# Cold War Victory Medal

The Cold War Victory Medal is not an official medal of the United States federal government, but is a state National Guard medal in Louisiana and Texas, and in ribbon form only by the State of Alaska, for those who served in their positions honorably during the years of the Cold War, defined as lasting from September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991. In the medal's unofficial capacity it can be purchased, but not worn in uniform.

## Background and history

In accordance with section 1084 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1998, Congress commended the members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel who contributed to the victory of the Western Alliance in the Cold War, and authorized and instructed the then-Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, to prepare a certificate recognizing the Cold War service of qualifying members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense and other government agencies. The certificate became known as the Cold War Recognition Certificate available by request of the individual by all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War, which is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991.
In October 2001, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2002, which is signed into law on December 28, 2001 by President George W. Bush. In the NDAA approved by both houses and signed into law by the president, was a Sense of the Congress resolution that the Secretary of Defense should consider authorizing the issuance of a Campaign medal, to be known as the Cold War Service Medal, to each person who while a member of the Armed Forces served satisfactorily on active duty during the Cold War. The then-Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, did not create such a medal.
The official U.S. Navy web page states: "The Department of Defense will not be creating a Cold War Service medal" and that any commemorative medals made by private vendors are unauthorized on the military uniform. At present the Cold War Victory Medal remains strictly commemorative and is unofficial other than for members of the Louisiana National Guard (medal and ribbon), Texas National Guard (medal and ribbon) and Alaska National Guard (ribbon only) .
The Cold War Victory Medal is also referred to as the Cold War Commemorative Medal, Cold War Service Medal, or simply as the Cold War Medal. There are no devices or attachments authorized for the Cold War Victory Medal.

## Design

The Cold War Victory Medal was designed by Nadine Russell, the Chief of Creative Heraldry at the Army's Institute of Heraldry and the designer of many campaign and service medals, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

## National Guard awards medal

The National Guard Bureau does not issue nor recognize the Cold War Victory Medal. The medal is worn as a National Guard award and issued by the Louisiana National Guard. The Adjutant General of the State of Louisiana currently authorizes the decoration as the "Louisiana Cold War Victory Medal". Eligible members, including active duty members, of the Louisiana National Guard are authorized to wear the medal in uniform while in the State of Louisiana and not on federal property in that state (e.g., Fort Polk).
The Alaska National Guard has authorized the Cold War Victory Ribbon as the Alaska Cold War Service Ribbon, and authorized it for wear on the military uniforms for the Alaska Army National Guard, Alaska Air National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State Defense Force. Wear of the medal form of this award is optional, in that the state does not provide the medal, only the ribbon. Authorized recipients of the ribbon may purchase and wear the medal (full size or miniature) at their own expense, but consistent when wear of medals is directed, such as the Governor's Annual Dinner.

## State defense force award

Several state defense forces have authorized wear of the award for members who meet the requirements. The Alaska State Defense Force, the New Mexico State Guard, and the Texas State Guard have authorized the award for wear on their uniforms.

## Various commemorative versions of the medal

The Cold War Victory Medal is also a civilian medal which may be privately purchased but is not distributed by the United States government. As such, the decoration is not presently authorized for wear on active duty military uniforms. However, the medal has been officially adopted by the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States and is thus frequently worn by U.S. military retirees, veterans and civilians on public holidays, parades and veterans functions. In this regard, the order of precedence of the Cold War Victory Medal is immediately after the lowest authorized U.S. award.
There are various versions of the medal privately struck by many different vendors. However, the only version which has been officially adopted by the Military Order of Foreign Wars has been the Cold War Victory Medal designed by Nadine Russell of the Institute of Heraldry. It has also been officially adopted by the American Cold War Veterans organization. The Germany Defense Veterans of America has also adopted and authorized this medal to all the members of the Germany Defense Veterans of America as this organization's wear of medals on the GDVA uniform.

