WWI Veteran Compensation: Adjusted Service Certificates & Transmittal Letters (1925)

📌 Explore original 1925 Adjusted Service Certificates & Transmittal Letters issued to WWI veterans under the Adjusted Compensation Act. These primary source documents reveal how veterans were compensated, the delays they faced, and the bureaucratic process involved. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and researchers.

Examples of Adjusted Service Certificate and Adjusted Service Certificate Transmittal Letters Sent according to the World Wars Adjusted Compensation Act for the amount of the soldiers' Adjust Service Credit.

📜 Adjusted Service Certificates Transmission Letter & Certificate – 1925

🔍 A Promise of Compensation for WWI Veterans

This historical document collection features examples of Adjusted Service Certificates and their transmittal letters, issued under the World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924, commonly known as the Bonus Act. These certificates were a form of financial compensation for WWI veterans, designed to make up for wages lost while serving in the military.

Two authentic letters, sent from the United States Veterans Bureau in 1925, detail the transmission of Adjusted Service Certificates to veterans Ludvig K. Gjenvick and Harry B. Coulter, informing them of their awarded amounts—$1,499 and $1,581, respectively. These sums were calculated based on their length of service and Adjusted Service Credit.

This collection is an invaluable primary source for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians interested in post-war veteran policies, government compensation programs, and the broader social impact of WWI on returning soldiers.

Adjusted Service Certificate Transmission Letter from O. W. Parle, Chief, Adjust Compensation Division to Mr. Ludvig K. Gjenvick, dated 1 January 1925. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 186ca4291a

UNITED STATES VETERANS BUREAU
WASHINGTON
January 1, 1925.

IN REPLY REFER TO: 0.21 I0

MR LUDVIG K GJENVICK
3530 NEWTON AVE N
MINNEAPOLIS MINN

Dear Sir:

I have the honor to transmit to you herewith your Adjusted Service Certificate, issued pursuant to the World Wars Adjusted Compensation Act, in the amount of $1499.00 based upon the amount of your Adjusted Service Credit, as certified to this Bureau by the Department which you last served while in the Military or Naval forces of the United States.

If correspondence be necessary with this Bureau in regard to your Adjusted Compensation,., you are respectfully requested to refer to A 3265663

For the Director,

/s/ O. W. Park
Chief, Adjusted Compensation Division.

Incl.

Form 6910.—Rev. Jan.. 1925. GPO
12380

Front Side of a United States Adjusted Service Certificate From 1925. The Recipient Discussed in the Transmittal Letter Would Have Received a Similar Certificate. GGA Image ID # 1848f9fba3

Reverse Side (Top Half) of the United States of America Adjust Service Certificate, Created Under the World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924. GGA Image ID # 184a782fc8

Adjusted Service Certificate Transmission Letter from O. W. Parle, Chief, Adjust Compensation Division to Mr. Harry B. Coulter, dated 1 January 1925. GGA Image ID # 186ccfb1d0

UNITED STATES VETERANS BUREAU
WASHINGTON
January 1, 1925.

IN REPLY REFER TO: 0.21 WAB

Mr. Harry B. Coulter
Swannanon, NC

Dear Sir:

I have the honor to transmit to you herewith your Adjusted Service Certificate, issued pursuant to the World Wars Adjusted Compensation Act, in the amount of $1581.00 based upon the amount of your Adjusted Service Credit, as certified to this Bureau by the Department which you last served while in the Military or Naval forces of the United States.

If correspondence be necessary with this Bureau in regard to your Adjusted Compensation, you are respectfully requested to refer to A 3312948

For the Director,

/s/ O. W. Park
Chief, Adjusted Compensation Division.

Incl.

Form 6910.—Rev. Jan.. 1925. GPO
12380

Learn More About This Remarkable Man

🇳🇴 From Norway to America: The Inspiring Journey of Immigrant Ludvig Kristian Gjønvik

📌 Explore the remarkable immigration story of Ludvig Kristian Gjønvik, a Norwegian immigrant who overcame orphanhood, financial struggles, and war to build a new life in America. Perfect for historians, genealogists, educators, and students exploring early 20th-century immigration.

🌟 Why This Page is Important:

✔ A Rare Primary Source: Authentic transmittal letters and service certificates provide direct insight into how the U.S. government compensated WWI veterans.

✔ Explores Delayed Compensation & Veteran Struggles: Highlights how financial relief for veterans was postponed until the 1940s, fueling frustration that led to the Bonus Army protests of 1932.

✔ Genealogical Significance: Provides personal details of specific veterans, helping descendants track military service records.

