Trego's Mountain Ear

As near as I can tell, I spent 27 years in the Militia – without drills, training, promotion or action. 

Here’s the beginning of the Militia Act of 1792, with the pertinent section highlighted in yellow:

“The Militia Act of 1792, Passed May 8, 1792, providing federal standards for the organization of the Militia.

An ACT more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States.

I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act. And it shall at all time hereafter be the duty of every such Captain or Commanding Officer of a company, to enroll every such citizen as aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time to time, arrive at the age of 18 years, or being at the age of 18 years, and under the age of 45 years (except as before excepted) shall come to reside within his bounds; and shall without delay notify such citizen of the said enrollment, by the proper non-commissioned Officer of the company, by whom such notice may be proved. That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and powder-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack. That the commissioned Officers shall severally be armed with a sword or hanger, and espontoon; and that from and after five years from the passing of this Act, all muskets from arming the militia as is herein required, shall be of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound; and every citizen so enrolled, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements, required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions or sales, for debt or for the payment of taxes.”

Obviously, my captain or commanding officer was derelict in his duty to notify me without delay.  In general, I accidentally complied – except for the bayonet.  While I’ve never been into flintlocks, I have had a couple of flints around.  Still, I went through my 28 years of militia duty without effort or realization.  I didn’t even get the T-shirt.  I remember a guy down in Trout Creek or Noxon who promoted himself to general in the militia of Montana – but I went in without rank or realization and left the same way.  At least nobody pressed AWOL charges against me when I was out of state.

US Code 246 pretty well defines my role – I was in the unorganized Militia:

(a)The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b)The classes of the militia are—
(1)the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2)the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

Another Act – one that describes how I can get myself a cold war recognition certificate:

“Under the 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.

The program to issue the Cold War Recognition Certificate is run by the United States Army. There is an official Army web site where you can request Cold War Recognition Certificates. This site should be used by everyone who qualifies for the certificate, no matter which branch of the armed forces or agency of the federal government you served. Please click on the link: http://www.koreanveterans.org/forms/Application_for_Cold_War_Recognition_Certificate_US.pdf “

Not just any unorganized militia member can get this certificate – my eligibility comes from time working for the Department of Agriculture.  Another website describes the Cold War victory medal:

Cold War Victory Medal Ribbon

The Cold War Victory Medal Ribbon is an unofficial award for personnel who served honorably during the Cold War. Due to its unofficial capacity, it cannot be worn in uniform.

Somehow, I don’t think that wearing the ribbon into the VFW would get me any respect.  I haven’t put in for the certificate, and I don’t need the ribbon to go with my unorganized, effortless 27 years in the militia.