[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 135 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12139-S12141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. 
        Bayh):
  S. 1673. A bill to authorize the award of the Iraqi Liberation Medal 
as a campaign medal for members of the Armed Forces who serve in 
Southwest Asia in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues, 
Senators Lugar, Lieberman and Bayh to offer legislation to honor our 
servicemen and women in Iraq, who serve far from home, and far from 
family and friends. They left the freedom and security of home to 
provide freedom and security to those who have not known it for many 
years. The human cost has been great, over 300 American fighting men 
and women will never come home, and over 1,500 will return wounded. 
Today, over 130,000 troops remain in the region. They remain to ensure 
that those who paid the ultimate sacrifice did not die in vain. They 
are also there to build a new Iraqi nation of stability and freedom. My 
fellow Senators, the liberation of Iraq is turning out to be the most 
significant military, occupation and reconstruction effort since the 
end of World War II.
  Despite their sacrifice and courage, these brave young men and women 
will not be specifically recognized for their service in Iraq. Instead, 
the Department of Defense has decided to award them the Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. I believe that this is a mistake, and 
that our military deserves better. Along with my colleagues, Senator 
Lugar, Senator Bayh and Senator Lieberman, I propose to correct this 
mistake by offering legislation authorizing the Iraqi Lieberation Medal 
in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
  While some of us in this body have not shared the administration's 
view on this war, we are united when it comes to supporting our troops. 
These young men and women from active duty, National Guard, and 
Reserves are all volunteers and exemplify the very essence of what it 
means to be a patriot. They continue to serve even though they do not 
know when they will return home to family and friends. They continue to 
serve despite the tremendous hardships they face and they continue to 
serve despite the constant threat to their lives. The President agrees 
with our view of the exemplary service of these young men and women. On 
the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, President Bush proclaimed: ``In 
this battle, we have fought for the cause of liberty and for the peace 
of the world. Our Nation and our coalition are proud of this 
accomplishment, yet it is you, the members of the United States 
military, who achieved it. Your courage, your willingness to face 
danger for your country and for each other made this day possible.''

  I was extremely disappointed when I learned that those serving in 
Iraq would not be specifically recognized for their efforts. There will 
be no Iraqi campaign medal. Instead, the Department of Defense will 
award them a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. I think this is a 
grave mistake.
  During Operation Desert Storm, service members received three 
separate military decorations for their service: the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the 
Liberation of Kuwait medal. For service in Kosovo, our service men and 
women received the NATO Service Medal, and the Kosovo Campaign Medal.
  Many within the military share this view; according to the Army 
Times: ``Campaign medals help establish an immediate rapport with 
individuals checking into a unit.'' An expeditionary medal like the 
GWOT does not necessarily denote combat. A campaign medal is designed 
to recognize military personnel who have risked their lives in combat.
  Campaign medals matter. ``When a Marine shows up at a new duty 
station, commanders look first at his decorations and his physical 
fitness score--the first to see where he's been, the second to see if 
he can hang. `They show what you've done and how serious

[[Page S12140]]

you are,' said Gunnery Sgt. James Cuneo. `If you're a good Marine, 
people are going to award you when it comes time . . .'.''
  My fellow distinguished colleagues, it is time.
  We must recognize the sacrifice and courage of our young men and 
women who liberated Iraq, including great Americans like Army 
Specialist Joseph Hudson from Alamogordo, New Mexico, who was held as a 
prisoner of war. The Nation was captivated as we watched Specialist 
Hudson being interrogated by the enemy. Asked to divulge his military 
occupation, Specialist Hudson stared defiantly into the camera and 
said, ``I follow orders.'' Those of us with sons and daughters were 
united in worry with Specialist Hudson's family. The entire Nation 
rejoiced when he was liberated.
  We have also asked much from our reserve and National Guard forces. 
The reconstruction of Iraq would not be possible without the commitment 
and sacrifice of the 170,000 Guard and Reservists currently on active 
duty. As recently as this weekend an additional 10,000 troops from 
Washington State and North Carolina were activated for service in Iraq.
  My colleagues, Senator Lugar, Senator Lieberman, Senator Bayh, and I 
are committed to honoring our over 200,000 heroes who liberated Iraq. 
We believe that current administration policy does a disservice to our 
fighting men and women. Therefore we propose, in lieu of the GWOT 
medal, a new decoration that characterizes the real mission in Iraq, 
one that is distinctive and honors their sacrifice, the Iraqi 
Liberation Medal.

