WWI Veteran Compensation: Application for Adjusted Compensation (1924)

📌 Explore a firsthand application for WWI veteran compensation under the 1924 Adjusted Compensation Act. This historical document reveals military service details, government policies, and the struggles veterans faced in securing their promised benefits. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and researchers.

Page 1 of 4 of the Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army, Completed by Applicant Ludvig K. Gjenvick on 8 July 1924. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 186cf89cee

📜 Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army – 1924

🔍 A Soldier’s Claim for Fair Compensation

This historical document is a firsthand account of a World War I veteran’s journey through the bureaucratic process of securing compensation for his wartime service. It is part of the larger World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924, commonly referred to as the "Bonus Act", which aimed to provide financial compensation to veterans for the wages they lost during their military service.

This application, completed by Ludvig K. Gjenvick on July 8, 1924, is an authentic, detailed primary source that offers insight into the personal struggles, bureaucratic challenges, and legal framework surrounding veteran compensation after World War I.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides an invaluable look at how the U.S. government handled post-war benefits, while also offering genealogists a rare glimpse into the personal data of a WWI veteran.

AAC Form No. 1

This application must be sent to the War Department, Navy Department, or Marine Corps, as indicated in Instructions, depending on whether your last service was in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps. Use the envelope provided for this purpose, with the proper address printed on it.

READ INSTRUCTIONS OVER CAREFULLY

To the Secretary of War or Secretary of the Navy
The following statements are made by me to support my claim for Adjusted Compensation under the provision of the World War Adjusted Compensation Act.

1. Name of veteran: (Last) Gjenvick (First) Ludvig (Middle) K.

Service or Serial No. 2100540

2. Present address of veteran or dependent:

(Home number and street) 3530 Newton Ave Minpls
City) Minneapolis (County) Hennepin (State) Minn.

3. Date of birth of veteran (Month) Jan (Day) 11 (Year) 1892

at (City) Trondhjem (State) Norway

4. Original entry into World War service in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps was as a (Rank or Grade) Prvt on (Month) Sept (Day) 20 (Year) 1917 at Madison Minn

5. Date of separation (Month) May (Day) 7 (Year) 1919 at Camp Grant Ill
6. I did have oversea service (did not cross out)
7. Service in organization, at stations, or on vessels in the order named as follow:

Co C 351 Inf from 20 of Sept 1917 to Nov 1917

Co C 346 Inf from Nov 1917 to May 7, 1919

8. Character given on discharge certificate Excellent
9. Used by Marine Corps Veterans Only

Page 2 of 4 of the Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army, Completed by Applicant Ludvig K. Gjenvick on 8 July 1924. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 186cfab4d7

10. Item 10 will not be filled out in case of dependent making application.

In accordance with the statements made by me in this application, I hereby apply for the benefits to which I may be entitled under the provisions of the World War Adjusted Compensation Act and designate the following-named person as my beneficiary under the provisions of said act:

Name (Mr. Mrs or Miss) Mrs. (First) Clara (Middle) S. (Last) Gjenvick

(Relationship to beneficiary) wife

Address of beneficiary (Street number) 3530 (Street) Newton Ave (City) Mipl (County) Henn (State) Minn

Signature of veteran (First) Ludvig (Middle) K (Last) Gjenvick

11. Along left border of form (FINGERPRINT OF RIGHT HAND OF VETERAN)
12. (See instructions for this item)

Page 3 of 4 of the Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army, Completed by Applicant Ludvig K. Gjenvick on 8 July 1924. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 186d361b01

13. Commissioned Service (Grades) (From) (To) none
14. I was a commissioned or warrant officer performing home service not with troops and receiving commutation of quarters or subsistence from___ to ___, and during this period, I was on duty at the following stations: (Station) (From) (To) none
15. I was granted a farm or industrial furlough from ___ no to ___
16. I (was not) a conscientious objector who performed no military or naval duties whatever, and (did not) refuse to wear the prescribed uniform of the branch of service in which I was serving.
17. I (was not) discharged for alienage.
18. Remarks
19. I certify that I am the (See Instructions For This Name) Person named in this application; that the statements made herein are made by me of my own free act and deed for the purpose of applying for Adjusted Compensation under the provisions of the World War Adjusted Compensation Act; and that the same are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
    Date July 8, 1924 Signature of applicant (First) Gjenvick (Middle) Ludvig (Last) K [sic]
20. Item 20 used when person who served did not fill out the form

Page 4 of 4 of the Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army, Completed by Applicant Ludvig K. Gjenvick on 8 July 1924. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 186d25fa93

Page Four (Numbers 21-25) is used If Dependents Filled out Application (shown Above)

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: Provides a real, detailed application for compensation from a WWI veteran.

