Wis. Stat. § 45.001

(a) Except as used in s. 45.358 or 45.37 or subch. II or unless otherwise modified, and except as provided in par. (b) , "veteran" means any person who has served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces, except service on active duty for training purposes, and who meets all of the following conditions:

1. Except as provided in par. (c) , is a resident of and living in this state at the time of making application, or is deceased, and meets one of the following conditions:

a. Has served in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia, or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34 .

b. Was entitled to receive the armed forces expeditionary medal, established by executive order 10977 on December 4, 1961, the Vietnam service medal established by executive order 11231 on July 8, 1965, the navy expeditionary medal, or the marine corps expeditionary medal.

c. Has served for 90 days or more during a war period or under section 1 of executive order 10957 dated August 10, 1961, or if having served less than 90 days was honorably discharged for a service-connected disability or for a disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service connected or died in service.

d. Has served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for 2 continuous years or more or the full period of the individual's initial service obligation, whichever is less. An individual discharged for reasons of hardship or a service-connected disability or released due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces prior to the completion of the required period of service is eligible, regardless of the actual time served.

2. Except as provided in par. (c) , is a resident of and living in this state at the time of making application or is deceased, and meets one of the following conditions:

a. His or her selective service local board, if any, and home of record at the time of entry or reentry into active service as shown on the veteran's report of separation from the U.S. armed forces for a qualifying period were in this state.

b. Was a resident of this state at the time of entry or reentry into active duty.

c. Has been a resident of this state for any consecutive 12-month period after entry or reentry into service and before the date of his or her application or death. If a person applying for a benefit under this subchapter meets that residency requirement of 12 consecutive months, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets that residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires that residency.

(b) If the person had more than one qualifying term of service under par. (a) 1. , at least one term of service must have been under honorable conditions or have been terminated by an honorable discharge for the purpose of establishing eligibility under this section and s. 45.37 (1a) .

(c) Veterans who are otherwise eligible and who are serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces need not be living in this state on date of application to qualify for benefits from the department.

(a) Indian war: Between 1860 and 1898.

(b) Spanish American war: Between April 21, 1898, and April 11, 1899.

(c) Philippine insurrection: Between April 12, 1899, and July 4, 1902 (extended to July 15, 1903, if actually engaged in Moro Province hostilities).

(d) Boxer rebellion: Between June 16, 1900, and May 12, 1901.

(da) Mexican border service: Between June 19, 1916, and April 5, 1917.

(e) World War I: Between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918 (extended to April 1, 1920, if service was in Russia).

(f) World War II: Between August 27, 1940, and July 25, 1947.

(fm) Korean conflict: Between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955.

(g) Vietnam war: Between August 5, 1964, and January 1, 1977, excepting service on active duty for training purposes only.

(h) Persian Gulf war: Between August 1, 1990, and the ending date of Operation Desert Shield or the ending date of Operation Desert Storm as established by the department by rule.

(i) Afghanistan War: Between September 11, 2001, and the ending date of Operation Enduring Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Enduring Freedom, as established by the department by rule.

(j) Iraq War: Between March 19, 2003, and the ending of Operation Iraqi Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Iraqi Freedom, as established by the department by rule.