Definition Of Massachusetts Veteran
M.G.L. ch. 4, sec. 7, cl. 43rd as amended by the Acts of 2004
Effective August 30, 2004
To be a “veteran” under Massachusetts law a person is required to have either:
- 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions – OR –
- 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day of which is during “wartime” per the chart below, and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
| WAR | “Wartime” DATES |
|---|---|
| WWI | 6-Apr-1917 through 11-Nov-1918 |
| WWII (Merchant Marine: one day between 7-Dec-1941 through 31-Dec-1946) |
16-Sep-1940 through 31-Dec-1946 |
| Korea | 25-Jun-1950 through 31-Jan-1955 |
| Vietnam | 5-Aug-1964 through 7-May-1975 |
| Lebanon Campaign* | 25-Aug-1982 through (to be determined) |
| Grenada Campaign* | 25-Oct-1983 through 15-Dec-1983 |
| Panama Campaign* | 20-Dec-1989 through 31-Jan-1990 |
| Persian Gulf | 2-Aug-1990 through (to be determined) |
* Naval and Marine DD214 must indicate Expeditionary Medal. All DD214’s must specify campaign: Lebanon, Granada or Panama.
For Guard Members to qualify they must have 180 days and have been
activated under Title 10 of the U.S. Code – OR –
Members who were activated under Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code of
Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, sections 38, 40 and 41 must have 90
days, at least one of which was during wartime, per the above chart. The
Member’s last discharge or release must be under honorable conditions.
Minimum Service Exception (for Death or Disability)
It is not necessary that an applicant have completed the minimum service for wartime or peacetime campaign if he/she served some time in the campaign and was awarded the Purple Heart, or suffered a service-connected disability, or died in the service under honorable conditions.
Training Duty Exception
Active service in the armed forces as used in this clause shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the Armed Forces of the United States.