The Connecticut Wartime Service Medal — Awarded Posthumously Too
Connecticut awards a state Wartime Service Medal, free, to a veteran with 90 days of active wartime service — or less where the war or operation lasted under 90 days — discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, or discharged for a line-of-duty injury. It reaches a current Connecticut resident, and equally someone who was a Connecticut resident during the qualifying period. It can be awarded posthumously on form VM2, and members of the Hmong Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit are eligible on form VM3.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
Connecticut awards a state Wartime Service Medal, free, to a veteran with 90 days of active wartime service — or less where the war or operation lasted under 90 days — discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, or discharged for a line-of-duty injury. It reaches a current Connecticut resident, and equally someone who was a Connecticut resident during the qualifying period. It can be awarded posthumously on form VM2, and members of the Hmong Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit are eligible on form VM3.
What it's worth: A state medal, at no cost
- The service test is 90 days of active wartime service, unless the war or operation lasted less than 90 days, in which case the shorter period counts.
- Discharge must be honorable or under honorable conditions — or a discharge for a line-of-duty injury.
- It reaches a CURRENT Connecticut resident, and equally someone who was a Connecticut resident during the qualifying wartime period. A veteran who has since moved away still qualifies on the second route.
- The medal is free. The forms are VM1 for a living veteran, VM2 for a posthumous award, and VM3 for Hmong Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit members.
- There is no disability test.
Who is entitled to it
- You served during a recognised period of war.
- You were discharged honorably.
- You have a Connecticut connection.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
- 1Apply to the state veterans department at Rocky Hill on form VM1.
- 2For a veteran who has died, use form VM2. The medal is awarded posthumously and a family member can apply.
- 3Members of the Hmong Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit use form VM3 — a separate route that exists precisely because the ordinary discharge documents do not fit.
- 4If you no longer live in Connecticut but did during the war, apply anyway. Residency during the qualifying period is an alternative route.
- Form
- CTDVA form VM1, VM2 or VM3
- File with
- Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocky Hill
- Documents you will need
- dd214
- No renewal
- Once granted it does not need renewing.
Sources
- authority · published policyConnecticut DVA — Wartime Service Medal (CGS 27-73e)
- operating · published policyConnecticut OLR 2016-R-0112 — state veterans' benefits
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