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Hey JD how ya doing ? , I shall give Frank & Sean a call see if it shall be ready soon, quite a small amount added to their plate as this meeting had many facets, was a shame folks like you could not attend, an for more than just what was presented am sure I would have enjoyed meeting you as well others.
PNV
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Report up in a few days.
Frank
Here is the text:
REPORT TO MEMBERS ANDGUESTS
TheAmerican Cold War Veterans annual meeting was held in Washington, D.C. on May1, 2012, from 1-3 PM. in Room SVC 200, Capitol VisitorsCenter (Senateside). Frank Tims chaired themeeting, with general discussion of Cold War, legislative, and future meetingtopics, and William Boyle made an excellent presentation on possible sites fora Cold War Memorial. Mr. JavierCorreoso, Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman David Rivera was present, andoffered constructive feedback on the legislative process.
We gained some legislative support for the Cold WarService Medal, which was not included in the 2012 Defense Authorization, but isstill possible for the 2013 Authorization. We are past the mark-up of that bill (House version is H. R. 431, which does not include the CWSM),so a floor amendment would be needed. Wedo not yet have the Senate version of NDAA. The legislative route does not seem promising, especially in the face ofthe budget sequestration. Support forthe legislation is still important, even in the face of chronic Pentagonopposition.
The question was raised regarding alternatives to aCold War Service Medal. Sean Eagansuggested that the eligibility dates for the Armed Forces Service Medal couldbe changed to cover the Cold War Period, or at least the intervals betweenrecognized “periods of war.” This waspresented as a recommendation to the Board of Directors of ACWV. Another alternative suggested was askingPresident Obama to issue an executive order to reopen dates for eligibleoperations and expeditions since the beginning of the Cold War (September 1945)for which a campaign medal is not already authorized, for award of the ArmedForces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), using same criteria as are currently in regulations. This might include the deployment of theSixth Fleet in the 1956 crisis, MAAG mission to Greece 1947-50, and various“imminent hostilities” alerts of the Armed Forces during the Cold War.
Member Frank DeBenedictis suggested that we engageeducators, particularly history teachers, via the website to increase awarenessof the Cold War, especially significant events, operations, andpolitical-military aspects of that global conflict. We will follow up on this excellentsuggestion, and begin to expand content as a resource page for teachers.
We adjourned at 3 PM to travel to Arlington NationalCemetery to hold a memorial service at 4PM at Section 34, wherenumerous Cold War Heroes are buried, including USS Liberty crewmen, CAPTMcGonagle (MOH – skipper of USS Liberty), and aircrews shot down during ColdWar operations. Afterwards, we placedroses on graves of Francis Gary Powers, CAPT McGonagle, several of the aircrewsincluding those shot down over Soviet Armenia 1958), USS Liberty casualties, GeneralVan Fleet (who led US Military Mission to Greece 1947-50), LTC Nicholson(killed in East Germany 1985), COL Nick Rowe (killed in Philippines 1989), MAJWillard Palm (shot down over Barents Sea 1960), CAPT Edward Nordeen (killed inGreece 1988), and SP4 Phillip Michael Kern (killed on Korean DMZ 1969), AND COLJames Webb (who flew in Berlin Airlift).
In a separate meeting, Glen Talon, Sean Eagan andJames Allen with Ryan Kaldahl from Senator Collins office about the CWSMAct. Ryan discussed that after thissession we will have many new faces in the Senate and some of our usualsupporters are leaving Congress. In an honest assessment he recommended wemight try to tweak our approach to develop new and stronger support in the nextCongress.
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#4
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- From:
- USA
- Registered: 05/19/2008
- Time spent: 37900 hours
- Posts: 540
- Score: 540
- Rank:
- none
- Status: Still Serving
"PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH !!"
RE: Above. These alternate ideas were proposed Oct 14 2011 at our meeting at the Th Old Exec Office Building with the VA, White House Staff from the Presidents and Vice presidents Office. All goals to ensure the Cold War becomes equitable as a war period. The questions were raised to open the door to any and all dialog to work out a suitable end result with these ideas and the White House.
