joinvfw.jpg picture by squirtsdawgamber

If you're a vet, you may qualify for membership in the 2.2 Million strong Veterans of Foreign Wars. If you're the relative of a qualifying vet, you may be eligible to join the Men's or Ladies Auxilliary to the VFW. I found out I was eligible for VFW membership after serving a year on the DMZ in Korea. For me, the VFW has opened my eyes to ways I can support our active troops as well as ways I can assist my comrades. I am proud and humbled to be counted among the ranks of VFW.

vfwdivider.jpg picture by squirtsdawgamber

Specific Dates of Service can be found below this table.

World War I Victory Ribbon, 1917- 1920

American Defense Service Ribbon, 1939- 1941

American Campaign Ribbon, 1941- 1946

Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Ribbon, 1941- 1946

European- African- Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, 1941- 1945

 Army of Occupation Ribbon, Mixed Dates

 Korean Service Ribbon, 1950- 1954

Korean Defense Service Ribbon, 1954- Present 

 Armed Forces Expeditionary Ribbon, Mixed Dates

 Marine Corp/ Navy Expeditionary Ribbon, Mixed Dates

 Vietnam Service Ribbon, 1965- 1973 

Southwest Asia Service Ribbon, 1990- Indeterminate 

 Service on Korean Peninsula or Territorial Waters, (Overseas Service Ribbon) 1949- Indeterminate

overseas.jpg picture by squirtsdawgamber

 Kosovo Campaign Ribbon, Dates not determined

 

 

 

Iraq, Afghanistan, GWOT Campaign Ribbon, 2001- Present 

iraqaffygwot.jpg picture by squirtsdawgamber

 

Combat Action Ribbon, Various Dates of Service 

 

 

 

The VFW website has an interactive program you can use to check your eligibility.

About the Maltese Cross  ~~ Veteran's Links Page

VFW Home ~~ Squirts' Biker Page Home ~~ VFW Webcommunity

vfwdivider.jpg picture by squirtsdawgamber


(Periods prior to World War I are not listed)

  • World War I Victory Army 6 April 1917 1 Apr 1920; (with Battle/Service clasp Navy) 6 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 2 Jan. 1933

  • Yangtze Service Navy 3 Sept. 1926 21 Oct. 1927; 1 Mar. 1930 31 Dec. 1932

  • China Service Navy 7 July 1937 7 Sep. 1939; 2 Sept. 1945 1 April 1957 


  • American Defense Service Army-Navy 8 Sep. 1939 7 Dec.1941 (with foreign service clasp) 
  • American Campaign Army-Navy 7 Dec. 1941 2 Mar.1946 (30 consecutive days or 60 days non-consecutive duty outside continental limits of United States)
  • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Army-Navy 7 Dec. 1941 2 Mar. 1946

     
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Army-Navy 7 Dec. 1941 8 Nov. 1945
  • Army of Occupation Italy 9 May 1945 15 Sept. 1947 (30 consecutive days)
  • Occupation of Germany (except West Berlin) 8 May 1945 5 May 1955
  • Occupation of Germany (West Berlin) 9 May 1945 2 Oct. 1990
  • Austria 9 May 1945 27 July 1955
  • Korea 3 Sept.1945 29 June 1949
  • Japan 3 Sept.1945 27 April 1952
  • Navy Occupation Service Medal
  • Italy 8 May 1945 15 Dec. 1947
  • Trieste 8 May 1945 26 Oct. 1954 
  • Asiatic Pacific 2 Sept. 1945 27 Apr 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 1 July 1958 1 Nov. 1958
  • Quemoy and Matsu Islands 23 Aug. 1958 1 June 1963
  • Taiwan Straits 23 Aug. 1958 1 Jan. 1959
  • Congo 14 July 1960 1 Sep. 1962; 23 Nov. 1964 27 Nov.1964
  • Laos 19 Apr. 1961 7 Oct. 1962
  • Vietnam 1 July 1958 3 July 1965
  • Cuba 24 Oct. 1962 1 June 1963
  • Dominican Republic 28 Apr. 1965 21 Sep.1966
  • Korea 1 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 6 June 1983 1 Dec. 1987
  • Libyan Operation-El Dorado Canyon 12-17 April 1986
  • Persian Gulf- Earnest Will 24 July 1987 2 Aug.1990
  • Panama - Just Cause 20 Dec. 1989 31 Jan.1990
  • Somalia - Restore Hope 5 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 3 Jan.1961 23 Oct. 1962
  • Iranian, Yemen/Indian Ocean 8 Dec. 1978 6 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 1 Feb. 1987 23 July 1987
     
  • Vietnam Service Medal 4 July 1965 28 Mar. 1973
     
  • Southwest Asia Service Medal (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) 2 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

         The emblem of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (The Maltese Cross), is over 1,000 years old. Nearly ten centuries ago the Maltese Cross was made the symbol of fighting men who were united by a solemn pledge of comradeship to fight for freedom and to aid the sick and the needy. Those ancient obligations are still symbolized by the Cross of Malta today, for the more than two million former servicemen who are the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Cross of Malta is the symbol of their battles in time of war and of their campaign to defend the God given rights of human beings in time of peace.

         The Cross of Malta symbolizes the compassion, or sympathy, of those men and women for the needy. It is the sign of services which our contemporary veterans render to help make living a little better for everyone. The original meaning of the Cross of Malta started with the Crusaders serving in the Middle East.

         The Knights of St. John formed the worlds first great brotherhood of warriors pledged to chivalry. The Knights of St. John represented all walks of life. They were noblemen and priests, artisans and laborers. Regardless of those differences, however, they were united by a solemn pledge of unwavering courage and compassion. Together they fought against oppression. They carried their crusades far from home across deserts and seas, into the Holy Land, Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta. At the same time they administered to the sick, the needy and to the poor. The Crusaders adopted the Cross of Malta as their insignia because its eight points represented the eight Beatitudes prescribed in the Sermon on the Mount.

    Those, in effect, declare:
    (1) Blessed are the poor in spirit
    (2) Blessed are the meek
    (3) Blessed are the pure
    (4) Blessed are the merciful
    (5) Blessed are the peacemakers
    (6) Blessed are they that mourn
    (7) Blessed are they that seek righteousness
    (8) Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake.

    Special thanks to VFW Post 7591, Madison, Wisconsin for providing the inspiration for this webpage.

    Questions or Concerns? Please direct them to squirtsbikerpage@yahoo.com