Why "Veterans of _Foreign_ Wars"?

Factual Questions
21

[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig]
There was–the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican War.

Even earlier, there was the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War officers. Because membership was restricted to officers, the society was often mistrusted as secret and elitist.
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Which was the reason my military history prof gave for the organization’s charter being ammended to restrict membership to officers who fought in the American Revolution (IIRC, originally it was to include sons of members too), so the organization died off as it’s members did.

22

[QUOTE=tomndebb]
In addition, I believe that members must have served during a war (so veterans from the years 1919 - 1941 (November), 1946 - 1950 (June), and 1954 - 1963, or 1973 - 1990) would have been precluded, automatically (unlike the American Legion who will take anyone with an honorable discharge, regardless when they served). Further, I believe that, (originally–I don’t follow their by-laws), a vet had to have actually served in an active theatre of operations, so that my Dad, who served from July, 1941 through January, 1945, but who was never shipped overseas because the Army kept using him as an instructor, was not eligible for the VFW.
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That is mostly accurate, however it is not completely correct. According to their website you have to have been at least award a campaign medal which must be verified. Here is a list (warning PDF) of what they will accept. For instance they would except Bosnia and Kosovo service which is not considered combat service by the military. They will except anyone who served in Korea, June 1949 to the present. I was surprised to find out that I am eligible since I received the GLobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (as opposed to the Service Medal) even though I was not in a combat zone.

23

[QUOTE=Loach]
That is mostly accurate, however it is not completely correct. According to their website you have to have been at least award a campaign medal which must be verified. Here is a list (warning PDF) of what they will accept. For instance they would except Bosnia and Kosovo service which is not considered combat service by the military. They will except anyone who served in Korea, June 1949 to the present. I was surprised to find out that I am eligible since I received the GLobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (as opposed to the Service Medal) even though I was not in a combat zone.
[/QUOTE]

Hm… would you have had to have been in the military, or could people like AAFES personel working in places like Afghanistan or Iraq get in?

24

[QUOTE=Raguleader]
Hm… would you have had to have been in the military, or could people like AAFES personel working in places like Afghanistan or Iraq get in?
[/QUOTE]

You have to be awarded a campaign medal (or a combat award such as the CIB or CAB), which must be verified with a DD Form 214 or some other offcial document. So I would say no but I am not a member so I can only say I am 95% sure.

25

Slight hijack: A friend of mine was serving on a Royal Australian Navy warship during the first peacekeeping mission to East Timor. Her ship was in some sort of support role, and they were stationed in international waters, and spent most of their time swimming or playing poker on what was by all accounts, an extremely dull, peacetime mission. So once a day, on some flimsy pretext, they’d sail into East Timorese waters, then sail out again. This meant that each crewmember received a “combat allowance” of A$100 daily, on top of their regular pay, and it also meant that she now has some sort of “active service” status to impress people with (though she tends to view the entire thing as the joke it was).

26

[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog]
Slight hijack: A friend of mine was serving on a Royal Australian Navy warship during the first peacekeeping mission to East Timor. Her ship was in some sort of support role, and they were stationed in international waters, and spent most of their time swimming or playing poker on what was by all accounts, an extremely dull, peacetime mission. So once a day, on some flimsy pretext, they’d sail into East Timorese waters, then sail out again. This meant that each crewmember received a “combat allowance” of A$100 daily, on top of their regular pay, and it also meant that she now has some sort of “active service” status to impress people with (though she tends to view the entire thing as the joke it was).
[/QUOTE]

The big incentive for Americans is that anytime you serve in a combat zone is exempt from federal income taxes. The late columnist David Hackworth loved documenting various boondoggles from Pentagon generals to combat zones just so they could get the exemption.

27

[QUOTE=CalMeacham]

But it does raise the question – was there an organization for veteran Indian Fighters (as opposed to Civil War vets. Or Mexican war vets.)?
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DH’s grandfather was in the Navy, including the Spanish American War. We have 2 of his medals in a case with the leather wallet which contained his service record. About the size of a passport, it has about 2 feet of continuous paper with all his various duty stations listed. Clerks had wonderful handwriting then.

With the service record is a fold-over red leather case with gold lettering-“Visiting Card UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS” .

The slip inside states

Camp No. ____ Department of _____________

This is to Certify, That

Comrade (grandpa)
has paid dues to August 28th, 1909 and at the date of issuing this card was in good standing in said Camp.

Dated August 28 day of 1908.

signed Commander
signed Quartermaster
signed Comrade

There is a raised seal with the words ADM Charles I. Thomas, Camp 3, Department of Rhode Island.

He retired in Philadelphia, so either he joined up in Rhode Island, or the Department covered a large area. Looks like the visiting card entitled him to entrance somewhere.

28

[QUOTE=tomndebb]
In addition, I believe that members must have served during a war (so veterans from the years 1919 - 1941 (November), 1946 - 1950 (June), and 1954 - 1963, or 1973 - 1990) would have been precluded, automatically
[/QUOTE]
Actually, President Truman declared in December 1946 that the hostilities in World War II ended on December 31, 1946. (The war itself not ending until peace treaties with the six hostile countries — Germany, Japan, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania — were finalized in 1947-1952.)

A person who served in the U.S. armed forces in these period qualified for wartime service:

• World War I: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, inclusive. If the veteran served with the United States military forces in Russia, the ending date is April 1, 1920. Service after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921, is considered World War I service if the veteran served in the active military, naval, or air service after April 5, 1917, and before November 12, 1918 (i.e., the 1918-1921 period was included for those who continued in service).

• World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, continuous service before July 26, 1947, is considered World War II service.

• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955, inclusive.

• Vietnam Era: The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. The period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in all other cases.

• Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through date to be prescribed by presidential proclamation or law.

29

[QUOTE=Walloon]
Actually, President Truman declared in December 1946 that the hostilities in World War II ended on December 31, 1946. (The war itself not ending until peace treaties with the six hostile countries — Germany, Japan, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania — were finalized in 1947-1952.)

A person who served in the U.S. armed forces in these period qualified for wartime service:

• World War I: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, inclusive. If the veteran served with the United States military forces in Russia, the ending date is April 1, 1920. Service after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921, is considered World War I service if the veteran served in the active military, naval, or air service after April 5, 1917, and before November 12, 1918 (i.e., the 1918-1921 period was included for those who continued in service).

• World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, continuous service before July 26, 1947, is considered World War II service.

• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955, inclusive.

• Vietnam Era: The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. The period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in all other cases.

• Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through date to be prescribed by presidential proclamation or law.
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The VFW doesn’t only go by this. For instance if you were awarded a service medal for being in the army of occupation, either Germany or Japan. In fact if you were in the Berlin Brigade up to 1990 you can join the VFW.

30

Oh and Korean service from 1949 till the present.