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Show EDITOR'S NOTE: This newspaper, through special arrangement with the Washington Bureau of Western Newspaper News-paper Union at 1616 Eye Street, V. if'., Washington, D. C, is able to bring readers read-ers this weekly column on problems oj the veteran and serviceman and his family. fam-ily. Questions may be addressed to the above Bureau and they will be answered in a subsequent column. No replies can be made direct by mail, but only in the column which will appear in this newspaper news-paper regularly. Rtturn of Dead Heroes Veterans' Service Bureau has received re-ceived many letters from Gold Star parents asking about regulations for returning bodies of deceased men in the armed services to this country. Up to this time we have been able to give general answers only. However, President Truman has just signed a new law providing provid-ing appropriations and setting up regulations for the return of these heroes from military cemeteries in other countries. Under the new law the families of deceased personnel will have the option of: Having the remains returned to the U. S. A. for final interment in a national cemetery near their home, the cost to be borne entirely by the government; Returning the remains to the States for burial by next of "kin in a private cemetery, the government to pay $50 toward cost of local interment in-terment expense and all costs of shipping the body home; Burying the deceased in a permanent perma-nent American military cemetery overseas. The first shipment of war dead is not expected much before the end of this year due to shortages in caskets. In the meantime the army and navy will poll next of kin of completely identified dead as to disposition dis-position of the remains. The process proc-ess will take some time and inquiries in-quiries will be mailed as the records rec-ords of the 356 temporary cemeteries ceme-teries overseas are completely verified. veri-fied. Of the 328,000 American service serv-ice war dead, it is estimated that 75,000 never will be found. Shipment Ship-ment of the deceased soldiers will be made in special funeral ships painted white with a wide purple stripe circling the ship. The flag-draped flag-draped seamless caskets will be transferred under military escort to 13 redistribution points on arrival in special funeral trains, converted hospital coaches, and thence sent to their final resting place. Cost of returning the bodies will be about $700 per man, borne as pointed out above, by the government. Questions and Answers Q. I would like to know if my brother, a veteran of World War I, is entitled to a bonus. He was operated on last April of 1945 for a rupture which started when he was in service loading ammunition at Camp Amatol, N. J. He was in the hospital at Lake City, Fla. The trouble started when he was in service serv-ice and he just kept letting it run until he had to be operated on and he is now disabled as far as working. work-ing. Mrs. G. H., Cleveland, Ohio. A. No, he is not entitled to a bonus, since he already has received re-ceived his World War I bonus. He may be entitled to a disability pension. pen-sion. Suggest that he apply to the regional office of the Veterans' administration, ad-ministration, Cuyahoga Building, Cleveland. Q. My husband is in Japan. He has been over there seven months and in the army 14 months in all. I am In very bad health and unable to take care of our two small girls and myself. Is there any chance of his getting a dependency discharge? He has only 38 points. Mrs. O. S., Union Un-ion Grove, Ala. A. The only answer I can give is for him to apply to his commanding officer for dependency discharge and see what happens. Q. My husband has been in the service for 19 months and has 43 points as of September 2, 1945. He is serving overseas in a tank battalion. bat-talion. When will he be eligible for discharge? D. J. J., Beauregard, Beaure-gard, Miss. A. Latest army regulations say that all men with 40 points as of September 2, 1945, or with 24 months service as of June 30, 1946, will be home by June 30. After June 30 further regulations likely will be announced. Q. My son is in the army and I receive a dependency allowance from him. Would I be entitled to free medical treatment and hospitalization? hospit-alization? Mrs. F. P., Fort Oakley, Oak-ley, Miss. A. Dependents of the four lowest pay grades are entitled to free medical med-ical treatment. Suggest you apply to your nearest army hospital or dispensary. Your local Red Cross can help you. Q. My husband has been in service serv-ice since June 8, 1943, and has been overseas since January, 1944. Wife, Scottsboro, Ala. A. As of September 2, 1945, he had approximately 48 points and will have had almost three years of service. If he appUed for his discharge, dis-charge, he should be home now. Q. Do all World War I widows get a pension now? H. E. J., Oak, Neb. A. Yes, under certain conditions. Suggest you apply to the contact unit, Veterans' Administration, Post Office Bldg., at Hasting, Neb. |
