VFW Post 3838, Cape Girardeau, MO. Eligibility Requirements

VFW Post 3838

Cape Girardeau, Missouri (573) 334-4438 or (573) 334-2552 (fax)

CHECKING ELIGIBILITY

Checking eligibility is comparatively simple. Assuming that a person is a United States citizen and has an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, it only remains to be proven that the person served outside the continental limits of the U.S. and has earned a campaign or service medal recognized by the VFW as meeting the campaign medal requisite for VFW Membership. (The only exception is for service in Korea after June 30, 1949, until present.)

Discharges issued during and immediately after the close of World War II have a section on the back listing the medals and decorations which have been earned. Persons discharged later received a DD-214, "Report of Separation" form, which has a space showing medals and decorations. Lost separation documents can be replaced by completing and submitting GSA Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records.

There is always a possibility of an omission on the separation documents. If an applicant claims entitlement to a medal which is not shown on the individual's separation papers, that person may request verification and correction of records by submitting a GSA Standard Form 180.

The GSA Standard Form 180 is available from any office of the Veterans Administration or state Veterans Departments. The form must be completed and signed by the veteran in order to receive the information requested or authorize the release of the information to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

VFW eligibility listing chart is used as a guide in determining eligibility for membership, and is furnished as a matter of information concerning the periods during which campaign and/or service medals were authorized.

Campaign medals, and the periods for which issued, have been authorized by the United States of America, and the holder of any such medal or medals is recognized as possessing the campaign medal requisite of eligibility. Join The Elite! Or stop in at our location to pick up an application to join the Cape Girardeau VFW!

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Periods of VFW membership eligibility for overseas service are listed below.

(Periods prior to World War I are not listed)

World War I Victory Army: 06 April 1917 - 01 Apr 1920 (with Battle/Service clasp Navy) 06 April 1917 - 30 Mar 1920 (including Siberia and European Russia)

Army Occupation of Germany Army: 12 Nov 1918 - 11 July 1923

Second Nicaraguan Campaign Navy: 27 Aug 1926 - 02 Jan 1933

Yangtze Service Navy: 03 Sep 1926-21 - Oct 1927; 01 Mar 1930 - 31 Dec 1932

China Service Navy: 07 July 1937 - 07 Sep 1939; 02 Sep 1945 - 01 April 1957

American Defense Service Army-Navy: 08 Sep 1939 - 07 Dec 1941 (with foreign service clasp)

American Campaign Army-Navy: 07 Dec 1941 - 02 Mar 1946 (30 consecutive days or 60 days non-consecutive duty outside continental limits of United States)

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Army-Navy: 07 Dec 1941 - 02 Mar 1946

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Army-Navy: 07 Dec 1941 - 08 Nov 1945

Army of Occupation Italy: 09 May 1945 - 15 Sep 1947 (30 consecutive days)

Occupation of Germany (except West Berlin): 08 May 1945 - 05 May 1955

Occupation of Germany (West Berlin): 09 May 1945 - 02 Oct 1990

Austria: 09 May 1945 - 27 July 1955

Korea: 03 Sep 1945 - 29 June 1949

Japan: 03 Sep 1945 - 27 April 1952

Navy Occupation Service Medal

Italy: 08 May 1945 - 15 Dec 1947

Trieste: 08 May 1945 - 26 Oct 1954

Asiatic Pacific: 02 Sep 1945 - 27 April 1952
(Germany & Austria as noted above)

Korean Service Medal

Army, Navy, Air Force: 27 June 1950 - 27 Jul 1954

Korean Defense Service Medal
Army, Navy Air Force: 28 Jul 1954 - Present

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Berlin: 14 Aug 1961 - 1 June 1963

Lebanon: 01 July 1958 - 01 Nov 1958

Quemoy and Matsu Islands: 23 Aug 1958 - 01 June 1963

Taiwan Straits: 23 Aug 1958 - 01 Jan 1959

Congo: 14 July 1960 - 01 Sep 1962; 23 Nov 1964 - 27 Nov 1964

Laos: 19 Apr 1961 - 07 Oct 1962

Vietnam: 01 July 1958 - 03 July 1965

Cuba 24 Oct. 1962 1 June 1963

Dominican Republic: 28 Apr 1965 - 21 Sep 1966

Korea: 01 Oct 1966 - 30 June 1974

Cambodia: 29 Mar 1973 - 15 Aug 1973

Thailand: 29 Mar 1973 - 15 Aug 1873 (direct support Cambodia Operations)

Evacuation of Cambodia: 11-13 April 1975

Evacuation of Vietnam: 29-30 April 1975

Mayaguez Operation: 15 May 1975

Grenada Operation: 23 Oct 1983 - 21 Nov 1983

Lebanon: 06 June 1983 - 01 Dec 1987

Libyan Operation-El Dorado Canyon: 12-17 April 1986

Persian Gulf- Earnest Will: 24 July 1987 - 02 Aug 1990

Panama - Just Cause: 20 Dec 1989 - 31 Jan 1990

Somalia - Restore Hope: 05 Dec 1992 Indeterminate

Haiti - Uphold Democracy: 16 Sep 1994 Indeterminate

Bosnia - Peace Keeping Force: dates not determined

Marine Corps and Navy Corps Expeditionary Medal

Thailand Military Operation: 16 May 1962 - 10 Aug 1962

Cuban Military Operation: 03 Jan 1961 - 23 Oct 1962

Iranian, Yemen/Indian Ocean: 08 Dec 1978 - 06 June 1979; 21 Nov 1979 - 20 Oct 1981

Lebanon: 20 Aug 1982 - 31 Dec 1983

Libyan Expedition: 20 Jan 1986 - 27 June 1986

Persian Gulf: 01 Feb 1987 - 23 July 1987

Vietnam Service Medal: 04 July 1965 - 28 Mar 1973

Southwest Asia Service Medal (Desert Shield/Desert Storm): 02 Aug 1990 Indeterminate Combat areas of operation only

Personnel in support units serving in Israel: 17 Jan 1991 Indeterminate; Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Jordan

Service on the Korean Peninsula, or in its territorial waters for thirty (30) consecutive or sixty (60) non-consecutive days from 30 June 1949, to a date indeterminate (Overseas Service Ribbon)

Kosovo Campaign Medal
Service in Kosovo (dates not determined)

Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, October 2001 - Present

Combat Action Ribbon (various periods of service)
(Navy, Marine Corps)

Holders of the following badges...

If you desire information on joining VFW Post 3838, please send an E-mail message by clicking the button below with the following information:
NAME, E-MAIL ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, BRANCH OF SERVICE, and OVERSEAS TOUR LOCATION AND DATES.

Or you may download an application by click here.

By sending an E-MAIL message, I certify that I am a citizen of the United States, that my U.S. Military Service was honorable, that I have never been subsequently discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States of America under other than honorable conditions, and that I believe in God. I also certify that --

(1) I am entitled to a campaign ribbon or medal authorized by the U.S. Government based on my overseas service or;

(2) I have served overseas in Korea for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days (1949 - present).

I further give authority to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to verify my entitlement to membership. A member of VFW Post 3838 will contact me by e-mail, phone or letter to obtain the other required information and directions for membership. Contact Post 3838.

VFW Post 3838 Index Page