Somalia Service Not Eligible for VFW Membership

KW Driver · Post by **KW Driver** » June 26th, 2008, 10:31 pm

and we did get the AFEM for Somalia. no arrowhead.

ANGRYCivilian · Post by **ANGRYCivilian** » June 27th, 2008, 5:46 am

K.Ingraham wrote:The VFW accepts both the AFEM & the N/MCEM.

I have an AFEM, and some years ago the VFW said I was not eligible. Maybe when I get really old, I'll be able to join and play shuffleboard too.

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » June 27th, 2008, 6:09 am

Oto-Man wrote:
Silverback wrote:
RetPara wrote:Check edit in quotes.... something may not smell right...
Not quite sure what you're getting at. I am not a member of the VFW because it's not important to me. I have heard too many stories of legitimate veterans getting slammed when they try and call out a poser who is part of the local good 'ol boy network.
fuck that Dan, join...they need more "young blood" like you and me (lifer)...but seriousy..they can't "slam a legit vet" for calling out a poser....that good ole boy network thing only works in rural BFE..I have full co-operation from my post in outing asshole wannabee's....cant find Butch Westbrock...but they support me anyway

Seriously...I have no intention of joining the VFW.

PocketKings · Post by **PocketKings** » June 27th, 2008, 6:37 am

This place is like the VFW without the stupid hats, stupid rules, or need to actually meet people. This is like the cool VFW with more beer and guns.

I'm drinking a beer and shooting as I type this.

K.Ingraham · Post by **K.Ingraham** » June 27th, 2008, 8:49 am

ANGRYCivilian wrote:
K.Ingraham wrote:The VFW accepts both the AFEM & the N/MCEM.
I have an AFEM, and some years ago the VFW said I was not eligible. Maybe when I get really old, I'll be able to join and play shuffleboard too.

Local chapters really are private clubs. All the WW2 AAF cooks who never left the airfield in Oklahoma were probably jealous of your CIB...

The VFW got so hungry for fresh members, after snubbing the VN & "weekend war" vets all these years that they actually created catagories of membership for offspring or relatives of actual vets.
When the Johnson City, NY VFW chapter made a big ceremony out of inducting a draft dodger named Henry Michalovic to honor his uncles WW2 service. The uncles were both KIA in the ETO in '44. I'm sure they rolled in their graves over the way they were "honored" by this disgraceful individual.

"Hey, I read lots of war books, can I join too?"

The only reason to join the Legion or VFW is because there's no one else lobbying congress on our behalf, to put some weight behind their efforts. Otherwise, you only 'need' this place & the 75thRRA.

CrashKILL · Post by **CrashKILL** » June 28th, 2008, 5:22 pm

Ranger Bill wrote:When I returned from Vietnam, the VFW gave a cold shoulder to me and a lot of other guys at that time. Now they keep sending me stuff to join, but I've got ArmyRanger.com and the 75th RRA.

Right the fuck on.

RGR Bowen · Post by **RGR Bowen** » June 29th, 2008, 1:02 pm

rangertough wrote:In Haiti we recieved immenent danger pay. I still don't think that I qualify for VFW membership.

Tough

We earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal in Haiti, the VFW tried to recruit my roomate and I in college.

msg_dman · Post by **msg_dman** » June 29th, 2008, 7:46 pm

The VFW came to us at 10th Mountain after Somalia and we were forced to go to a mandatory formation and hear their sales pitch. They congratulated us because we were now eligible. It was based solely upon the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. I doubt they would rescind that now because they are always hurting for dues as more WWII and Korea vets die.

Looon · Post by **Looon** » June 29th, 2008, 8:05 pm

The Columbus chapter was pretty good to us after OJC. They had a BBQ for us with pitchers of beer for .25 Cents.

Other than that experience, I don't like them or the American Legion.

Steadfast · Post by **Steadfast** » June 29th, 2008, 8:53 pm

Slowpoke wrote:
Ranger Bill wrote:When I returned from Vietnam, the VFW gave a cold shoulder to me and a lot of other guys at that time. Now they keep sending me stuff to join, but I've got ArmyRanger.com and the 75th RRA.
X2

fuck the VFW!!!!!

x's 3

They laughed at me when I returned from RVN saying, "come back when you've been in a real war sonny".

(sic, VFW) Scumbags, die motherfuckers, all of you.

Oto-Man · Post by **Oto-Man** » June 29th, 2008, 9:25 pm

JLTW!!! wrote:WTF? Who cares about AFEM and all that shit? Maybe I am stupid,

and was old enough to have been a private with the Pastor!

Puked on his porch, Shit on his toilet lid, and call the Pastor old...I'll go with stupid!!!!!

Post by **rangertough** » June 30th, 2008, 6:48 am

RGR Bowen wrote:
rangertough wrote:In Haiti we recieved immenent danger pay. I still don't think that I qualify for VFW membership.

Tough
We earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal in Haiti, the VFW tried to recruit my roomate and I in college.

I know brother. I was just using what I thought as the most rediculus requirement to say that I didn't deserve membership in the VFW. I don't think I would join even if I felt worthy (for the same reasons as some have stated).

I'll tell you this though, my brother-in-law earned a purple heart and never recieved it (sucks to be a cross-level in the USAR) and the VFW is all over his shit bag unit and Washington state getting that shit fixed.

Tough

Bravo57 · Post by **Bravo57** » June 30th, 2008, 1:51 pm

The VFW is consistantly hounding me to join. Fuck-em. Most of them are posers anyway.

When I wear my jacket or vest when I do a group ride or poker rally, it always comes up (because I have those cool patches now) that I'm a vet.

I see lots of other vests/jackets being put away in saddle bags.

Sorry about the side rant, I just see a lot of bikes at the VFW here in town and know that most of them are full of shit.