## Bills introduced in Congress to enact authorization to wear medal

Over the years bills have been introduced in five separate Congresses for the authorization of a Cold War Victory Medal or Cold War Service Medal. To date bills have successfully passed both houses but get stripped out in committee. All medal bills have been opposed by the U.S. Department of Defense, as it would overlap with service and campaign medals already issued for the Vietnam War and the Korean War, as well as the costs of issuing millions of medals to eligible veterans. On February 17, 2011, Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) and on May 24, 2011, Representative Steve Israel (NY-2) reintroduced legislation in the Senate and House, respectively, that the Secretary of Defense concerned may issue a service medal, to be known as the `Cold War Service Medal', to Cold War veterans who meet the criteria.

### Bills in the United States Senate

| Congress | Cold War Medal Bill number | Sponsor | Co-Sponsor | Notes |
| 112th Congress (2011–2012) | S.402 | Olympia Snowe (ME) | Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), Tim Johnson (SD), John Kerry (MA), Robert Menendez (NJ), Jim Webb (VA) | 6 Co-Sponsors |
| 111th Congress (2009–2010) | S.2743 | Olympia Snowe (ME) | Russ Feingold (WI), John Kerry (MA), Paul G. Kirk (MA), Mary Landrieu (LA), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Robert Menendez (NJ), Mike Johanns (NE), Jim Webb (VA) | 8 Co-Sponsors |
| 110th Congress (2007–2008) | S.AMDT. 2163 to H.R.1585 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Susan Collins (ME), Blanche Lincoln (AR) | 2 Co-Sponsors |
| 110th Congress (2007–2008) | S.1097 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Susan Collins (ME), Chuck Schumer (NY), Mary Landrieu (LA), Olympia Snowe (ME) | 4 Co-Sponsors |
| 110th Congress (2007–2008) | S.1763 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Blanche Lincoln (AR), Olympia Snowe (ME) | 2 Co-Sponsors |
| 109th Congress (2005–2006) | S.AMDT.4212 to S.2766 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | None | 0 Co-Sponsors |
| 109th Congress (2005–2006) | S.1351 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Blanche Lincoln (AR), Dick Durbin (IL) Tim Johnson (SD) | 3 Co-Sponsors |
| 108th Congress (2003–2004) | S.1841 | Hillary Clinton (NY) | Blanche Lincoln (AR), Dick Durbin (IL) Mark Pryor (AR) | 3 Co-Sponsors |
| 108th Congress (2003–2004) | H.R.3388 | See H.R. 3388 below | David Vitter (LA) | David Vitter Co-Sponsored H.R. 3388 as Congressman from Louisiana's 1st district and is currently a US Senator from Louisiana. |
| 107th Congress (2001–2002) | H.R.2165 | See H.R. 2165 below | Lindsey Graham (SC) | Lindsey Graham Co-Sponsored H.R.2165 as Congressman from South Carolina's 3rd district and is currently a US Senator from South Carolina. |
| 106th Congress (1999–2000) | S.AMDT.474 to S.1059 | Phil Gramm (TX) | Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), John Ashcroft (MO), Paul Coverdell (GA), Trent Lott (MS) | 4 Co-Sponsors |
| 105th Congress (1997–1998) | S.AMDT.743 to S.936 | Larry Craig (ID) | None | 0 Co-Sponsors |

### List of 12 senators who have supported the enactment of the medal

| State | Senator | 107th Congress (2001–2002) | 108th Congress (2003–2004) | 109th Congress (2005–2006) | 110th Congress (2007–2008) | 110th Congress (2007–2008) | 111th Congress (2009–2010) | 112th Congress (2011–2012) |
| AR | Mark Pryor | | S.1841 | | | | | |
| IL | Dick Durbin | | S.1841 | S.1351 | | | | |
| KS | Jerry Moran | | | H.R.2568 | | | | |
| LA | Mary Landrieu | | | | S.1097 | | S.2743 | |
| LA | David Vitter | | H.R.3388 | | | | | |
| MA | John Kerry | | | | | | S.2743 | S.402 |
| ME | Susan Collins | | | | S.1097 | S.AMDT. 2163 to H.R.1585 | | S.402 |
| NE | Mike Johanns | | | | | | S.2743 | |
| NJ | Robert Menendez | | | | | | S.2743 | S.402 |
| NY | Chuck Schumer | | | | S.1097 | | | |
| SC | Lindsey Graham | H.R.2165 | | | | | | |
| SD | Tim Johnson | | | S.1351 | | | | S.402 |

