Cold War Vets Time to Get Word Out!

I would ask New York vets (and their friends and families) to send a one sentence message: Senator Clinton, please introduce an amendment to the 2007 NDAA to authorize a cold war medal, for the men and women who stood fast in defense of the free world. America's veterans will thank you for recognizing their service."


New Yorkers I had a meeting with one of Congressman Brian Higgins assistants on June 21st at 10 am keep phone and letter writing campaign going . We are getting traction let us keep pressure on.

Sean Eagan
NY State Director
Cold War Veterans Association
sean.eagan@gmail.com







http://coldwarvetsnystate.spaces.msn.com/

MIA In Southeast Asia why is Vietnam not helping?
Category: News and Politics


The following is a letter from CWVA Public Affairs Director Paul V. Dudkowski in regards to a petition to the Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States. Titled Vietnam, It's Time to Move! the Vietnamese need to do more to help account for POW MIA issue in Southeast Asia.


Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition:

"Vietnam, it's time to move"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/vnpowmia/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider
signing yourself.

Best wishes,


Paul V. Dudkowski
US Navy 1973 - 1978
Cold War Veterans Association
National Director, Public Affairs
American Legion Post 164, Katy TX.
Post Commander

Cold War Veterans Blog

From 1945 to 1991, the Cold War dominated international affairs. The global competition between the United States and the Soviet Union took many forms: political, economic, ideological, cultural. At times the constant arms race burst into armed conflict. But overshadowing all was the threat of nuclear war.

Despite vast numbers of tanks, warships, and other conventional weapons, nuclear weapons defined the Cold War. Soviet planners accepted the possibility of fighting and winning a nuclear war, but United States policy stressed deterrencediscouraging the use of nuclear weapons by threatening nuclear annihilation and millions of deaths in retaliation.

Only secure retaliatory forces could make the threat credible, and that led the United States to develop the "Strategic Triad"long-range bombers, land-based missiles, and submarines, each force independently able to inflict catastrophic damage on an attacker.

Legislative Update Rep. Jo Ann Davis (VA-1) has signed on as Co-sponsor for the Cold War Service Medal Act.



This just Came in from Natioal Legislative Director Dr.Frank Tims.I just heard from Rep. Andrews office, and Jo Ann Davis' name is being added to list today. Should be able to view it tomorrow on Thomas.

Now for Senator Allen -- let's turn up the heat and ask him to publicly declare on a cold war medal amendment!

Virginia is looking good lets keep up the momentum all you Virginians call Rep Davis for thanks and now lets get Sen Allen on Board.

SA 4212. Mrs. CLINTON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle F of title V, add the following:
SEC. 587. COLD WAR SERVICE MEDAL.
(a) Authority.--Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``§1135. Cold War service medal
``(a) Medal Authorized.--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) Definition.--In this section, the term `Cold War' means the period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending at the end of December 26, 1991.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
GPO's PDF
``1135. Cold War service medal.''.



Congresswoman Davis is now a co-sponsor of HR 2568, the Cold War Victory Medal Act. It will take a few days for Thomas (the website used to track legislation) to update, but she will be on there soon. Thanks for your phone call. We will try to help out during conference with the Senate on the National Defense Authorization Act as well.

Regards,
Andrew Hicks

C. Andrew Hicks
Military Legislative Assistant
Rep. Jo Ann Davis (VA-1)
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4261

New Yorkers I have a meeting with one of Congressman Brian Higgins assistants on June 21st at 10 am keep phone and letter writing campaign going . We are getting traction let us keep pressure on.

Sean Eagan

NY State Director
Cold War Veterans Association
sean.eagan@gmail.com

Congress Is Working on NDAA


New York Vets We Need Your Help!!!!!


I would ask New York vets (and their friends and families) to send a single-sentence message: Senator Clinton, please introduce an amendment to the 2007 NDAA to authorize a cold war medal, for the men and women who stood fast in defense of the free world. America's veterans will thank you for recognizing their service."





Time to Mobilize Cold War Vets



It is time to mobilize the drive for Cold War Service Medal in our state. The CWVA needs us to ask for senators Clinton and Schumer for support on the cold war medal. Where Hillary Clinton is concerned, everyone ask her to offer an amendment to the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007. A letter writing,email, and phone drive needs to start now. Tell your friends, family, co-workers and anybody who will listen to do the same. Network at Amvets, Legion ect. and help get word out. Lets express to our leaders this is long overdue.