  What we do today is not without precedent; Congress has been 
responsible for recognizing the sacrifice and courage of our military 
forces throughout history. Congress has had a significant and 
historically central role in authorizing military decorations. Our 
Nation's highest military decorations were authorized by Congress, 
including: The Congressional Medal of Honor; the Air Force Cross; the 
Navy Cross; the Army's Distinctive Service Cross; the Silver Star; and 
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
  We have also authorized campaign and liberation medals similar to 
what we hope to accomplish with this legislation. A partial list 
includes: Spanish War Service Medal; Army Occupation of Germany Medal; 
World War II Victory Medal; Berlin Airlift Medal; Korean Service Medal; 
and Prisoner of War Medal.
  And the list goes on and on. The great men and women of our military 
forces are doing their jobs everyday in Iraq. It is time to do our job 
and honor them with a medal that truly stands for their heroic service, 
the Iraqi Liberation Medal.
  I ask unanimous consent that an Air Force Times article also be 
printed in the Congressional Record.
  I also ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Air Force Times, Sept. 1, 2003]

                           One Size Fits All?

                           (By Vince Crawley)

       Despite the weight of well over a century of military 
     tradition and precedence, the Pentagon has no plans for 
     campaign-specific medals for the most recent wars in 
     Afghanistan and Iraq, the nation's most protracted conflicts 
     since Korea and Vietnam--both of which were deemed medal-
     worthy.
       Military duty in Antarctica, Kosovo and the 1991 Persian-
     Gulf War also rates medals, as does ``humane action,'' 
     ``humanitarian service'' and ``outstanding volunteer 
     service.'' Past generations of veterans have qualified for 
     medals and their accompanying ribbons for a wide range of 
     operations, from the Civil War and both World Wars to China's 
     Boxer Rebellion, the Spanish-American War and military 
     actions against Mexico.
       But troops involved in the current battle against terrorism 
     instead will get two recently approved awards, the Global War 
     on Terrorism Service Medal and a Global War on Terrorism 
     Expeditionary Medal, which are intended to cover all the 
     bases in an effort that President Bush says likely will last 
     many years and be fought on many shores.
       In addition, veterans of these 21st-century wars may 
     receive each medal only once. In theory--and in current 
     practice--troops could spend years fighting in Afghanistan, 
     Iraq, the Philippines and elsewhere and end up with a single 
     medal that doesn't reflect their specific duty history or 
     even the fact that they deployed multiple times in the global 
     war on terrorism.
       The Pentagon isn't saying much about its rationale for the 
     decision. Defense officials believe ``these two medals will 
     provide appropriate recognition for our service members 
     participating in the global war on terrorism, whether that be 
     in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere,'' said Air Force Maj. 
     Sandra Burr, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
       Not all troops agree. Marine 1st Lt. Zeb Philpott, 26, 
     weapons platoon commander for Alpha Company, 2nd Light 
     Armored Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said 
     campaign medals help establish an immediate rapport with 
     individuals checking into a unit.
       ``You can tell what he's done,'' Philpott said. ``I can 
     look at a gunny and tell that he was in the Gulf War.''
       And people look. When a Marine shows up at a new duty 
     station, commanders look first at his decorations and his 
     physical fitness score--the first to see where he's been, the 
     second to see if he can hang.
       ``They show what you've done and how serious you are,'' 
     said Gunnery Sgt. James Cuneo, Alpha Company gunny. ``If 
     you're a good Marine, people are going to award you when it 
     comes time. My ribbons don't make me who I am, but they show 
     my experience level.''
       After 15 years, he's got quite a bit to show for his 