✔ Educational Resource: Demonstrates the government’s post-war policies, making it useful for teaching about veterans' rights, economic struggles, and 20th-century military benefits.

These documents serve as a critical link between military service and post-war financial struggles, helping historians and educators illustrate the challenges veterans faced.

📜 The World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924 (Bonus Act)

📌 Passed over President Calvin Coolidge’s veto, this act provided certificates redeemable in 20 years (1945) instead of immediate cash payments.

📌 Veterans were promised $1.25 per day of overseas service and $1 per day of stateside service—a small fraction of what they sacrificed.

📌 These delayed payments caused major financial hardships, leading to the Bonus Army March of 1932, where thousands of desperate veterans protested in Washington, D.C.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Demonstrates how the U.S. government addressed (or failed to address) veteran compensation.

✔ Explains why many veterans, including those suffering during the Great Depression, demanded early payment of their bonuses.

✔ Shows the long-term impact of WWI on American society, economics, and politics.

📜 The Personal Stories of Veterans: Gjenvick & Coulter

📌 Ludvig K. Gjenvick, a Norwegian immigrant and WWI veteran, was awarded $1,499 in Adjusted Service Credit.

📌 Harry B. Coulter of Swannanon, NC, received $1,581 for his service.

📌 Their certificates were mailed from the U.S. Veterans Bureau in Washington, D.C., and officially signed by O.W. Park, Chief of the Adjusted Compensation Division.

📌 Both letters remind veterans to refer to their unique case numbers when corresponding with the Bureau, illustrating the bureaucratic challenges of obtaining compensation.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ A personal perspective on post-war benefits from two veterans.

✔ Valuable for genealogists tracing Scandinavian-American and Southern military veterans.

✔ Provides evidence of how much compensation individual soldiers received and when.

📜 Notable Sections from the Documents

📌 The Adjusted Service Certificate Transmission Letter:

🔹 Sent to each veteran as proof of their government-issued certificate.

🔹 Includes the official signature of O.W. Park, representing the U.S. Veterans Bureau.

🔹 Reminds recipients that any inquiries must include their specific case number, reflecting the bureaucratic nature of veteran benefits.

📌 The Adjusted Service Certificate (Front & Reverse Sides):

🔹 Issued by the U.S. Government in 1925, promising future compensation.

🔹 Provides financial proof of service, useful for veterans and their families.

🔹 Outlines restrictions and conditions of payment, showing how long veterans had to wait before they could claim full benefits.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ An essential artifact for understanding how the U.S. treated WWI veterans financially.

✔ Illustrates how compensation was structured, delayed, and eventually disbursed.

✔ Useful for historians and researchers studying early 20th-century government policies on military benefits.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📷 Adjusted Service Certificate Transmission Letter (1925)

✔ Provides official proof of compensation being issued to veterans.

✔ Highlights the bureaucratic formalities veterans had to navigate to receive their bonuses.

📷 Front Side of the Adjusted Service Certificate

✔ An actual financial document issued to WWI veterans, proving the government’s promise of compensation.

✔ A rare artifact showing the official design and legal text of the 1925 certificates.

📷 Reverse Side of the Adjusted Service Certificate

✔ Contains government-issued terms and legal statements, explaining how and when veterans could redeem their payments.

✔ Demonstrates the limitations placed on veterans' financial relief.

📚 Relevance for Different Audiences

📌 🧑‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✔ A real-world example of how the government handled veteran compensation.

✔ Useful for lessons on post-war policies, the Great Depression, and military benefits.

✔ Encourages discussions about fairness in veteran affairs and financial struggles after service.

📌 📖 For Historians & Researchers:

✔ A case study in government bureaucracy and the treatment of veterans.

✔ Demonstrates the policies that led to the Bonus Army protests.

✔ Shows how financial assistance for veterans evolved over time.

📌 🧬 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Provides personal details about WWI veterans, including addresses, compensation amounts, and military service records.

✔ Useful for tracing military ancestors who may have received similar certificates.

✔ Includes official government records that confirm a veteran’s service and compensation.

🌟 Final Thoughts: A Window into the Post-WWI Veteran Experience

📌 These 1925 Adjusted Service Certificates and Transmittal Letters reveal the financial and bureaucratic struggles veterans faced after WWI.

📌 The delayed payments caused frustration, leading to the Bonus Army protests of 1932—a key moment in U.S. history.

📌 Documents like these offer critical insights into how early 20th-century governments treated veterans, helping educators, historians, and genealogists connect the past with the present.

This detailed collection of original government documents brings history to life, shedding light on the economic challenges of WWI veterans and their fight for fair compensation. 🇺🇸 🏅