B-86001-/J), I-17000-541, AUG. 16, 1956
Highlights
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED OCTOBER 28. IT WAS STATED THAT THE REPORT OF INVESTIGATION TRANSMITTED THEREWITH INDICATED THAT THE OFFICER HAD RECEIVED IMPROPER PAYMENTS OF SUCH ALLOWANCES ON THE BASIS OF HIS CERTIFICATES THAT HIS MOTHER WAS DEPENDENT ON HIM FOR HER CHIEF SUPPORT. IT APPEARS FROM SUCH REPORT THAT DURING THE PERIOD INVOLVED THE OFFICER'S MOTHER WAS EMPLOYED FROM AUGUST 1944 THROUGH AUGUST 1945 BY DOCTOR HAROLD L. ON THIS RECORD IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT PRIMA FACIE. SHE WAS NOT DEPENDENT ON HER OFFICER SON FOR HER CHIEF SUPPORT. IT IS AGAIN REQUESTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO RECOVER SUCH ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO THE OFFICER FOR THE PERIOD FROM AUGUST 1.
B-86001-/J), I-17000-541, AUG. 16, 1956
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED OCTOBER 28, 1955, FROM THE BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL, PERS B723-MJZ, FORWARDING FOR OUR CONSIDERATION A STATEMENT DATED JULY 2, 1952, BY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MELVIN O. JOHNSON, USN, 148036/1100, REGARDING PAYMENTS OF INCREASED RENTAL AND SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES MADE TO HIM ON BEHALF OF HIS ALLEGED DEPENDENT MOTHER DURING THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 1944, THROUGH DECEMBER 10, 1945, WHILE SERVING AS A LIEUTENANT, USN.
IN OUR LETTER OF AUGUST 14, 1951, I-17000-541, IT WAS STATED THAT THE REPORT OF INVESTIGATION TRANSMITTED THEREWITH INDICATED THAT THE OFFICER HAD RECEIVED IMPROPER PAYMENTS OF SUCH ALLOWANCES ON THE BASIS OF HIS CERTIFICATES THAT HIS MOTHER WAS DEPENDENT ON HIM FOR HER CHIEF SUPPORT. IT APPEARS FROM SUCH REPORT THAT DURING THE PERIOD INVOLVED THE OFFICER'S MOTHER WAS EMPLOYED FROM AUGUST 1944 THROUGH AUGUST 1945 BY DOCTOR HAROLD L. AYLSWORTH, CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, AS A HOUSEKEEPER AND THAT HE PAID HER $18 A WEEK AND FURNISHED HER ROOM AND BOARD IN HIS HOME, AND THAT BEFORE AND AFTER SUCH PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT SHE LIVED WITH HER DAUGHTER WHO FURNISHED HER ROOM AND BOARD. ON THIS RECORD IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT PRIMA FACIE, SHE WAS NOT DEPENDENT ON HER OFFICER SON FOR HER CHIEF SUPPORT.
THE UNSUPPORTED STATEMENTS MADE BY COMMANDER JOHNSON IN HIS LETTER OF JULY 2, 1952, DO NOT WARRANT A MODIFICATION OF OUR FORMER CONCLUSION THAT HE RECEIVED ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS OF INCREASED ALLOWANCES ON HER ACCOUNT AT LEAST DURING THE PERIOD FROM AUGUST 1944 THROUGH AUGUST 1945.
ACCORDINGLY, IT IS AGAIN REQUESTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO RECOVER SUCH ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO THE OFFICER FOR THE PERIOD FROM AUGUST 1, 1944, THROUGH AUGUST 31, 1945. IN THAT CONNECTION ATTENTION IS INVITED TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF JULY 15, 1954, 68 STAT. 482. ALTHOUGH NOT FREE FROM DOUBT, THE DEPENDENCY PAYMENTS MADE TO THE OFFICER ON ACCOUNT OF HIS MOTHER FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 1944, AND FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1945, THROUGH DECEMBER 10, 1945, WILL NOT BE FURTHER QUESTIONED ON THE PRESENT RECORD.
WE WILL APPRECIATE INFORMATION AS TO THE AMOUNTS COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.