I want to thank Joe Martin of EDVA and Dan Heath staff writer of
Press Republican for making the public aware of inadequate
recognition for Cod War Vets. I hopefully have some good news soon
to report from Rep. McHugh in regard to his support of CWVM .
Sincerely,
Sean P. Eagan
New York State Director
Cold War Veterans Association
14 Valley St.
Jamestown NY 14701
sean.eagan@gmail.com
http://www.coldwarveterans.com
http://cold-war-veterans-blog.blogspot.com/
Joe Martin displays (from left) an Occupation Service medal; a Good Conduct medal; the commemorative medal available from the Department of Defense, which Martin said cant legally be worn on a uniform; and a prototype of the Cold War European Service medal he hopes to get approved by Congress
Staff Photo/Michael Betts
Staff Photo/Michael Betts
Group calls for recognition of Cold War veterans
Recognition sought for veterans of '40s through '90s era
By: August 24, 2006
LAKE PLACID An organization based in this area is working to give Cold War veterans recognition for their efforts at maintaining peace, freedom and stability on the European continent.
Joe Martin of Saranac Lake is the national director of the Europe Defense Veterans of America, based in Lake Placid. The group is advocating congressional approval of a Europe Defense Service Medal for people who took part in the Cold War's European Theater between Sept. 2, 1945, and Dec. 26, 1991, when the Soviet Union disbanded.
Joe Martin of Saranac Lake is the national director of the Europe Defense Veterans of America, based in Lake Placid. The group is advocating congressional approval of a Europe Defense Service Medal for people who took part in the Cold War's European Theater between Sept. 2, 1945, and Dec. 26, 1991, when the Soviet Union disbanded.
Europe Defense Veterans of America National Director Joe Martin points to the group’s patch on the Cold Warriors Honor blanket he created. It is adorned with patches from 39 groups that have expressed support for some form of Cold War service recognition
Staff Photo/Michael Betts
Staff Photo/Michael Betts
A DIFFERENT WAR
Martin said the Cold War is a story many may not want to broach because it is viewed as a time of peace.
"It was a war. There are still about 126 (people) missing in action," he said.
Martin said there are 382 known U.S. casualties from hostile fire during the Cold War, not including those killed in recognized conflicts, such as the Korean and Vietnamese wars.
It is estimated more than 5,000 American military personnel died, went missing in action or were wounded while performing training maneuvers, operations or support missions during the Cold War, he said.
"That these lives are not recognized is not fair, and it's not right."
The group wants to see a full and accurate accounting of those who became missing in action during the Cold War, as well as equal recognition with other veterans for their efforts in defense of the United States.
NEW APPROACH
Martin said bills have been introduced for several years seeking creation of a Cold War Victory Medal and a Cold War Service Medal. He said the House of Representatives usually supports the measure, but it fails in the Senate.
Those medals would be available for about 18 million veterans who served between 1941 and 1991.
He started the Europe Defense Veterans to try to get recognition for about 5 million veterans who served in Europe during that period, hoping the smaller number might ease passage through the two houses of Congress.
The group is pushing for the Europe Defense Service Medal based on the authorization of the Korea Defense Service Medal three years ago.
"The Korean War never ended. They are still there on a day-to-day basis," Martin said. "If they are worth a medal, why aren't we?"
SERVICE MEDALS
Among his years of military service were four years and 19 days as a Marine infantryman on two tours in Europe, including service in the Mediterranean on a U.S. Navy vessel with the 6th Fleet.
Martin said that while he was not on the West Germany-East Germany border or the West Germany-Czechoslovakia border, other members of the organization were, staring down Soviet soldiers every day.
Martin said the Department of Defense awarded Occupation Medals for forces serving in Germany and Europe from 1945 to 1955, after which they were available only to those serving in West Berlin from 1945 to 1990. He said the ratio of American and NATO forces to Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces was 1 to 2.1.
"Maybe we did our job too well," Martin said. "There was no nuclear war, so people think nothing happened. That's far from the truth."
Martin said the Department of Defense offers a commemorative medal for service in the Cold War, but it can't legally be worn with a uniform.
"There is code about wearing a medal not authorized by Congress. You could face jail time or fines."
For many Cold War veterans, the only medal recognizing their service is a Good Conduct medal, he said.
CERTIFICATE
He said Congress and the Department of Defense agreed in 1998 to provide recognition through a Cold War Certificate, with about 1 million awarded so far. It is available to those who served honorably on active duty, or in the National Guard, the Reserves or as Department of Defense federal employees during the Cold War.
"It is worded so gently you wouldn't believe it. It doesn't even list rank or years of service," Martin said. "It is a civilian certificate, not a military certificate. It is unsatisfactory to use this as a military award."
