Hogwash.

Same song, second verse. Oh wait, now you are saying your service has more value than those who served along side doing the same job because a) You had prior military service and b) you received and honorable discharge. You say if it don't pay the bills it ain't worth pursuing. Well, please explain for the rest of us the theory behind the new "resolution". (which really isn't new at all)

"Spring Cleaning". Please explain the title. Way over my head.

I'll explain since you asked

A.service has more value than those who served along side doing the same job because a) You had prior military service

This is true.  First off, those serving along side me with no prior military service got in there based on some drug release program these contractors do because it makes them look charitable and good.  Some got in there with connections to parents employed in management via nepotism, not based on skills attained in the military.  They shouldn't be there in the first place.  Secondly,  most vso's are based on honorable military service.  Well, there is your military service.  If you were not trained to at least fire the M-16 rifle, you have no business in the combat zone.

B .I aint pursuing nothing as of yet.  As you can see, I posted this resolution, to get some drawback from the good cold war veteran folks here to see what they think.  Obviously, the VFW version was not well received here, so I figured I would probe another angle. Why the complete astonishment?  

And the title SPRING CLEANING was more of a question because I noticed that "Be it resolved" had be eliminated from this forum along with all the responses and postings.  (Must have nothing to do with the cold war.)

 To the above guest on"Whereas, Congress..."  if you feel in your heart and soul to try to get some recognition in a cause that you firmly believe in...then go ahead and pursue your goals.  You may wish to contact the commanders of local posts of the Legion and the VFW in your area and sit down with them and discuss your resolutions with them.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing so. There will always be people in the world who will always try to chop off your ankles because they do not like your ideas or thoughts.  Too bad for them!  Go for it.

 I have no problem with 29 palms pursuing his goals; I just don't think this forum is the proper place to do so. The mission of the ACWV is to obtain long overdue recognition for Cold War veterans (Military). The issue of DOD contractors joining VSOs is a completely separate issue. If he feels so strongly, perhaps he should form a new organization to pursue that goal, complete with it own forum.

Semper Fi

USMC  (Ret.)

ACWV 2007-033

You mean I should post under GENERAL VETERANS ISSUES right?  What does GENERAL VETERAN ISSUES mean to you?   Why do they have that part of the forum in here?  The issue of DOD contractors joining vso's or gaining veteran status is a veteran issue.  Why must I form a new organization?  I can always submit my resolution through a congress member.  What's wrong in talking about it here? 
So its ok for Jerald to post his news sources in here like the Blue Water Navy which was VIETNAM and AGENT ORANGE related is an ok issue?  As for GUEST.  Thank you for that warm tip.  That was quite considerate. 

Why exclude civilians working along side veterans of the armed forces?

It was my understanding also that this organization, for the longest time, has wanted a stand alone medal for MILITARY veterans only.  Unlike the cold war certificate, which has been made eligible to all government employees, in that a civilian postal worker that avoided the draft and went to Canada could have received this certificate.  And with that, I totally agree on a military only stand alone medal.
 
I hope this explains why I didn't include civilians in the combat zone for vfw or veteran status in these resolutions.  I pull for veterans first and foremost.  Stand alone recognition. 

Must have served in armed forces or national guard with an honorable, (this includes cold war veterans and peace time veterans with honorable discharges.)

Must have been deployed in the war zone using parallel wars and conflicts that of active duty working as civilians under DOD contractors in support of operations. 

Can prove it with documentation.

Scenario number 1

Joe Veteran served in the USMC for 4 years.  After his discharge, he got a job working on a military contract by some company on board a vessel.  He was hired based on his skills as a military equipement mechanic.  His vessel carried all kinds of military equipment, including an armory and explosives.  His main job was to act as a technical representative for the Marine Corps.  When the Marines came on board, he would brief his brothers in arms where all the equipment was and if the maintenance and documentation was up to date.  He also had the combanation to the armory, and the key to the explosives in the holds of the ship.  The Marines that came on board respected Joe Veteran because he was one of their own.  He had something to give back, and above all, Joe Veteran was a professional.  Real entuned with his mission.
The ship sails into the Persian Gulf during a war.  He stays in the war zone for months.  I don't have a problem with Joe Veteran getting wartime veteran status.  He earned it.

Scenario 2

Joe the pub waitress's son, was hired on the program because somebody liked his mother.  As a gesture of goodwill, he was hired onto a contract that were taken by mostly former military veterans, hired for their expertise and knowledge of military equipment.  But Joe is a nice kid, and they let him come on board.  He passes his drug test, he gets issued his uniform, and becomes part of the team.  The ship sails into the Persian Gulf, Joe does a what he's told, he's doing all right, but when the Marines come on board, they begin talking to him, Joe, the pub waitress's son doesn't know what the hell this Marine is talking about.   When the Marine ask him about Tam ID number D1055, which everyone knows is a humvee, he stands there pickle faced.  When the 50 caliber machine guns get mounted on the humvees to be dropped off in the port of Al Jubail, he doesn't know what the hell a 50 caliber machine gun, how to mount one, nor knows what kind of sound it makes when fired.  When the Marines are standing around talking about their bases or just plain Marine talk, this kid is lost.  So I would have a problem giving this guy in the combat zone combat veteran status when he never served in the military, nor should he have been there in the first place.  It would be odd to give this kid combat veteran status when he had no military foundation to build on.  The other guys on the other hand, that are veterans, in the combat zone was just an extension of what they missed out on during active duty but went along later as civilians.  They had the military know how.

It would also be a bit odd to hand combat veteran status to Joe the pub watress's son over cold war veterans that served in missle silos and all other MOS's.  It would be odd to hand this guy that kind of status over anyone that wore a uniform.  Does he deserve recognition for being in a combat zone?  Maybe but he would have to search for his own status.  Hence why I think Merchant Marines of WWII got lucky in their quest for veteranship.  Only thing is that they did it as a group and lobbied hard for it and they won.