36 U.S.C. § 230103: Membership

Summary

Only people who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces can be members, and only if one of these applies. Their service must have been a foreign campaign with an authorized campaign badge; on the Korean peninsula or its waters for at least 30 consecutive or 60 total days after June 30, 1949; or in an area that qualified them for hostile‑fire or imminent‑danger special pay under section 310 or 351 of title 37.

Title 36, §230103

Patriotic and National Observances, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation only if the individual served honorably as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States—

(1)in a foreign war, insurrection, or expedition in service that—

(A)has been recognized as campaign-medal service; and

(B)is governed by the authorization of the award of a campaign badge by the United States Government;

(2)on the Korean peninsula or in its territorial waters for at least 30 consecutive days, or a total of 60 days, after June 30, 1949; or

(3)in an area which entitled the individual to receive special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger under section 310 or 351 of title 37.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 23010336:115.May 28, 1936, ch. 471, § 5, 49 Stat. 1391; May 29, 1953, ch. 85, § 2, 67 Stat. 40; Mar. 7, 1995, Pub. L. 104–3, 109 Stat. 47. The words “is eligible for membership . . . only if” are substituted for “may not be a member . . . unless” for consistency in the revised title. The words “served honorably as a member of the armed forces of the United States” are substituted for “served honorably as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States” and “while a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, served honorably” to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (2), the words “at least” are substituted for “not less than” for consistency in the revised title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Par. (3). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted “or 351” after “section 310”. 2002—Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–242 added par. (3).

§230103 Membership