     efforts--four full rows and the start of a fifth. They 
     include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three 
     stars, a combat action ribbon for Desert Storm with a star 
     pending for recent Iraq ops, the Southwest Asia Service Medal 
     with three stars and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
       ``I think they ought to have an Iraq ribbon,'' Cuneo said. 
     ``They ought to have a Djibouti ribbon. And they ought to 
     have an Afghanistan ribbon. They all mean different things.''
       Lt. Col. Keith Schultz, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot with 
     the Air Force Reserve's 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force 
     Base, La., spent 9\1/2\ months deployed to Operations 
     Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
       On his last deployment, Schultz flew Iraqi Freedom missions 
     from England and then headed to the Indian Ocean and flew 
     Enduring Freedom assignments.
       ``I saw them as separate conflicts,'' Schultz said.
       If one medal is issued to represent both operations, 
     Schultz hopes the citation will explain the operations in 
     which the recipient fought.
       Tech. Sgt. Michael Pierce, a B-52 weapons loader with the 
     917th Wing, deployed to Enduring Freedom.
       He said there should be some way to show, such as with a 
     device on the ribbon, how many times an airman deployed or in 
     what conflicts he served.
       Others are fine with the GWOT medals. ``It's nice to 
     receive awards and decorations, but I was just there doing my 
     job,'' said a field artillery major who recently returned 
     from Iraq with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division.
       ``This is my job, my profession,'' he said. ``There are 
     people doing things everywhere. All of us are a part of this 
     big [global war on terrorism].''
       Bush signed an executive order March 12 to create the 
     Global War on Terrorism medals on the recommendation of 
     Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. But none has yet been 
     officially issued because Rumsfeld's staff is working out the 
     fine print for eligibility.
       The Army Institute of Heraldry said June 13 that Rumsfeld's 
     staff is ``finalizing'' the criteria and implementation rules 
     for the two medals.
       Asked Aug. 18 when the medals would be issued, Burr said 
     she could not predict when coordination on the eligibility 
     policy would be complete.
       A March 15 Pentagon news release referred to the medals as 
     the GWOT Service Medal and GWOT Expeditionary Medal, using 
     the Pentagon's acronym for the global war on terrorism.
       The Expeditionary Medal will recognize service in 
     operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The Service 
     Medal will recognize duty in Operation Noble Eagle, the 
     homeland defense mission against further terror attacks, as 
     well as duty in support of operations Enduring Freedom and 
     Iraqi Freedom performed in geographic areas that don't 
     qualify for the Expeditionary Medal.
       In the past, some medals have been created years or decades 
     after the conflict they represent. The medals can be 
     established by the president or Congress.
       They typically include official orders and become part of 
     the service ribbons that appear on service members' dress 
     uniforms.
       Below are examples of other campaign and service medals. 
     Most can be awarded more than once; commonly, a small bronze 
     star device is attached to the ribbon for each additional 
     award.
       The Southwest Asia Service Medal was awarded for the 1991 
     Gulf War, with an eligibility period from Aug. 2, 1990, to 
     Nov. 30 1995.
       In October 1990, when U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia began 
     preparing for a possible offensive against Iraq, Pentagon 
     personnel officials asked the Institute of Heraldry to 
     provide proposed designs for a Southwest Asia Service Medal. 
     Proposals were forwarded Oct. 30 to then-Defense Secretary 
     Dick Cheney. A proposed executive order to authorize the 
     medal was drafted by Cheney's office Feb. 11, 1991, before 
     the ground war began. The medal was established by executive

[[Page S12141]]

