Militia Denied Their $

Subject: Militia Denied Their $
From: Mickey191
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:14 PM

Just read this-I'm angry these seniors are being denied their pension. What say you?


Army Cutting off pay to alaskan militia?

The Army has decided to cut off retirement pay for veterans of a largely Native militia formed to guard the territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese attack during World War II. The change means 26 surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard — most in their 80s and long retired — will lose as much as $557 in monthly retirement pay,

Subject: RE: Militia Denied Their $
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:21 PM

Thanks, Mickey 191. This was in Alaska news a couple of weeks ago. It's not over yet - Senator Murkowski and our new Senator Mark Begich have gone to bat for the Militia. Congress has agreed to continue the benefits payment for a couple of months while the matter is mulled.

It ain't over

"The reduction was a result of misinterpretation of a federal law that recognized the Alaska Territorial Guard's service as federal active duty, Army officials said last week. A new interpretation of the law says service in the five-year guard no longer counts toward the military's 20-year minimum for retirement pay.

"According to the three-member congressional delegation, Army Secretary Pete Geren will use an emergency fund to cover the retirement benefits for 26 former members of the largely Native guard. The monthly pay amounts to as much as $557.

"The funds will cover two months' pay while Congress works to fix the law to allow service in the unit to count as active duty for calculating retirement benefits.

"Alaska's congressional delegation applauded Geren's move, saying that cutting off the pay would be detrimental to those veterans.

Subject: RE: Militia Denied Their $
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:35 PM

It might be all some of them have, too.

There is NO justification for cutting off the pension. Twenty-six guys? Heck, the Army wastes that much in a minute.

Subject: RE: Militia Denied Their $
From: Mickey191
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 11:26 PM

Thanks for the update, Ebbie. Sounds like it may have a happy ending. Hope so!