### Bills in the U.S. House of Representatives

| Congress | Cold War Medal Bill number | Sponsor | Co-Sponsor | Notes |
| 112th Congress (2011–2012) | H.R.1968 | Steve Israel (NY-2) | Jason Altmire (PA-4), Timothy Bishop (NY-1), Judy Chu, (CA-32), Gerald Connolly (VA-11), Joseph (Joe) Courtney (CT-2), Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Richard L. Hanna (NY-24), Nan Hayworth (NY-19), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Jim McGovern (MA-3), David McKinley (WV-1), Michael Michaud (ME-2), Timothy F. Murphy (PA-18), William Lewis Owens (NY-23), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Todd Russell Platts (PA-19), Nick Rahall (WV-3) | 19 Co-Sponsors |
| 111th Congress (2009–2010) | H.R.4051 | Steve Israel (NY-2) | Jason Altmire (PA-4), Michael Arcuri (NY-24), Dan Boren (OK-2), Rick Boucher (VA-9), Bob Brady (PA-1), Christopher Carney (PA-10), Joseph (Joe) Courtney (CT-2), Mark Critz (PA-12), Kathleen Dahlkemper (PA-3), Geoff Davis (KY-4), Bill Delahunt (MA-10), Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08), Chaka Fattah (PA-2), Bob Filner (CA-51), Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Paul Hodes (NH-2), Mark Kirk (IL-10), Tom Latham (IA-4), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Jim McGovern (MA-03), Mike McIntyre (NC-7), Michael McMahon (NY-13), Michael H. Michaud (ME-2), Timothy F. Murphy (PA-18), John Murtha (PA-12), Bill Pascrell (NJ-8), Collin Peterson (MN-7), Pedro Pierluisi (PR), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), Todd Russell Platts (PA-19), Ted Poe (TX-2), Mike Ross (AR-4), Joe Sestak (PA-7), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Glenn "G.T." Thompson (PA-5), Mac Thornberry (TX-13), Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5), Joe Wilson (SC-2), Robert Wittman (VA-1), Frank Wolf (VA-10), Fred Upton (MI-6) | 46 Co-Sponsors |
| 110th Congress (2007–2008) | None | None | None | |
| 109th Congress (2005–2006) | H.R.2568 | Rob Andrews (NJ-1) | Rick Boucher (VA-9), Jo Ann Davis (VA-1), Phil English (PA-3), Bob Filner (CA-51), Virgil Goode (VA-5), Bart Gordon (TN-6), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), Randy Kuhl (NY-29), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Dennis Moore (KS-3), Jerry Moran (KS-1), Todd Platts (PA-19), Nick Rahall (WV-3), Silvestre Reyes (TX-16), Rob Simmons (CT-2), Bart Stupak (MI-1) | 17 Co-Sponsors |
| 108th Congress (2003–2004) | H.R.3388 | Thomas Tancredo (CO-6) | Phil English (PA-3), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Bart Gordon (TN-6), Mark Green (WI-8), Jim Leach (IA-2), Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11), Mike Michaud (ME-2), Dennis Moore (KS-3), Jim Moran (VA-8), Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Jim Ryun (KS-2), John Shimkus (IL-19), David Vitter (LA-1), Joe Wilson (SC-2) | 14 Co-Sponsors |
| 108th Congress (2003–2004) | H.R.3201 | Rob Andrews (NJ-1) | Rick Boucher (VA-9), Ben Chandler (KY-6), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Mike Honda (CA-15), Jim McDermott (WA-7), Jim McGovern (MA-3), Todd Platts (PA-19) | 7 Co-Sponsors |
| 107th Congress (2001–2002) | H.R.3417 | Ron Paul (TX-14) | Virgil Goode (VA-5) | 1 Co-Sponsor |
| 107th Congress (2001–2002) | H.R.2165 | Floyd Spence (SC-2) | Cass Ballenger (NC-10), Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6), Gus Bilirakis (FL-9), Kevin Brady (TX-8), Steve Buyer (IN-4), Ed Bryant (TN-7), Howard Coble (NC-6), Randy Cunningham (CA-51), Jim Gibbons (NV-2), Lindsey Graham (SC-3), Van Hilleary (TN-4), David L. Hobson (OH-7), Nancy Johnson (CT-6), Sam Johnson (TX-3), Ken Lucas (KY-4), Ray LaHood (IL-18), Jim McGovern (MA-3), Cynthia McKinney (GA-4), Michael Oxley (OH-4), Joseph R. Pitts (PA-16), Jim Ryun (KS-2), Jim Saxton (NJ-3), Edward Schrock (VA-2), Rob Simmons (CT-2), John Spratt (SC-5) | 25 Co-Sponsors |
| 106th Congress (1999–2000) | H.R.2440 | Rick Lazio (NY-2) | None | 0 Co-Sponsors |

