[Claims for Death Gratuity and Unpaid Compensation for Deceased Navy Member]

The Navy asked GAO to render a decision regarding payment of a deceased Navy member's death gratuity and unpaid compensation. GAO held that the Navy: (1) member's widowed spouse was not entitled to his unpaid compensation or death gratuity, since she intentionally caused her husband's death; (2) should pay death gratuity benefits to the deceased member's father; (3) should divide the member's unpaid compensation equally between the member's father and mother; and (4) should recover the erroneous death gratuity payment paid to the deceased member's wife.