As an exclusive veterans’ service organization, the VFW must ensure that every prospective member’s eligibility has been thoroughly vetted. Did you know you can give the gift of membership to your son/daughter, parent, grandparent, brother/sister? Proof of membership must be included with each post or auxiliary application and is defined as follows:
Proof of the veteran’s honorable service in any foreign war, insurrection or expedition (as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces) may be determined through careful examination of a Separation Document (DD214) with a VFW-authorized campaign or service medal of the United States; receipt of Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Pay, as verified by a copy of a Leave and Earning Statement (LES) issued by the U.S. Armed Forces; or service in Korea for 30 consecutive/60 non-consecutive days after June 30, 1949. Performance reports, travel orders, medical orders, medals reports, morning reports, assignment listings, buddy affidavits, and letters from a foreign war zone may also be reviewed if a DD214 is not available. For veterans pre-1946, a report of their discharge listing the medals and decorations that were earned is acceptable proof. In those cases, the appropriate orders showing overseas deployment to a qualifying area, or awarding of an authorized campaign medal, or a LES showing Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger pay will suffice to prove eligibility.