### List of 42 representatives plus 1 delegate to congress who have supported the enactment of the medal

| State | Representative | 107th Congress (2001–2002) | 108th Congress (2003–2004) | 108th Congress (2003–2004) | 108th Congress (2003–2004) | 109th Congress (2005–2006) | 111th Congress (2009–2010) | 112th Congress (2011–2012) |
| CA-15 | Mike Honda | | H.R.3201 | | | | | |
| CA-32 | Judy Chu | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| CT-02 | Joseph (Joe) Courtney | | | | | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| FL-09 | Gus Bilirakis | H.R.2165 | | | | | | |
| IA-04 | Tom Latham | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| IL-19 | John Shimkus | | | H.R.3388 | | | | |
| MA-03 | Jim McGovern | H.R.2165 | | H.R.3201 | | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| ME-01 | Chellie Pingree | | | | | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| ME-02 | Mike Michaud | | | H.R.3388 | | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| MI-06 | Fred Upton | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| MN-07 | Collin Peterson | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| NC-05 | Virginia Foxx | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| NC-06 | Howard Coble | H.R.2165 | | | | | | |
| NC-07 | Mike McIntyre | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| NE-01 | Jeff Fortenberry | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| NJ-01 | Rob Andrews | | H.R.3201 | | | H.R.2568 | | |
| NJ-08 | Bill Pascrell | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| NY-01 | Timothy Bishop | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| NY-02 | Steve Israel | | | | H.R.5112 | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| NY-23 | William Lewis Owens | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| NY-24 | Richard L. Hanna | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| NY-27 | Brian Higgins | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| OH-09 | Marcy Kaptur | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| PA-01 | Bob Brady | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| PA-02 | Chaka Fattah | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| PA-05 | Glenn "G.T." Thompson | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| PA-06 | Jim Gerlach | | H.R.3201 | H.R.3388 | | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| PA-16 | Joseph R. Pitts | H.R.2165 | | | | | | |
| PA-18 | Timothy F. Murphy | | | | | | H.R.4051 | H.R.1968 |
| SC-02 | Joe Wilson | | | H.R.3388 | | | H.R.4051 | |
| TX-02 | Ted Poe | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| TX-03 | Sam Johnson | H.R.2165 | | | | | | |
| TX-08 | Kevin Brady | H.R.2165 | | | | | | |
| TX-13 | Mac Thornberry | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| TX-18 | Sheila Jackson-Lee | | | | | H.R.2568 | H.R.4051 | |
| VA-01 | Robert Wittman | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| VA-08 | Jim Moran | | | H.R.3388 | | | | |
| VA-10 | Frank Wolf | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |
| VA-11 | Gerald Connolly | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| WA-07 | Jim McDermott | | H.R.3201 | | | | | |
| WV-01 | David McKinley | | | | | | | H.R.1968 |
| WV-03 | Nick Rahall | | | | | H.R.2568 | | H.R.1968 |
| Delegate to Congress ||||||||||
| Puerto Rico | Pedro Pierluisi | | | | | | H.R.4051 | |