COLUMBUS, Ga. - Jack Wagner was wounded twice during two tours in Vietnam, but instead of a hero's welcome after his return, he was advised to ditch his uniform to avoid the wrath of anti-war protesters.

"That made a lot of Vietnam veterans go in the closet. They didn't want to be labeled as baby killers," said Mr. Wagner, the 59-year-old national commander of the 4,800-member Combat Infantrymen's Association.

After being disparaged by demonstrators, Vietnam veterans also found themselves shunned by some of the World War II and Korean War veterans who made up the bulk of membership in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and other leading veterans groups.

"All we wanted was for someone to say, 'Welcome Home,'" said Mr. Wagner of Cape Coral, Fla.

With World War II veterans dying at a rate of 1,100 per day and many Korean War vets now in their 70s, it's Vietnam veterans such as Mr. Wagner who have taken the helm of some of the nation's leading veterans organizations. They know the importance of extending a welcoming hand to the latest generation of combat veterans - the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Even though many of us may disagree on the way this war is being handled, we are in total support of those young troops," said Mr. Wagner during his group's recent annual convention in Columbus. "We want to promote camaraderie and open our arms to all those who have seen the horrors of war from the front line."

The infantry association, which limits its membership to those who earned the Army's blue-and-silver Combat Infantry Badge for combat infantry service, has stepped up its recruiting, particularly among those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thousands have earned the prestigious badge since its creation in 1943. Nearly 24,000 soldiers have earned it in Iraq and 9,700 in Afghanistan, making them all eligible for membership in the association.

Despite offering free, two-year memberships, the group has only attracted 58.