Unpaid Military Pay and Allowances (Indorsement)

A question arose concerning the beneficiary of a deceased military member's unpaid compensation. The member had designated his mother as the beneficiary, but he subsequently admitted paternity by signing his child's birth certificate. Originally, both the mother and a guardian for the child submitted claims for the unpaid compensation, and GAO was in doubt as to whom the payment should be made. The claimants later signed an agreement to divide the compensation equally. Since the guardian was properly appointed, and since the agreement estopped both the guardian and the member's mother from claiming the full amount in the future, one-half of the compensation should be paid to the child's guardian, and one-half to the member's mother.