You can contact me by phone or email if you have any questions or ideas. Please feel free to report responses and letters sent so we can keep track of progress in our effort.



Sincerely,


Sean P. Eagan


New York State Director
Cold War Veterans Association

sean.eagan@gmail.com





http://www.coldwarveterans.com/

Cold War Veterans Blog

Japan warns N.Korea amid signs missile test imminent





Reuters -
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan warned North Korea on Sunday of "a harsh response" from Tokyo and Washington if it fired a long-range missile, as media reports suggested that the secretive state could be hours away from a test launch.

By Teruaki Ueno

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan warned North Korea on Sunday of "a harsh response" from Tokyo and Washington if it fired a long-range missile, as media reports suggested that the secretive state could be hours away from a test launch.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso said in a television interview that Japan would seek an immediate meeting of the U.N. Security Council if Pyongyang went ahead with an intercontinental ballistic missile test.

He voiced concern about the possibility of a missile dropping on Japan, but toned down a remark made in an earlier interview that Japan would automatically regard this as an attack.


"We will not right away view it as a military act," he said.

A Japanese government official was quoted by the Japanese daily Sankei Shimbuna as saying that North Korea had told its people to raise the national flag at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) on Sunday and to then monitor television for a "message to the people".

CBS News reported that South Korea's ambassador to the United States, Lee Tae-sik, had told Korean correspondents in Washington that North Korea may have fueled the missile already.

"Satellite photos confirmed scores of fuel tanks near the missile launch pad. We are not sure whether they had already completed fuelling or located (the tanks) there to fuel it," Lee was quoted as saying.

Aso stopped short of saying what Japan and the United States would do in the event of a launch.But he said: "The responses will be rather harsh".

South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted diplomatic sources in Seoul as saying a missile test could come on Sunday or Monday.





Crisis looms what will and should be our response to these missle tests. How Long can we wait before military action is inevitable ? Have we waited too long as North Koreas capabilities increase. Is this just another blackmail attempt on west for food and fuel. North Koreas only option is export technology or threaten too until we give them aid.

For more on North Korean missile Program http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.3/pub_detail.asp


SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has moved key components of a long-range missile to a launch pad as well as 10 large liquid-gas tanks to fuel it, a South Korean newspaper reported on Saturday, citing government officials.

The United States on Friday warned North Korea against conducting a "provocative" intercontinental missile test after U.S. officials said there were signs a launch could take place as early as this weekend.

The South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo cited a South Korean government official as saying North Korea has deployed its long-range Taepodong-2 missile to a launch pad and has been testing components of the launch platform.

The officials said the data came from spy satellite images analyzed by U.S and South Korean officials."North Korea is testing operations of the missile launch pad," the paper cited an official as saying. They could not tell if a possible launch was imminent or not.

South Korean government officials were not immediately available for comment. Seoul has warned North Korea not to test, saying a launch would present a grave concern for regional security.
The launch -- expected to involve a Taepodong-2 missile with an estimated range of 3,500 to 4,300 km (2,175 to 2,670 miles) -- could come as early as this weekend, U.S. officials said. Other experts have said the missile can travel as far as 6,000 km.

The U.S. officials said it seemed increasingly likely Pyongyang would go through with the launch -- rather than just making preparations to get U.S. and international attention -- but that it could still decide to cancel.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

For more on North Korean missile Program

Army sticks with tired DoD Line


In a recent posting at thier website the Association of the US Army gives the proposal of a Cold war Service Medal a lukewarm reception and seem to take DoD line that a Cold War Service Medal would cost to much money and also would some how cheapen other medals given out during that time period.

Well, where do I start with the billions of dollars spent on the war on terror the DoD has the nerve to to question the cost of a couple dollar medal that the majority of Veterans would buy themselves anyway. Yet at the same time has issued themselves multiple redundant campaign, service, and expiditionary medals for the war on terror . Now days after one enlistment one might look like a third world dictator.

