans Identification Card (VIC) for veterans to use at VA medical facilities. The VIC is issued only to veterans who are eligible for VA medical benefits and only for the purpose of identification and check-in for VA medical appointments. The card protects personal privacy by not showing Social Security Numbers or dates of birth on the front of the cards. VA has Service Connected, POW and Purple Heart (PH) indicators on the new VIC. Veterans who have been awarded service-connected status after their VIC has been issued or SC status is not properly documented on their card, will need to present their letter showing their SC rating to the eligibility clerk at the local VA Medical Center where they obtain treatment. After verification, the eligibility clerk will submit a request to National Card Management Directory (NCMD) System for a new card to be issued to the veteran. Once a veteran has his/her picture taken for the new card at the VA medical facility, the card will be mailed to the veteran at the address that has been provided. To ensure that a veteran receives the new VIC card, the veteran should please verify that VA has the correct address on file. If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the card, it will be returned to the facility at which the card was requested. The card will then be held in a secure location at the facility for 90 days. If the card is not picked up within the 90-day period, the card will be destroyed. With regard to the use of veteran ID cards for store discounts, please note: If these are valid store discounts for Veterans, a Veteran's DD-214 and a driver's license or non-driver's license should be appropriate. The VIC is the only ID card offered for veterans by VA; if a store will not accept this proof of veteran status, please check with your State's division of Veterans Affairs to see if they offer this service. For all information about Veterans Identification Cards (what it is, how to get one, what to do if lost or stolen, when it can be used, etc.) go tohttp://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhic/ for details.

So it looks like the usual VA waiting game. I am guessing another 4 to 5 months. Remember the VFW was against this while the bill was in progress; and the VA seemed not to be in favor of it either.

---- 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

New York Veterans To Receive Refund For Drivers License/State ID Card

New York Veterans who had the "Veterans" designation put on their Drivers License/State ID card will receive a
 rebate from the state.

When the "Veteran" designation was first available to be put on the drivers license/ID card on or
after Oct. 3, 2012 the state charged veterans

a fee of $12.50 for the "privilege" of having this included on the license/ID card.

Gov. Cuomo signed the bill in early August, but it has not yet taken effect. It is expected
 to be enacted soon.

The refunds will go to 10,834 veterans with an amount totaling $134,030. Those veterans
who paid the fee will not have to do anything

further, the Department of Motor Vehicles will issue the refunds automatically.

Thank you New York for doing the proper thing for our Veterans, the original fee
should never have been charged to begin with. Veterans

have given more than their fair share, and deserve the recognition and respect they have earned.

---- 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