VETERANS ‑- PREFERENTIAL EMPLOYMENT ‑- SERVICE IN PEACE‑TIME YEARS ONLY

VETERANS ‑- PREFERENTIAL EMPLOYMENT ‑- SERVICE IN PEACE‑TIME YEARS ONLY

A veteran who has not served during any war is not entitled to veterans preference.

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                                                              September 27, 1951

Mr. E. B. Riley, Director
Veterans' Rehabilitation Council
P.O. Box 777
Olympia, Washington                                                                                                              Cite as:  AGO 51-53 No. 138

Attention:  !ttMr. Edwin W. Schultz
            Assistant Director

Dear Sir:

            You inquire whether

            A veteran who has not served during any war is entitled to veterans preference.

            We conclude that he is not.

                                                                     ANALYSIS

            The specific language of Rem. Rev. Stat. § 9963-5 (1947 Supp.) is as follows:

            "* * * the State of Washington, [and its municipal subdivisions], * * * shall give a preference status to all veterans, as herein defined,of all wars in which the United States of America has been, * * * engaged, * * *" (Emphasis supplied).

            The subsequent statutory definition of veteran pertains to the branch of service in which the veteran served and to the type of discharge which he received.

             [[Orig. Op. Page 2]]

            We therefore conclude that the legislature intended to give preference only to honorably discharged veterans who have served in times of war.  See State ex rel. Raines v. Seattle, 134 Wash. 360, 235 Pac. 968 (1925) and cases cited therein.

Very truly yours,

SMITH TROY
Attorney General

JENNINGS P. FELIX
Assistant Attorney General