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The longest military campaign in which member nations provided armed forces personnel and units to NATO was the Cold War in Europe 1949-91.
The Cold War was won through deterrence and ended successfully for the Allies without an armed conflict or escalation to nuclear war. This was because of the presence and the preparedness of military service personnel and units of the various member states who were stationed and/or deployed within the NATO operational area in Europe.
The Cold War was not won without casualties, however. In the military mission to provide Peace, Freedom and Stability for NATO Allied nations in Europe, it is estimated more than 5,000 American and Allied personnel were wounded, missing, lost or died in the service to NATO during the Cold War between 1949-91.
While NATO currently awards the NATO Meritorious Service Medal to NATO Headquarters Civilian personnel, they have by policy never seen fit to recognize the service and sacrifice of more than 5 million American and Allied military men and women who served in the NATO European theater of operations during the Cold War.
We believe NATO policy must change, and it is time that the service of these US and NATO Allied men and women be recognized by NATO through the award of a NATO Allied Cold War Unit Citation and Streamer for services which prevented the Cold War from becoming a hot war or even World War III. This award to be made to all US and NATO Allied military service units which would have been stationed and/or deployed within the NATO operational area under NATO command in the event of a conflict 1949-91.
To view the official NATO awards of these medals to civilian non-operations personnel follow this link:
http://www.nato.int/multi/photos/2003/m031209a.htm
To express your desire for the granting of a new NATO Allied Cold War Unit Citation 1949-91 please write to:
NATO Secretary General
Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
NATO Headquarters
Blvd. Leopold III
1110 Brussels, BELGIUM
e-mail natodoc@hq.nato.int
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