Cold War Veterans Blog

Not every vet receives a Hollywood salute

By Steve Bennish and Alexandra Barlow

Staff Writers

Sunday, May 25, 2008

They are no less veterans, and no less important for having served a grateful nation.

Nevertheless, vets who served during peacetime and those who fought the century's smaller conflicts say they can feel left out amid overwhelming popular focus on the biggest wars the United States has waged. The History Channel doesn't focus heavily on them, and there are few big budget Hollywood spectacles about peace time soldiers.

Photos

Cliff Scholes, 80, was drafted shortly after the end of WWII and served stateside. He feels the military personal who have served after or between wars have been, 'left out' of recognition.Click to enlarge

Cliff Scholes, 80, a retired publishing executive who lives in Beavercreek, said he thinks more attention should be paid.

"I feel 'left out' because I did serve during the latter days of the Army Air Corps, having been drafted in February 1946, after the end of the big war," he said.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Jackson, 61, of Tipp City served on a Florida military base during the Cold War, an era of high tension between the United States, the Soviet Union, and others over the threat of worldwide nuclear war.

He now is president of the American Veterans' Institute, which works to ensure soldiers coming home feel welcomed with open arms.

"We would like people to remember that throughout the years, American troops and others did their duty year in and year out at high risk to themselves, sometimes at the cost of their lives and some, their liberty," Jackson said.

How to help

To volunteer at Operation Welcome Home, visit americanveteransinstitute.org or to add to the Cold War Narratives, visit americancoldwarvets.org

How to get help

The Dayton VA Medical Center Opportunities

www.dayton.va.gov