Second: today new information came to our knowledge that SecDef Rumsfeld was not the killer of the CWSM in 2002, but it was suggested to be Paul Wulfowitz and the special interests he represents. To look at this to where our problem lies.
Third: Be it not that in the NDAA2002 that the CWSM(campaign medal) passed congress and was voted on and approved by president Bush for its creation, that we only need the directive to issue it. Congress has acted and that in itself could be used in a different way to open up administratively all the equity of war time onto cold warriors nullifying the discriminatory effects of non war status. This in conjunction with Congressional Gold Medal one time to mark the Cold War Victory official. Sale of replica Gold medals could be purchased or proceeds donated to pay for the program like a commemorative coin program.
bELKNAP
Sen. Webb is his counterpart in the Senate -- but Webb stands up for us. Too bad he is leaving the Senate, but the question in politics is always "do you have the votes to pass a bill. On HASC side, I think the answer is still no. President Obama could just do executive order -- write him -- no guarantees it will do any good, but bring the matter to his attention. Meanwhile, let's think about what to do.
We asked the president like you say. We wrote him multitudes. Then were invited to meet his staff to talk about the issue. The answer was silence. So it could be possible that he is in such a campaign condition he might do anything even against his own party ideals. So we can keep writing him and see.
Ps. I don't think its mindless at all from DoD but more direct and intentional while their asrms are being broken behind their backs from their financiers.
There is an opportunity here to spell out in every way possible back and forth how Medals connect to benefits and welfare in relation to benefits even to the state level and clarify why the cause is so important. that has not been done well enough, we even don't understand it amongst our members. I am believing that veterans should not ever feel discrimination and inequality between fellow veterans and in their lifestyles. If it was done properly a Bill could be written to amend even the EEO laws to add language to ban actions that harm or treat one vet differently from another vet based on a few criteria not just Sex, race, faith etc... See where that could go? Example: a state or community could not pass a Bill that gave special benefits based on certain medals or service that would treat them discriminatorly better that another veteran within the veteran class or group. As a result it could be in the case of property tax exemptions: If you have a campaign medal you get the exemption and the vets without do not(as is the case in NH)The law should prevent alienation of a segment of a group to be reclassed within the same group. Thats what all these Bills do that seam to help some vets but in helping some it hurts others. This concept would appeal to the compassionate legislators and to some party lines. If something like this was passed, a Cold War vet would have recourse if harmed, and you would be able to stand your ground and know your treated equally under the law. That would release the sting when called peacetime vet or sorry you don't get that benefit or you don't get that discount or exemption etc... so in daily life a CWvet could hear and feel less of that and some relief. Laws protect people and certain groups.
Laws treating one group of veterans differently than another.
Discrimination: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.
Discriminating law in the Tax Code toward Cold War Veterans [To receive tax deductible contributions under IRC 170(c)(3), at least 90% of the members must be war veterans.] This rule unjustly prevents CW vets from organizing, raising funds, lobbying and having a voice.
"War veterans" are defined in Rev. Rul. 84-140 as persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces during a period of war. The periods of war are specified in 38 U.S.C. sec. 101 and Rev. Rul. 78-239, 19781 C.B. 162.
Cold Warriors depending on many factors may not be eligible for service pensions. When with we be such of a minority that this gets the attention of the American people. If we were all female right now this would be acted on. But as a group with the group or class called veterans, this should meet the requirements to give us equal treatment as others regardless of medals or war periods.
Personally, i've been putting my marbles into having the H.R. 2985 passed for all veterans to get a photo ID veterans card from the VA. Personally, this would do us much more as a veterans group, but I also agree with SacWarrior on the discrimination and inequality issue that really should be addressed, which is the real reason everyone here (I think at least minimully) what this cold war medal drive has been all about. Equality and not to be discriminated against. I would hope that people here wouldn't just want the medal because they are some medal collector and just want a medal to look at..