     order March 12, less than two weeks after the cease-fire.
       Three separate campaigns are recognized: the defense of 
     Saudi Arabia, the liberation of Kuwait and patrolling the 
     cease-fire agreement through Nov. 30, 1995, and service 
     members can be awarded the medal up to three times.
       The Kosovo Campaign Medal was established by President 
     Clinton on May 3, 2000, to recognize service in the U.S.-led 
     Kosovo war, form March 24 to June 10, 1999, or in ongoing 
     Kosovo peacekeeping operations. It may be awarded more than 
     once to troops who took part in multiple Kosovo missions.
       The Antarctica Service Medal was established by Congress in 
     1960 for military members and civilians, such as scientists, 
     who have supported U.S. government programs in the antarctic 
     since Jan. 1, 1946. The medal most commonly goes to aircrews 
     and Navy personnel.
       The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was established by 
     President Kennedy on Dec. 4, 1961, for operations on or after 
     July 1, 1958, to recognize service in peacekeeping and peace 
     enforcement missions. The Joint Chiefs have authorized 22 
     missions for this medal, including operations in Somalia and 
     Bosnia, as well as actions against Iraq in the late 1990s. 
     Multiple awards are allowed.
       The Armed Forces Service Medal was established by Clinton 
     Jan. 11, 1996, within weeks of U.S. troops entering Bosnia. 
     It is for troops participating in large military operations 
     who face no armed opposition or threat of imminent hostile 
     action. The medal is intended to fill a void in the criteria 
     between the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the 
     Humanitarian Service Medal. It has been awarded for service 
     in the Balkans since June 1, 1992, and for service in Haiti.
       Previous wars and military actions have resulted in a host 
     of campaign medals, though in some cases they were approved 
     years or even decades after the fighting. They include:
       The Vietnam Service Medal, established by President Johnson 
     in 1965. Multiple campaigns are recognized.
       The Korean Service Medal, established by President Truman 
     in 1950. Multiple awards are allowed for up to 10 wartime 
     campaigns.
       The Medal for Humane Action, established by Congress in 
     1949 for those who took part in the Berlin Airlift from June 
     1948 to September 1949.
       World War II saw three campaign medals--the American 
     Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the 
     European-African-Middle Eastern Medal, approved by President 
     Roosevelt in 1942. All allow for multiple awards.
                                  ____


                                S. 1673

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF IRAQI LIBERATION MEDAL 
                   AS CAMPAIGN MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA 
                   IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) According to President George W. Bush, Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom was ``fought for the cause of liberty, and for the 
     peace of the world . . .'' and ``to free a nation by breaking 
     a dangerous and aggressive regime''.
       (2) The military victory in Iraq has been characterized by 
     President George W. Bush as one of the ``swiftest advances in 
     heavy arms in history''.
       (3) There are more than 130,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, 
     and Marines of the United States serving in the Iraqi Theater 
     of Operations, far from family and friends, and for an 
     unknown duration.
       (4) Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, almost 
     300 members of the Armed Forces of the United States have 
     died in Iraq and nearly 1,500 have been wounded in action.
       (5) Congress has authorized and Presidents have issued 
     specific decorations recognizing the sacrifice and service of 
     the members of the Armed Forces of the United States in the 
     Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, and the liberation of 
     Kuwait.
       (6) Current Department of Defense guidance authorizes the 
     award of only one expeditionary medal for overseas duty in 
     Afghanistan, the Philippines, and Iraq.
       (7) The conflict in Iraq is significant enough in scope and 
     sacrifice to warrant a specific military decoration for the 
     liberation of Iraq.
       (b) Authorization of Award of Campaign Medal.--The 
     Secretary concerned may award a campaign medal of appropriate 
     design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to any person who 
     serves in any capacity with the Armed Forces in the Southwest 
     Asia region in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom.
       (c) Name of Medal.--The campaign medal authorized by 
     subsection (b) shall be known as the ``Iraqi Liberation 
     Medal''.
       (d) Prohibition on Concurrent Award of Global War on 
     Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.--A person who is awarded the 
     campaign medal authorized by subsection (b) for service 
     described in that subsection may not also be awarded the 
     Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for that service.
       (e) Other Limitations.--The award of the campaign medal 
     authorized by subsection (b) shall be subject to such 
     limitations as the President may prescribe.
       (f) Regulations.--(1) Each Secretary concerned shall 
     prescribe regulations on the award of the campaign medal 
     authorized by subsection (b).
       (2) The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall 
     not go into effect until approved by the Secretary of 
     Defense.
       (3) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the 
     regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) are uniform, so 
     far as practicable.
       (g) Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``Secretary concerned'' means the following:
       (1) The Secretary of the Army with respect to matters 
     concerning members of the Army.
       (2) The Secretary of the Navy with respect to matters 
     concerning members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 
     when it is operating as a service in the Navy.
       (3) The Secretary of the Air Force with respect to matters 
     concerning members of the Air Force.
       (4) The Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to 
     matters concerning members of the Coast Guard when it is not 
     operating as a service in the Navy.
                                 ______