✔ Explores Post-War Bureaucracy: Highlights the complexity and documentation required for veterans to receive their compensation.

✔ A Case Study in Veteran Affairs: Demonstrates how governments responded to the economic hardships of returning soldiers.

✔ Genealogical Significance: Offers personal details about a specific veteran, including military service history and family information.

✔ Teaches the Impact of Government Policies: Shows the delayed financial relief that led to protests like the Bonus Army March of 1932.

This historical document bridges the gap between military service and post-war civilian life, making it a valuable resource for those studying the long-term impact of WWI on veterans and society.

📜 The World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924

📌 Passed over President Calvin Coolidge’s veto, this Act aimed to compensate WWI veterans for their service, but payments were delayed until 1945—leading to widespread frustration.

📌 Many veterans, like Ludvig K. Gjenvick, had to go through a complex application process to claim their benefits.

📌 The act’s limitations and delays sparked anger, eventually leading to the Bonus Army protests of 1932.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Demonstrates how the U.S. government treated veterans post-war.

✔ Explains the financial struggles that led to major protests.

✔ A firsthand example of the bureaucracy surrounding veteran compensation.

📜 The Personal Story of Ludvig K. Gjenvick

📌 A Norwegian immigrant, Gjenvick arrived in the U.S. and served in the U.S. Army from September 1917 to May 1919.

📌 His service included time in Company C, 351st Infantry & 346th Infantry.

📌 He was discharged with an "Excellent" character rating, showing his dedication to military service.

📌 His wife, Clara S. Gjenvick, was listed as his beneficiary, ensuring his family’s financial stability.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ A personal perspective on post-war benefits from an immigrant soldier.

✔ Valuable for genealogists tracing Scandinavian-American veterans.

✔ Offers insights into how families of veterans were impacted by delayed compensation.

📜 Notable Sections from the Application

📌 Service Record: Includes exact enlistment & discharge dates, ranks, and military units.

📌 Personal Details: Full name, date of birth (January 11, 1892), birthplace (Trondheim, Norway), and home address.

📌 Compensation Request: Gjenvick applied under the Adjusted Compensation Act, which calculated payment based on length of service.

📌 Fingerprint Authentication: To prevent fraud, veterans were required to submit a fingerprint with their application.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ A rich historical document for anyone studying military records and veteran services.

✔ Offers insight into the administrative processes of the 1920s.

✔ Genealogists can use this to learn about military service documentation requirements.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📷 Page 1 of the Application:

✔ Provides a clear example of how veterans applied for compensation.

✔ Shows handwritten personal details and military history.

📷 Page 2 of the Application (Beneficiary Information & Signature):

✔ Confirms who would receive compensation in the event of the veteran’s passing.

✔ Includes Gjenvick’s original signature & fingerprint—a unique feature of 1920s documentation.

📷 Page 3 of the Application (Military Service & Legal Questions):

✔ Demonstrates the bureaucratic complexity involved in securing compensation.

✔ Includes key military service questions such as whether the veteran was a conscientious objector or had refused to wear a military uniform.

📷 Page 4 of the Application (Final Certification & Dependent Section):

✔ Shows how dependents could apply on behalf of deceased veterans.

✔ Provides insight into how families were financially impacted by a veteran’s service.

📚 Relevance for Different Audiences

📌 🧑‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✔ A primary source document to explore post-WWI veteran policies.

✔ Teaches about the impact of delayed compensation and how it influenced future legislation.

✔ Great for history projects on military benefits and veterans' rights.

📌 📖 For Historians & Researchers:

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

✔ Demonstrates how military benefits evolved over time.

✔ Offers insights into how early 20th-century government policies affected immigrants who served in the U.S. military.

📌 🧬 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Provides personal details about a veteran, including birth, service, and home information.

✔ Shows the types of forms an ancestor may have filled out for military compensation.

✔ Includes a rare example of a veteran’s fingerprint—valuable for identifying family lineage.

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

📌 This original 1924 compensation application is a powerful artifact, revealing the post-war struggles of American veterans.

📌 The bureaucratic hurdles veterans faced in securing their rightful compensation shaped future military benefit programs.

📌 Documents like these bring history to life, connecting past sacrifices with modern-day veteran policies.

This detailed application, paired with broader historical context, makes a compelling case for why veteran benefits are critical to ensuring that those who serve are never forgotten. 🇺🇸 🏅