| 11/19/2011 12:59:58 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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tomishere4u
Bay Saint Louis, MS
95, joined Aug. 2011
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This might be a silly question to some of you but I really want to know.
I was in the service in the 80's.
I was in Lebanon for the peacekeeping missions and saw the embassy bombing(Had to help clean up) and The BLT barracks bombing (What a senseless loss of lives!)
I want to join the VFW and participate in some of the activities but it is The Veterans of Foreign Wars isn't it?
Lebanon peacekeeping was not a war.
  
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| 11/19/2011 1:23:08 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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bier95
Clara City, MN
66, joined May. 2011
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yes Tom you would of had to be in a war to join, here in MN. you don't have to be a member to go there, other states I have lived in you would have to be a member, so check with you local VFW
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| 11/19/2011 1:42:22 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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mgtruck
Memphis, IN
48, joined May. 2011
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This might be a silly question to some of you but I really want to know.
I was in the service in the 80's.
I was in Lebanon for the peacekeeping missions and saw the embassy bombing(Had to help clean up) and The BLT barracks bombing (What a senseless loss of lives!)
I want to join the VFW and participate in some of the activities but it is The Veterans of Foreign Wars isn't it?
Lebanon peacekeeping was not a war.
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| 11/19/2011 2:28:57 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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cbracing
Knob Noster, MO
30, joined Nov. 2011
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You can google vfw and read the requirements. but you had to have served in a foreign declared war.
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| 11/19/2011 2:46:42 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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bier95
Clara City, MN
66, joined May. 2011
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You can google vfw and read the requirements. but you had to have served in a foreign declared war.
as I posted earlier not in all states to go to VFW, but to join yes, you'd have to prove that with your dd214 or papers you got to join the VFW.
some states let anyone in the door like the legion here and the VFW, where I was from you had to be member to get in door,
I have leaved in 8 different states being tranvered by my company, if yo are not a member some still let you participate in some of the things going on
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| 11/19/2011 5:08:40 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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jerseyguy39
Ocala, FL
45, joined Apr. 2011
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I think you are eligible. Go to "www.vfw.com" for eligibility dates and info.
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| 11/19/2011 6:46:40 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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tomishere4u
Bay Saint Louis, MS
95, joined Aug. 2011
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If you have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you're eligible to join our ranks.
Our Campaign medal was recinded (Great Pumpkin Medal)
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| 11/19/2011 6:48:27 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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fastination
Evans, GA
63, joined Aug. 2008
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That's www.vfw.ORG
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| 11/19/2011 6:53:11 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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bones01
Homeland, CA
68, joined Apr. 2008
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If you served in Lebanon between Aug 20th 1982 and May 31st 1983 and received the Expeditionary Medal, you should have no problem with eligibility.
I belong to VFW and the Legion and have found that different posts have varying activities.
In Alaska my VFW Post had recipricocity with the Legion so we could go to the other w/o being a member. I don't know if that is common.
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| 11/19/2011 7:17:04 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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tomishere4u
Bay Saint Louis, MS
95, joined Aug. 2011
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If you served in Lebanon between Aug 20th 1982 and May 31st 1983 and received the Expeditionary Medal, you should have no problem with eligibility.
I belong to VFW and the Legion and have found that different posts have varying activities.
In Alaska my VFW Post had recipricocity with the Legion so we could go to the other w/o being a member. I don't know if that is common.
I did two tours in Lebanon
MARG 2 '83 & MARG 3 '84
I was on Blue One Team with the Amphib Seabees in 83
and
Blue One Salvage Team attached to BeachMasters Unit 2 in 84
Regan recinded the great pumpkin medal and may have restored it after 1988 when I separated. I can't for the life of me remember what the real name of the medal was.
Too lazy to go find my DD214 and look it up.
 What really irks me is that we were under fire multiple times but faced Leavanworth if we locked and loaded. They blew up our embassy, blew up our barracks and pinned us in crossfire on the beach and the airport access road multiple times. They shelled our ship while we were loading causeways and we had to drag anchor because we were not allowed to return fire. We receive no combat or hazard duty pay, they gave us a medal, ribbon and citation then recinded it on us. A combat zone with no bullets in our weapons! We had to count and log every single round every duty change. We were never allowed to load a single round even pinned and under fire! A JG loaded and locked his sidearm once. He was heloed off the ship the next day and we never saw him again!
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| 11/19/2011 7:49:10 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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bones01
Homeland, CA
68, joined Apr. 2008
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Tom, it appears that the VFW still recognizes the Navy/Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal for service in Lebanon. Best bet is to check with them. I know it is still on their list and it has been revised lately.
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| 11/19/2011 7:52:39 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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tomishere4u
Bay Saint Louis, MS
95, joined Aug. 2011
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Thanx for the words of encouragement. I guess I will go find out at the local lodge. Probably should dig out that old DD214.
How much should I expect the dues to cost?
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| 11/19/2011 8:27:20 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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bier95
Clara City, MN
66, joined May. 2011
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Tom here is the web site for VFW Eligibility Information
http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFWorg/Join/complete%20eligibility%20Info.PDF
good luck
[Edited 11/19/2011 8:28:39 PM ]
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| 11/19/2011 8:46:07 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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tomishere4u
Bay Saint Louis, MS
95, joined Aug. 2011
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Thanx!
I need something to do that will help me meet people. I am hoping this will get me out more.
Also been thinking of volunteering with 'Veterans with Hope'.
Paperwork/data entry is easy and I can do that even tho I am disabled now.
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| 11/20/2011 3:45:40 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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garryowencav
Carmel, IN
69, joined May. 2011
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My brother Kevin was at the Barracks when it was hit.He was a SSG with a .105 battery and part of the 24th MAU. He received (among other decorations the Expeditionary Medal).My understanding is Navy and Marine personnel deployed June 83 to March 84 received the approppriate decoration depending on branch.He (like me) is VFW, and he has other qualifying eligiblity.But my understanding is that award makes you eligible.
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| 11/20/2011 7:46:28 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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fosplicer
Dallas, GA
56, joined May. 2009
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I'm a life member of both the VFW and Legion, the dues are not that bad, I got tired of remembering to write the checks and just paid for the life memberships.
And I do beleive you qualify welcome aboard!
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| 11/20/2011 10:03:13 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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tomishere4u
Bay Saint Louis, MS
95, joined Aug. 2011
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I desperately need a distraction in my life. I am hoping this will give me some sense of belonging. I know all VFWs are different but I think it would be nice to read about some of the activities your VFW does.
I'm sure there are Christmas toy drives and specials for the kids but are there also adult oriented activities? Bingo and the Bar is what I always hear about. There must be more to it than that!?
[Edited 11/20/2011 10:03:50 PM ]
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| 11/21/2011 12:44:12 PM |
Question: Can A Peacetime Vet Join the VFW? |
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grn2gold
Agawam, MA
68, joined Jan. 2011
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My VFW has more stuff going on than I can keep up with--and Im retired! Plus your comrades will invite you to do stuff--ball games, fishing, hunting...its a brotherhood.
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