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Membership in VFW


sundance
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Google is your friend ;)

 

https://www.vfw.org/eligibility

 

There are three qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our By-Laws. An individual must meet all three in order to become a member. They are as follows:

1: Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.

2: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently
serving.

3: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters*. This can be proven by any of the following:

- An authorized campaign medal (see a full list of qualifying medals and badges)
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military pay statement)
- Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days

*This information is usually available through a veteran’s DD-214. If other information is needed or if a veteran’s DD-214 is not complete, they can contact the National Personnel Records Center online or at 314-801-0800 to request more information.

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easterneagle87

If they are hurting for members and his guy has to be a SERIOUS senior citizen, could it really hurt? How about an honorable membership?

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I don't have a name but he was a German soldier. He recently passed away. He lived in PA. Among his few military items were several ribbons from various VFW conferences/encampments. Maybe he was a guest

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Did they serve in the US military in Korea or Vietnam? It was not unusual for former German soldiers to join the US military.

Reminds me of an old friend who was a ww2 vet who went into the Air Force,then the Army National Guard. When a new commander took over,he ordered all his troops to wear all their military decorations they were awarded for a ceremony. You guessed it,one soldier wore his Knights Cross!

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Here's another random thought...was the VFW membership criteria different in the 40s and 50s? Could he have potentially joined without having evidence of satisfactory US service?

Totally random "out of the box" thought, but you never know...

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I would wonder if he could have been a Legacy Member? I know the American Legion allows the son of a member to also be a member but I don't know if the VFW allows the same membership status.

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My dad was a proud honorary member of our local Polish League of American Veterans chapter. He took part in many of their activities. Dad was a veteran, but we don't have a drop of Polish blood. He did have lots of Polish friends, so I guess anything is possible.

Mikie

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My dad was a proud honorary member of our local Polish League of American Veterans chapter. He took part in many of their activities. Dad was a veteran, but we don't have a drop of Polish blood. He did have lots of Polish friends, so I guess anything is possible.

Mikie

 

I don't think you've needed to be Polish to be a member for quite some time. Also the P.L.A.V. has associate members, who don't even have to be vets themselves and Sons & Grandsons, of which I am a member, (Stefan Starzynski Post 55, Salem, Massachusetts) since my Father and Grandfather were full members.

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  • 4 months later...

He would have had to serve in US military to be an "active" (veteran) member, no other way unless a Sons of VFW, but that would not have been a full active VFW membership.

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  • 3 weeks later...

True, social members are allowed in some states, but those folks are not considered "full/active/regular" members who are eligible vets of Foreign service, just as social members. Any Post can also do away with its social members leaving only the "full/active/regular" veteran members. Social members do not carry any voting weight on VFW Post matters.

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