Membership - How to Join Us
If you have honorably served in Korea as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 3, 1945, or served outside of Korea from June 25, 1950, to January 31, 1955, you qualify to be a Regular Member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.
There are four types of membership:
- Life Members
- Regular Members
- Legacy Members
- Associate Members
- Honorary Members
The Board of Directors of the Korean War Veterans Association invite you to join the KWVA if you meet the membership criteria listed below. Joining is easy. Just fill out the Online Application and submit with payment, or download, print and fill out the Paper Application and mail it, along with the correct dues amount, to:
KWVA Headquarters
3 Black Skimmer Ct.
Beaufort, SC 29907
Dues
Annual Regular Member: $25
Annual Legacy Member: $25
Annual Associate Member: $25
Lifetime Member:
- Ages up to and through 35 years of age: $600
- Ages 36 through 50 years of age: $450
- Ages 51 through 65 years of age: $300
- Ages 66 through 79 years of age: $150
- Ages 80 years of age and older: $75
Please make checks payable to: The Korean War Veterans Association.
Membership Criteria
No one will be excluded from membership because of race, color, creed, sex, national or ethnic origin, or physical or mental disability, as long as the individual meets the following service requirements.
Regular Members
- Service in the United States Armed Forces
- Any person who has seen honorable service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, defined as Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, is eligible for membership if:
- Said service was within Korea including territorial waters and airspace at any time, September 3, 1945 to Present
OR - Said service was outside of Korea, June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955.
OR - Said service was as a member of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) any time September 3, 1945 to Present, or said service was outside of Korea, June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955, who has become a citizen of the United States of America.
- Said service was within Korea including territorial waters and airspace at any time, September 3, 1945 to Present
- Any person who has seen honorable service in any of the Armed Forces of the United States, defined as Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, is eligible for membership if:
- Medal of Honor: Any person qualifying to be a Regular Member, who is a Medal of Honor recipient, is eligible for free life membership. A signed statement of their eligibility for membership must be provided for approval.
- Prisoner of War: Any person qualifying to be a Regular Member and was held as a prisoner of war by the North Koreans, Chinese, or Russian forces during and after the period of hostilities from June 25, 1950 forward, is eligible for free life membership. A signed statement of their eligibility for membership must be provided for approval.
Legacy Members
- Must not be eligible for Regular membership.
- Any person that is a direct descendent (child, grand-child etc.) of a Veteran that has served in Korea September 3, 1945 to present, or said service was outside of Korea, June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955, with a legitimate interest in the affairs of this Association and who wishes to support its aims, and not being eligible for Regular Membership; and who agrees to accept the terms and conditions set forth in the KWVA Charter and its Bylaws and Standard Procedure Manual, shall be eligible for Legacy Membership in the Association. A signed statement of their eligibility for membership [Application Form page 2] must be provided for approval.
Associate Members
- Must not be eligible for Regular membership.
- Any person with a legitimate interest in the affairs of this Association and who wishes to support its aims, and not being eligible for Regular Membership; and who agrees to accept the terms and conditions set forth in the KWVA Charter and its Bylaws and Standard Procedure Manual (hereinafter referred to as SPM), shall be eligible for Associate Membership in the Association. A signed statement of their eligibility for membership must be provided for approval.
Honorary Members
Gold Star Parents: Any person whose son/daughter was killed in action, or was missing in action, or died as a prisoner of war while serving within Korea including territorial waters around and airspace above during the Korean War (June 25, 1950 to the present) is eligible for free life membership. A signed statement of their eligibility for membership must be provided for approval.
Gold Star Spouses: Any person whose spouse was killed in action, or was missing in action, or died as a prisoner of war while serving within Korea including territorial waters around and airspace above during the Korean War (June 25, 1950 to the present) is eligible for free life membership. A signed statement of their eligibility for membership must be provided for approval.
Other Honorary Members: Any person of good character may be elected as Honorary Member by vote by the KWVA National Board of Directors.
Ineligible
Any person who has been separated from the service of the Armed Forces of the United States under conditions other than honorable shall be ineligible for membership in this Association.
Give a deserving Korea Veteran a Gift Membership
If you have a friend or family member that served in Korea and is eligible to be a KWVA member (see criteria above), you can easily give him/her a "Gift Membership." Simply fill out the Membership Application below with all the required information for them, then sign it yourself in the designated area as the "gift giver". The new member will receive a membership card, a "Welcome Packet" from the Membership Office, and begin receiving the Graybeards magazine!