The Cold War Medal on the other hand would cheapen what medals from 1945-1991 a Arcom? a Good Conduct medal ? The NDSM was issued for national emergencies . No campaign medal was ever issued for the Cold War specifically. Today the President has no problem comparing the Cold War to the War on Terror. But I guess the latter is only one worthy of recognition. Lets see they are both struggles against a evil ideology one lasted for 46 years with flare ups in Vietnam, Korea, Central America, Africa, and decades of a tense standoff in Europe along with a constant posture for World War 3. Now the war on terror/islamofacism has a lot of potential but has a long way to go.
Here is the article from Association of US Army . You be the judge it ticked me off how about you.

Cold War Medal Resurfaces

The House version of last year's fiscal 2006 National Defense Authorization Bill contained provisions for a Cold War medal, but a joint conference committee struck it out. This year the idea has resurfaced. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J. have introduced S. 1361 and H.R. 2568 respectively that would direct the Defense Department to issue such a medal. Service members and DoD civilians who served honorably at any time between Sept. 2, 1945, through Dec. 26, 1991 would be eligible. The proposed legislation would face stiff opposition from DoD because of funding concerns and because a Cold War medal could reduce the prestige accorded other medals awarded during the same era. As a substitute, Public Law 105-85 authorized a Cold War Recognition Certificate for Cold War participants.

Time to Mobilize Cold War Vets


It is time to mobilize the drive for Cold War Service Medal in our state. The CWVA needs us to ask for senators Clinton and Schumer for support on the cold war medal. Where Hillary Clinton is concerned, everyone ask her to offer an amendment to the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007. A letter writing,email, and phone drive needs to start now. Tell your friends, family, co-workers and anybody who will listen to do the same. Network at Amvets, Legion ect. and help get word out. Lets express to our leaders this is long overdue.

You can contact me by phone or email if you have any questions or ideas. Please feel free to report responses and letters sent so we can keep track of progress in our effort.


Sincerely,

Sean P. Eagan

New York State Director
Cold War Veterans Association

sean.eagan@gmail.com
http://www.coldwarveterans.com/
http://blog.myspace.com/cold_war_service_medal

Time to Mobilize Cold War Vets


It is time to mobilize the drive for Cold War Service Medal in our state. The CWVA needs us to ask for senators Clinton and Schumer for support on the cold war medal. Where Hillary Clinton is concerned, everyone ask her to offer an amendment to the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007. A letter writing,email, and phone drive needs to start now. Tell your friends, family, co-workers and anybody who will listen to do the same. Network at Amvets, Legion ect. and help get word out. Lets express to our leaders this is long overdue.

You can contact me by phone or email if you have any questions or ideas. Please feel free to report responses and letters sent so we can keep track of progress in our effort.


Sincerely,

Sean P. Eagan

New York State Director
Cold War Veterans Association

sean.eagan@gmail.com
http://www.coldwarveterans.com/
http://blog.myspace.com/cold_war_service_medal

Bush Invokes Resolve of Cold War


The President has no problem comparing the Cold War to the War on Terror but yet DoD still somehow finds that Cold War service is unworthy of a service medal. It seems a little hypocritical to me.


The following is excerpts from BBC article about Bush's graduation speech at West Point .Mr Bush told graduates the US would never back downPresident George W Bush has likened the US "war on terror" to the Cold War fight against communism after World War II, at a military graduation ceremony. Speaking to cadets at West Point military academy in New York state, Mr Bush said the US would not rest until the threat of terror had been removed. The 861 new graduates must fight a war against terror that knew no boundaries, the president told them. "The war began on my watch but it's going to end on your watch," he said. In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Bush talked of his aim of spreading peace through the Middle East, saying repression there was creating conditions for global terrorism

. We will complete the mission "We're still in the early stages of this struggle for freedom and, like those first years of the Cold War, we've seen setbacks and challenges and days that have tested America's resolve, yet we've also seen days of victory and hope," he said. He commended former President Harry Truman, whose administration lacked popularity but who he said had laid the groundwork of success against communism. Mr Bush drew parallels between Mr Truman's Cold War efforts and his own in fighting global terrorism. The cadets were the first to arrive at the academy after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US. The president noted that more than 50 of their fellow cadets had already seen combat, and 34 former cadets had died in the "war on terror". "We will honour the memory of those brave souls. We will finish the task for which they gave their lives. We will complete the mission," he said.