I think Dr. Tims is correct in that it's probably difficult at best to actually move a stand-alone medal bill from respective ASCs to their floors for vote. One thing though that I've wondered about is, that over the years we've seen inclusion of a medal provision in one or the other Senate or House yearly NDAA.....never both....and because the provision doesn't appear in both, it seems it's always struck from the final, reconciled version. I wonder if indeed the provision was, for once, included in both, would it pass muster. Thus, no need for independent, stand-alone bill. If so, it sure would seem worthwhile to do everything we could to get that CWSM included in the House version by way of floor amendment. Is that the key....get the provision into both house's NDAA?
bELKNAP
DOD has dug in its heels on the CWSM. SOP (Same Old Policy) is being used as an excuse. We need to look for alternative strategy. I have a meetng in DC with someone from VETPAC in July, also Board Meeting in Portland, ME, in a couple of days. Among proposals is expanding board from 5 to 7. Will post outcome here. But CWSM looks done for now -- if Rep. Joe Wilson would back it, it would pass but he has Ft. Jackson and other installations in his district and will not take the flak from the Pentagon over CWSM. Understandable, but there it is. I think two avenues are open -- sunset the "certificate," which can be obtained by even draft dodgers (I won't name names, but some are neocons), and push for opening up AFEM back to beginning of Cold War. At a minimum, MAAG in Greece 1947-50 saw combat and should be eligible, and 6th fleet in Suez crisis, as well as First Taiwan Straits Crisis (1954-56). And then the USS Essex was involved in Bay of Pigs (launched A-4 aircraft) but JFK chose to ignore that one for political reasons). We need to at least get a review of AFEM for Cold War "imminent hostilities" alerts -- including SAC.
Should help our cause.
Hey folks , Welcome MS Beaven to ACWV, my Dad was a Tin Can Sailor { U.S.S.Preston } Korean War, nice to have you aboard & fair winds and following seas < got that from Jerry LOL : )
PNV
For the fellas deployed to Europe, changing the requirements to receive the AFEM would also be a possibility. With the Iron Curtain going up in 1946, the Berlin Blockade in '48, the East German revolt in '53, the Hungarian revolt in '56, the Berlin Wall going up in '61, the Czechoslovakia invasion by the Russians in '68, the tentions between the U.S. and the Soviet-Warsaw Pact Armed Forces throughout the '70's and 80's, one would have to ask if this were not dangerous times and conditions for our armed forces, then what would have had to taken place, a nuclear or conventional conflict with the Russians? If we are not deserving of a Cold War Service Ribbon or a Europe Defense Service Ribbon for our deployment to Europe, then why did we have to be there in the first place?
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#18
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- From:
- USA
- Registered: 05/19/2008
- Time spent: 37900 hours
- Posts: 540
- Score: 540
- Rank:
- none
- Status: Still Serving
"PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH !!"
I don't think this ever went anywhere, but below from 2007 Texas legislature....just thought I'd post because I think ADSM is legitimate Cold War award, and this indicates that it might not be all that crazy....some good wording here.
bELKNAP
2007S1445-2 05/09/07
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States armed forces confronted and engaged the forces of international Communism continuously from the end of World War II until the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and the Soviet Bloc, in an extended conflict referred to as the Cold War; and
WHEREAS, The United States of America, throughout this prolonged period, depended upon its citizen volunteers and draftees to perform national military service in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to defend the United States and its allies; and
WHEREAS, The veterans of the Cold War faithfully served our country around the globe during a campaign of Soviet Bloc aggression, the occupation of Eastern Europe, and the constant threat of nuclear attack; and
WHEREAS, The defeat of the former Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies constituted the greatest success of the United States armed forces since the end of World War II; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate and it is time to recognize with a service medal those Americans who honorably served in the United States armed forces during the Cold War; and
WHEREAS, The American Defense Service Medal was awarded by Executive Order 8808, signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on June 28, 1941, to certain active duty service members who served between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941; and
WHEREAS, Modifying Executive Order 8808 to award the American Defense Service Medal to United States armed forces military personnel for Cold War service will honorably recognize these deserving veterans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the president of the United States to issue an executive order modifying Executive Order 8808 to award the American Defense Service Medal to United States armed forces military personnel who served on active duty during the period September 2, 1945, to December 26, 1991; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to the president of the United States.