Membership Information
Who Are We?
The Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association is a Non-Profit Corporation of Active Duty Members, Retired Members, Reserve Members, and Honorably Discharged Former Members of the United States Coast Guard who served in, or provided direct support to combat situations recognized by an appropriate military award while serving as a member of the United States Coast Guard.
The United States Coast Guard has participated in every war, declared and undeclared, since 1790. Its combat veterans have contributed outstanding service and many paid the ultimate price for safeguarding the freedom of the nation.
The Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association is dedicated to extending the knowledge of the Coast Guards service and participation in the those significant historical events in United States history. The CGCVA provides a living link between the present and past so that the future may learn and develop from it.
Membership Eligibility
The receipt of any of following service awards establishes membership requirements for any active, reserve, retired or honorably discharged Coast Guard member who served in support of such missions. Written proof of award receipt is required through the submission of discharge documentation such as a copy of a DD-214, DD-215, or copy of discharge (reverse lists awards).
Associate, non-voting membership are available for those U.S. Coast Guard members meeting the combat criteria while in the service of another Armed Force. The U.S. Public Health Service members who served as member of the U. S. Coast Guard combat command. A spouse, child, or orphan of a deceased Coast Guard Combat Veteran.
Table 1: Medal & Award Requirements
| World War I |
6 Apr 1917 - 1 Apr 1920 |
| Navy |
6 Apr 1917 - 30 Apr 1920 |
| Army Occupation of Germany |
12 Nov 1918 - 11 Jul 1923 |
| Second Nicaraquan Campaign |
27 Aug 1926 - 2 Jan 1933 |
| Yangtze Service |
3 Sep 1926 - 21 Oct 1927
1 Mar 1930 - 31 Dec 1932 |
| China Service Medal |
7 Jul 1937 - 7 Sep 1939 |
| American Defense Service (w/Foreign Service Clasp) |
8 Sep 1939 - 7 Dec 1941 |
| World War II American Campaign |
7 Dec 1941 - 2 Mar 1946 |
| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign |
7 Dec 1941 - 2 Mar 1946 |
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign |
7 Dec 1941 - 2 Mar 1946
2 Sep 1945 - 1 Apr 1957 |
| Korean Service Medal |
27 Jun 1952 - 27 Jul 1954 |
| Vietnam Service Medal |
4 Jul 1965 - 28 Mar 1973 |
| Southwest Asia Service Medal |
2 Aug 1990 - 30 NOV 95
(Desert Shield/Desert Storm) |
| Afganistan Campaign |
24 October 2001 - to Indeterminate |
| Iraq Campaign |
19 March 2003 - to Indeterminate |
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary |
11 Sep 2001 to Indeterminate. |
Combat Action Ribbon (as amended by PL 106-65, Sec. 564, Oct. 5, 1999)
| World War II |
7 Dec. 1941 - 14 April 1946.* |
| Korea 27 June |
1950 - 27 July 1954.* |
| Vietnam to Present |
1 Mar 1961 - Indeterminate |
Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon (established 2009)
| No Theater of Action yet described |
No Dates |
*The above dates for WWII and Korea are those established by the Secretary of the Navy. The Coast Guard has made no official determination. The Public Law only mentions after 7 Dec 1941 and prior to 1 March 1961.
Occupation Forces Army/Navy
| Italy |
8 May 1945 - 15 Dec 1947 |
| Germany |
8 May 1945 - 5 May 1955 |
| Austria |
8 May 1945 - 25 Oct 1955 |
| Asiatic Pacific |
2 Sep 1945 - 27 Jun 1952 |
| Trieste |
9 May 1945 - 26 Oct 1954 |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
| Berlin |
14 Aug 1961 - 1 Jun 1963 |
| Lebanon |
1 Jul 1958 - 1 Nov 1958 |
| Quemoy & Matsu Islands |
23 Aug 1958 - 1 Jun 1963 |
| Taiwan Straits |
23 Aug 1958 - 1 Jan 1959 |
| Congo |
15 Jul 1960 - 1 Sep 1962
23-27 Nov 1964 |
| Laos |
19 Apr 1961 - 7 Oct 1962 |
| Vietnam |
1 Jul 1958 - 7 Oct 1965 |
| Cuba |
24 Oct 1962 - 1 Jun 1963 |
| Dominican Republic |
28 Apr 1965 - 21 Sep 1966 |
| Korea |
1 Oct 1966 - 30 Jun 1974 |
| Cambodia and Thailand |
29 Mar 1973 - 15 Aug 1973 |
| Cambodia Evacuation |
29 Apr 1975 - 30 Apr 1975 |
| Mayaquez Operation |
15 May 1975 |
| Operations in Libya |
12-17 Apr 1986 |
| Grenadian Operation "Operation Urgent Fury" |
23 Oct 1983 - 21 Nov 1983 |
| Lebanon |
Jun 1983 - 1 Dec 1987 |
| Operation Earnest Will Persain Gulf |
24 Jul - 2 Aug 1990 |
| Panama-Operation Just Cause |
20 Dec 1989 - 31 Jan 1990 |
| Haiti - Restore Democracy |
16 Sep 1994 - 31 March 1995 |
| Operation Desert Thunder (Iraq) |
11 Nov 1998 to 22 Dec 1998 |
| Operation Desert Fox (Iraq) |
16 Dec 1998 to 22 Dec 1998 |
| Operation Desert Spring (Iraq) |
31 Dec 1998 - TBD |
| Operation Maritime Intercept (Iraq) |
1 Dec 1995 - TBD |
| Operation Vigilant Sentinel (Iraq) |
1 Dec 1995 - 1 Sep 1997 |
| Operation Northern Watch (Iraq |
1 Jan 1997 - TBD |
| El Salvador |
1 Jan 1981 - 1 Feb 1992 |
| Operation Joint Guard (Bosnia) |
20 Dec 1996 - 20 Jan 1998 |
| Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia) |
20 Nov 1995 - 16 Dec 1996 |
| Operation Joint Forge (Bosnia) |
21 Jun 1998 - TBD |
| Operation Southern Watch |
1 Dec 1995 - TBD |
| Operation Secure Tomorrow (Haiti) |
29 Feb 2004 - 15 June 2005 |
Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
| Thailand Military Operation |
16 May 1962 - 10 Aug 1962 |
| Cuban Military Operation |
3 Jan 1961 - 23 Oct 1962 |
| Iranian, Yemen, and Indian Ocean Operations |
8 Dec 1978 - 6 Jun 1979
21 Nov 1979 - 20 Oct 1981 |
| Lebanon |
20 Aug 1982 - 31 Dec 1983 |
| Libyan Expedition |
20 Jan 1986 - 27 Jun 1986 |
| Persian Gulf |
1 Feb 1987 - 23 Jul 1987 |
| NATO Medal |
1 July 1992 to Indeterminate |
Send Applications to:
Gary Sherman
3245 Ridge Pike
Eagleville, PA 19403
