B-140985, OCT. 29, 1959

B-140985, OCT. 29, 1959

TO MR. ARTHUR SKEGGS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE FINANCE CENTER, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND WITH US, CONCERNING YOUR CLAIM FOR A GRATUITY IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR SERVICE IN THE ARMY CURING WORLD WAR I.

IN YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 15, 1959, TO THE FINANCE CENTER, YOU STATED THAT WHEN YOU RECEIVED YOUR DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE FROM THE ARMY IN WORLD WAR I YOU RECEIVED $60. YOU ASKED WHETHER THIS WAS A GRATUITY OR DEMOBILIZATION MONEY. IN CORRESPONDENCE FROM US TO YOU YOUR CLAIM WAS TREATED AS BEING FOR ADDITIONAL PAY AND YOU WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED BY US, SINCE IT WAS NOT FILED WITHIN TEN YEARS AFTER IT BECAME DUE.

SECTION 1406 OF THE ACT OF FEBRUARY 24, 1919, 40 STAT. 1151, PROVIDED THAT PERSONS WHO SERVED HONORABLY IN THE MILITARY OR NAVAL FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR I SHOULD BE PAID UPON DISCHARGE, IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER AMOUNTS DUE THEM, THE SUM OF $60 EACH. WE DO NOT KNOW OF ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW FOR A $60 PAYMENT UPON DISCHARGE FROM WORLD WAR I SERVICE.

A PAYMENT OF $60 WAS A GRATUITY, THAT IS, IT WAS IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE DUE AND PAYABLE. SINCE IT WAS GIVEN IN CONNECTION WITH A DISCHARGE FROM THE NAVAL OR MILITARY SERVICE, IT MIGHT WELL BE REFERRED TO AS "DEMOBILIZATION MONEY.' IN ANY EVENT, IT APPEARS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE $60 PROVIDED BY THE 1919 LAW, AND NOTHING IS DUE YOU ON YOUR CLAIM.