B-127896, AUG. 1, 1956

B-127896, AUG. 1, 1956

TO MR. REMIGIO COLON:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 10, 1956, FURTHER CONCERNING YOUR CLAIM FOR AMOUNTS BELIEVED DUE IN THE CASE OF YOUR SON, LUIS COLON, FORMERLY CORPORAL, UNITED STATES ARMY, FROM OCTOBER 21, 1950, THE DATE YOU SAY HE ENTERED RODRIGUEZ ARMY HOSPITAL, TO JULY 31, 1951, THE DATE OF HIS RETIREMENT.

YOU HAVE BEEN FURNISHED A STATEMENT OF YOUR SON'S PAY ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 1950, TO JULY 31, 1951, SHOWING THE AMOUNTS DUE HIM AND THE CHARGES (DEBITS) AGAINST HIS ACCOUNT FOR THAT PERIOD. YOU QUESTION THE CORRECTNESS OF TWO DEBIT ITEMS, ONE SHOWING PAYMENTS TOTALING $583 FOR THE PERIOD FROM JULY 1 TO DECEMBER 30, 1950, AND THE OTHER SHOWING PAYMENTS TOTALING $246 FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 1951. SUCH ACTION IS BASED UPON YOUR APPARENT BELIEF THAT THESE PAYMENTS WERE MADE AFTER YOUR SON ENTERED THE HOSPITAL AND THAT HE WAS INCOMPETENT AND COULD NOT HAVE SIGNED THE PAYROLLS WHILE THERE.

THE OFFICIAL RECORDS SHOW THAT DURING THE PERIOD INVOLVED CASH PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO YOU SON AS FOLLOWS: (1) $136 ON JULY 31, 1950, VOUCHER NO. 1904, AUGUST 1950 ACCOUNTS OF W. J. CONVERY, JR. , (2) $270 ON AUGUST 18, 1950, VOUCHER NO. 2687, AUGUST 1950 ACCOUNTS OF W. J. CONVERY, JR.; (3) $10 ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1950, VOUCHER NO. 5305, OCTOBER 1950 ACCOUNTS OF H. A. BULLUCK; (4) $167 ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 30, 1950, VOUCHER NO. 7939, DECEMBER 1950 ACCOUNTS OF W. J. CONVERY, JR.; (5) $87 ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 31, 1950, VOUCHER NO. 9606, JANUARY 1951 ACCOUNTS OF W. J. CONVERY, JR. , (6) $79 ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 31, 1951, VOUCHER NO. 119, FEBRUARY 1951 ACCOUNTS OF T. M. OLVER; AND (7) $80 ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 28, 1951, VOUCHER NO. 1669, MARCH 1951 ACCOUNTS OF T. M. OLVER. IT WILL BE SEEN THAT THREE OF THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE BEFORE OCTOBER 21, 1950, AND THE OTHER FOUR PAYMENTS WERE MADE AFTER THAT DATE. THE SEVEN VOUCHERS BEAR THE SIGNATURE OF "LUIS COLON" IN THE COLUMNS PROVIDED FOR THE PAYEES TO SIGN FOR THE AMOUNTS DUE. A COMPARISON OF THE SIGNATURE OF ,LUIS COLON" ON THE FIRST THREE VOUCHERS WITH THE SIGNATURE ON THE OTHER FOUR VOUCHERS INDICATES THAT THE SIGNATURE ON ALL OF THE SEVEN VOUCHERS WAS WRITTEN BY THE SAME PERSON. ALSO, EACH VOUCHER (MILITARY PAY-ROLL MONEY LIST/BEARS THE CERTIFICATE OF THE APPROPRIATE AGENT FINANCE OFFICER, CERTIFYING THAT THE AMOUNTS SHOWN IN THE COLUMN CAPTIONED "AMOUNT PAID" WERE PAID TO THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED, AFTER PROPER IDENTIFICATION.

IT IS INDICATED IN PRIOR CORRESPONDENCE THAT YOU BELIEVE SOME AMOUNTS DUE YOU SON FOR THE PERIOD INVOLVED WERE DEPOSITED AS PATIENTS' FUNDS AT RODRIGUEZ ARMY HOSPITAL. SINCE UNDER PERTINENT ARMY REGULATIONS COMMANDING OFFICERS OF ARMY HOSPITALS ARE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF PATIENTS' FUNDS, ANY INQUIRY AS TO THE DISPOSITION OF ANY SUCH FUNDS BELONGING TO YOUR SON SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE ARMY HOSPITAL CONCERNED.