36 U.S.C. § 230103

Membership

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.

( Pub. L. 105–225 , Aug. 12, 1998 , 112 Stat. 1481 ; Pub. L. 107–242, § 1(a) , Oct. 16, 2002 , 116 Stat. 1497 ; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 618(g) , Dec. 23, 2016 , 130 Stat. 2160 .)