Promotion Back Pay for Navy, Marine Corps POWs
during World War II

    The 2001 Defense Authorization Bill authorized Navy, Marine Corps POWs to be paid their back promotion pay previously denied them During World War II, while interned.   Senator John McCain at the urging Colonel Robert A. Bonadio, USMC (Ret) who discovered this injusstice, proposed an Amendment to correct the problem, which was ultimately passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on October 30, 2000.

    As a result, both survivors and the spouses of those deceased (no Children) will be paid the back promotion pay.   Those eligible will need to complete the claim form located below and send it with all available pertinent documents to the address shown for the respective service. Although the Dept. of Defense has 18 months to make payment after the claim has been submitted, it is expected that most claims can be paid very quickly due to advanced technology and considerable prior planning.

    TIME LIMITATION: Claims must be filed within two years after the effective date of the implementation of the claim procdures.   After learning that the back promotion pay will be paid in 1942 dollars, Colonel Bonadio has approached Senator McCain to introduce new legislation as a "technical correction" so that the claimants can additionally be paid in current dollars, which will be ten times the amount that is scheduled to be paid under the 2001 Defense Authorization Bill, to compensate for inflation.   There is a good chance that Congress will approve Senator McCain's new amendment, which would then go to the President for signature, sometime in October, 2001.   That would mean that the claimants could conceivable receive both amounts, on one check or two separate checks, sometime during the early part of 2002, dependant upon the prompt submission of the claim forms.

    PRINT THIS FORM AND MAIL AS DIRECTED


    WWII PRISONER OF WAR PROMOTION BACK PAY APPLICATION


    Veteran's Name:
          (last, first, middle initial)

    Service Number

    Date of Birth:                                 Place of Birth:

    Place of Entry into Service:
          (street, city, state & zip code)

    Branch of service (Circle One)               USN           USMC

    Telephone Number with area code:

    Date of Internment:                     Rank at Internment:

    Date of Repatriation:                     Rank at Discharge:

    Date of Discharge:

    Veteran's Social Security Number:


    Did the veteran or surviving spouse have a federal income tax liability last year or is one expected this year?             yes               no

    _________________________________________________________


    If veteran is deceased, in addition to the information requested above, the surviving spouse must provide the following information and a copy of your marriage certificate or other documented proof of marriage (only the veteran or surviving spouse is entitled to this back pay):

    Date of Death: (year, month, day)
          (Include copy of death certificate)

    Name of surviving spouse:

    Spouse's SS Number:

    Address:
          (street, city, state & zip code)

    Surviving spouse's phone number:

    _________________________________________________________

    Please include available copies of relevant promotion records in your possession.
    Mail this information and related documents to:

    HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS
    2 Navy Annexz, RFL-F7
    Washington, D.C. 20380-1775
    phone 703-614-4981

    or

    Bureau of Navy Personnel, Retired Activities Branch-62
    5720 Integrity Drive
    Millington, TN 38055
    Phone 901-874-4396

                    September 2001              EX-POW BULLETIN