B-86001/A), I-17000-2350, JUL. 18, 1956

B-86001/A), I-17000-2350, JUL. 18, 1956

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 1955, FROM THE ACTING CHIEF OF FINANCE (FINEM 245.81 ALEXANDER, LAWRENCE H. 0-51 731), WITH ENCLOSURES, CONCERNING INCREASED ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS MADE TO MAJOR (NOW LIEUTENANT COLONEL) LAWRENCE H. ALEXANDER, O-51 731, AS FOR AN OFFICER WITH A DEPENDENT MOTHER FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 1946, THROUGH APRIL 11, 1952. THESE PAYMENTS, WHICH WERE MADE ON THE BASIS OF CURRENT CERTIFICATIONS BY THE OFFICER RESPECTING THE DEPENDENCY STATUS OF HIS MOTHER, WERE QUESTIONED IN A REPORT OF INVESTIGATION (I-17000-2350) REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FOR COLLECTION. THE ACTING CHIEF OF FINANCE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION THE OFFICER'S REQUEST, CONTAINED IN THE 24TH INDORSEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 28, 1955, ACCOMPANYING THE LETTER OF DECEMBER 21, 1955, FOR REEVALUATION OF THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 1946, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1949.

THE OFFICER STATES THAT DURING THE PERIOD INVOLVED HIS CONTRIBUTION TO HIS MOTHER, CONSISTING OF A CLASS E ALLOTMENT OF $150 AND ADDITIONAL MONEYS, AVERAGED OVER $200 A MONTH AND CONSTITUTED MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF HER LIVING EXPENSES. ALSO, THAT HIS MOTHER'S PERSONAL INCOME FOR SUCH PERIOD WAS LESS THAN 50 PERCENT OF HER LIVING EXPENSES, AS SHOWN BY HER AFFIDAVIT OF JULY 24, 1954, ENCLOSURE NUMBER 14. WITH RESPECT TO THE LATTER STATEMENT, IT IS NOTED THAT THE MOTHER'S AFFIDAVIT MAKES NO MENTION OF HER PERSONAL INCOME AND LIVING EXPENSES, BUT REFERS, GENERALLY, TO HER USE OF THE OFFICER'S CONTRIBUTION OF $150 WHICH, SHE AVERS, "WAS AUGMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME BY ADDITIONAL SUMS OF MONEY WHICH, OVER THE PERIOD OF THE TIME AS AFORESAID, AVERAGED OUT TO AT LEAST A PAYMENT OF $200.00 PER MONTH, AND PERHAPS WOULD EXCEED THAT AMOUNT.'

OUR INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 1951 AND INCLUDED A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH THE OFFICER'S MOTHER AT WHICH TIME SHE INFORMED OUR INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE RECEIVED AN ALLOTMENT CHECK OF $150 EACH MONTH WHICH SHE DEPOSITED TO HER PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT; THAT SHE USED PART OF THE PROCEEDS, IF NEEDED, FOR HER CURRENT EXPENSES AND THAT THE MAJOR PORTION WAS TO BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A HOME FOR HERSELF AND THE OFFICER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MATTER WAS REINVESTIGATED AND ON DECEMBER 2, 1953, THE MOTHER SIGNED A DEPENDENCY QUESTIONAIRE--- PREPARED FOR USE BY OUR INVESTIGATORS--- IN WHICH SHE STATED THAT FOR THE PERIODS 1946-1947, 1948-1949, AND 1950, THE OFFICER'S AVERAGE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION AMOUNTED TO $150 AND THAT HER AVERAGE MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSES FOR THE SAME PERIODS AMOUNTED TO $381.58. ALSO, IT WILL BE NOTED THAT THE OFFICER CERTIFIED CONCURRENTLY WITH THE RECEIPT BY HIM OF INCREASED ALLOWANCES ON ACCOUNT OF A DEPENDENT MOTHER THAT HIS CONTRIBUTION TOWARD HIS MOTHER'S SUPPORT WAS $150 A MONTH.

UPON REVIEW OF THE MATTER, THE CONCLUSION IS REQUIRED THAT THE RECORD, AS SUPPLEMENTED BY THE OFFICER'S UNSUPPORTED, SELF-SERVING STATEMENT, AND THE MOTHER'S AFFIDAVIT OF JULY 24, 1954, WHICH IS INCONSISTENT, CONTRARY, AND AT VARIANCE WITH THE INFORMATION SHE FURNISHED OUR INVESTIGATORS APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS PREVIOUSLY, DOES NOT WARRANT CHANGING OUR DETERMINATION THAT THE MOTHER WAS NOT IN FACT DEPENDENT ON THE OFFICER FOR CHIEF SUPPORT DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 1946, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1949.

WE WILL APPRECIATE INFORMATION AS TO THE AMOUNTS COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY ON ACCOUNT OF THE IMPROPER PAYMENTS MADE TO COLONEL ALEXANDER.