He has created a Cold Warriors Honor Blanket, which is adorned with patches from 39 veterans organizations that have publicly stated they support some form of Cold War service recognition. Those groups include the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
"I put this together as a symbol of trying to get all those people working together," he said.
BENEFITS
Recognition would help many Cold War veterans receive more services at Veterans Administration centers, he said. Because 26 years of the Cold War are not considered war periods by the Department of Defense, veterans who served only during those periods are denied access to certain services, such as for post-traumatic-stress disorder.
Martin said he has attended Memorial Day and Veterans Day services but felt almost embarrassed by a lack of recognition.
"Part of the military system is to recognize service by (awarding) medals. They are making a point of not recognizing us," Martin said. "That's not what I signed up for.
Martin said the Cold War is a story many may not want to broach because it is viewed as a time of peace.
"It was a war. There are still about 126 (people) missing in action," he said.
Martin said there are 382 known U.S. casualties from hostile fire during the Cold War, not including those killed in recognized conflicts, such as the Korean and Vietnamese wars.
It is estimated more than 5,000 American military personnel died, went missing in action or were wounded while performing training maneuvers, operations or support missions during the Cold War, he said.
"That these lives are not recognized is not fair, and it's not right."
The group wants to see a full and accurate accounting of those who became missing in action during the Cold War, as well as equal recognition with other veterans for their efforts in defense of the United States.
NEW APPROACH
Martin said bills have been introduced for several years seeking creation of a Cold War Victory Medal and a Cold War Service Medal. He said the House of Representatives usually supports the measure, but it fails in the Senate.
Those medals would be available for about 18 million veterans who served between 1941 and 1991.
He started the Europe Defense Veterans to try to get recognition for about 5 million veterans who served in Europe during that period, hoping the smaller number might ease passage through the two houses of Congress.
The group is pushing for the Europe Defense Service Medal based on the authorization of the Korea Defense Service Medal three years ago.
"The Korean War never ended. They are still there on a day-to-day basis," Martin said. "If they are worth a medal, why aren't we?"
SERVICE MEDALS
Among his years of military service were four years and 19 days as a Marine infantryman on two tours in Europe, including service in the Mediterranean on a U.S. Navy vessel with the 6th Fleet.
Martin said that while he was not on the West Germany-East Germany border or the West Germany-Czechoslovakia border, other members of the organization were, staring down Soviet soldiers every day.
Martin said the Department of Defense awarded Occupation Medals for forces serving in Germany and Europe from 1945 to 1955, after which they were available only to those serving in West Berlin from 1945 to 1990. He said the ratio of American and NATO forces to Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces was 1 to 2.1.
"Maybe we did our job too well," Martin said. "There was no nuclear war, so people think nothing happened. That's far from the truth."
Martin said the Department of Defense offers a commemorative medal for service in the Cold War, but it can't legally be worn with a uniform.
"There is code about wearing a medal not authorized by Congress. You could face jail time or fines."
For many Cold War veterans, the only medal recognizing their service is a Good Conduct medal, he said.
CERTIFICATE
He said Congress and the Department of Defense agreed in 1998 to provide recognition through a Cold War Certificate, with about 1 million awarded so far. It is available to those who served honorably on active duty, or in the National Guard, the Reserves or as Department of Defense federal employees during the Cold War.
"It is worded so gently you wouldn't believe it. It doesn't even list rank or years of service," Martin said. "It is a civilian certificate, not a military certificate. It is unsatisfactory to use this as a military award."
He has created a Cold Warriors Honor Blanket, which is adorned with patches from 39 veterans organizations that have publicly stated they support some form of Cold War service recognition. Those groups include the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
"I put this together as a symbol of trying to get all those people working together," he said.
BENEFITS
Recognition would help many Cold War veterans receive more services at Veterans Administration centers, he said. Because 26 years of the Cold War are not considered war periods by the Department of Defense, veterans who served only during those periods are denied access to certain services, such as for post-traumatic-stress disorder.
Martin said he has attended Memorial Day and Veterans Day services but felt almost embarrassed by a lack of recognition.
"Part of the military system is to recognize service by (awarding) medals. They are making a point of not recognizing us," Martin said. "That's not what I signed up for.
TO LEARN MORE
The European Defense Veterans of America's office is at 1936 Saranac Ave., Suite 2-149, Lake Placid, 12946.The group's Web site is www.edva.us
Founder and National Director Joe Martin can be contacted by e-mail at mongousmc@adelphia.net or by phone at 327-5201.
A petition to ask the government to create a Europe Defense Service Medal can be viewed and signed at www.petitiononline.com/edsm/petition.html
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