PapaDolimio
I agree with your post. There are many that do lots to support ops and never sit the right side of a line to qualify or don't do exactly the right number of consecutive nights. I can remember an SF herc mate didn't get his GW1 gong as he didn't stay long enough in country to qualify - the fact that he had been dropping into various TLZs made no difference (but he did have a chest of tin from other ops where he did qualify).
As for affordability? Why not make people eligible for the National Defence Medal as those that have
retired and that they may purchase and wear them? That way, they will have a piece of tin to wear at War Memorials and not feel lost out?
I do feel for the Cold War guys that didn't get anything. They saw some pretty hairy times and kept us all safe.
Like you I have quite a few bits of tin, but I don't begrudge others and I don't think it will 'devalue' mine.
LJ
