WWI Veterans' Discharge Bonus (1919): Compensation, Challenges & Government Support

📌 Discover the $60 discharge bonus for WWI veterans, a small but significant government compensation for returning soldiers. Learn about the bureaucratic process, exclusions, and challenges veterans faced in securing their payment. Essential reading for historians, genealogists, and students exploring veteran rights and post-war policies.

📜 Discharged Soldier's "Bonus" (1919)

🔍 The Struggle for Fair Compensation After WWI

The Discharged Soldier’s “Bonus” (1919) sheds light on one of the earliest forms of veteran compensation following World War I. This document details how returning soldiers, sailors, and marines were entitled to a mere $60 "bonus" upon discharge, an amount that many veterans found insufficient given the hardships they faced after the war.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this article is a crucial piece of primary history that highlights:

✔ The limited financial support given to returning soldiers.

✔ The bureaucratic process veterans had to go through to claim their bonus.

✔ The contrast between military and civilian government employee benefits post-war.

✔ The precursor to later veteran advocacy movements, including the Bonus Army protests of 1932.

This page provides valuable insight into how WWI veterans were treated post-war, raising questions about government responsibility toward those who served.

You Are Making This Now. Service Series No. 74 World War 1 Poster Emphasizing Honorable Discharge from the United States Army. Major Harry S. Mueller, Artist. Created circa 1918. Library of Congress LC 2003663073. GGA Image ID # 186f41341b

Following World War 1, discharged Veterans got little more than a $60 allowance and a train ticket home.

That Bonus

The law providing for the payment of a bonus of $60 to every discharged soldier, sailor and marine, including officers, was not adopted until February 24, 1919.

Those discharged from the Army prior to this time are nevertheless entitled to the bonus, and if it has not been paid, they may obtain it by applying to The Zone Finance Officer, Miscellaneous Accounts Branch, Additional Pay Section, Lemon Building, Washington, D. C.

Such applications must contain:

1. ALL discharge certificates (use registered mail) given to the soldier during the period of the War, or orders for discharge or relief if no certificate was issued, but both certificates and order, if both were issued, the papers bearing indorsement of final payment being required;
2. Statement of ALL military service since April 6, 1917, showing place and date of reporting at first military station;
3. Address, plainly written, preferably typewritten, to which check is to be sent.
   If, however, the discharged officers or enlisted men do not desire to forward their original discharge certificates to the Zone Finance Officer, Washington, D. C., they may present their original discharge certificate to the nearest recruiting officer of the Army, who will make a certified copy and mail it to that office. The original discharge will be returned to the soldier.

The bonus will not be paid:

1. To any person who, though appointed or inducted into the military or naval forces on or prior to November 11, 1918, had not reported for duty at his station on or prior to such date.
2. To any person who has already received one month's pay under the provisions of Section 9 of the Act entitled "An Act to Authorize the President to Increase Temporarily the Military Establishment of the United States," approved May 18, 1917; or
3. To any person who is entitled to retired pay; or
4. To the heirs or legal representatives of any person entitled to any payment under this section who has died or may die before receiving such payment. In the case of any person who subsequent to separation from the service as above specified has been appointed or inducted into the military or naval forces of the United States, and has been or is again separated from service as above specified, only one payment of $60 shall be made.

When settlement is made, all personal papers will be returned to the applicant with check. No further correspondence is necessary, except to advise of change in address of the applicant. No other disbursing officer is authorized to pay claims covered by this paragraph.

If you are a discharged sailor or in an inactive duty status and have not received your bonus, make application to The Disbursing Officer, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. Original Discharge Papers must accompany all applications.

Marines will apply to The Paymaster, U. S. Marine Corps, Washington, D. C. They may forward their original discharge or order of release or a certified copy thereof.

Troops arriving from overseas for discharge will hear a lot of disconcerting guff about civilian government employees being paid $240 bonus upon their separation from public employment.

It's only guff. The Congress increased the salaries of all Government workers receiving less than $1,200 a year by $5 a month for 1918, $10 a month for 1919, and $20 a month for 1920, in order to enable them to cope with the war-time cost of living.

The law dated this increased compensation to begin from our entrance into the war. Only those who have served in the military or naval services are entitled to a bonus. Hand this to the Guard House and Sea Lawyers, who know everything.

🌟 Why This Page is Important

✔ Demonstrates how WWI veterans were financially compensated (or under-compensated).

✔ Offers a firsthand look at early veteran claims & bureaucratic obstacles.

✔ Showcases a significant moment in U.S. history that would later fuel veteran advocacy movements.

✔ Essential for genealogists researching WWI veteran benefits & military service records.

This document reflects the limited government support available at the time and serves as an early example of veteran rights advocacy in the United States.

📌 The 1919 Soldiers’ Bonus – What Was It?

📌 Background:

🔹 The Soldiers' Bonus Act of 1919 provided a one-time payment of $60 to every honorably discharged WWI soldier, sailor, and marine.

🔹 It applied retroactively, meaning those discharged before the law passed still qualified.

🔹 Veterans had to send their discharge papers to Washington, D.C. to receive their payment.

📌 Challenges in Claiming the Bonus:

🔹 Veterans had to mail their original discharge certificates—a risky process considering their importance.

🔹 If they were uncomfortable mailing the original, they could visit an Army recruiting office to get a certified copy.

🔹 There was no provision for heirs of deceased soldiers, meaning families of fallen service members received no compensation.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Highlights early government efforts to support veterans—but also its shortcomings.

✔ Shows how paperwork and bureaucracy often made veteran compensation difficult to obtain.

✔ Sets the stage for later veteran advocacy movements, like the Bonus Army protests.

📌 Bureaucratic Hurdles & Exclusions: Who Didn’t Qualify?

📌 Key Exclusions From the Bonus:

🔹 Anyone who had been inducted into service but had not yet reported for duty before November 11, 1918 (the war’s end).

🔹 Anyone already receiving military retirement pay.

🔹 Families of deceased soldiers—they were not eligible to claim the bonus.

🔹 Soldiers who had received one month’s pay under the May 18, 1917 Act were not eligible for the additional $60.

📌 Impact on Veterans:

🔹 Many felt abandoned by the government after returning from war, especially those injured or struggling financially.

🔹 The exclusion of fallen soldiers’ families caused frustration—why should a soldier’s widow and children receive nothing?

🔹 The bureaucratic process was cumbersome, requiring veterans to mail personal documents or visit an Army recruiter.

📌 Why This Matters:

✔ Shows how WWI veterans had to fight for basic financial compensation.

✔ Highlights the lack of support for deceased soldiers’ families.

✔ Demonstrates how bureaucratic obstacles limited access to benefits.

📌 The Poster: "You Are Making This Now" (1918-1919)

📷 Noteworthy Image: "You Are Making This Now" – WWI Veterans Poster

🔹 A propaganda-style recruitment poster urging soldiers to take pride in their service.

🔹 Emphasizes the honor of an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army.

🔹 Creates a stark contrast between patriotic messaging and the reality of minimal financial support.

📝 Why It’s Significant:

✔ Highlights the government’s attempt to boost morale among soldiers post-war.

✔ Emphasizes the disconnect between military service and financial compensation.

✔ Provides a visual representation of how soldiers were expected to transition to civilian life.

📚 Relevance for Different Audiences

📌 🧑‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✔ A valuable resource on U.S. government policy for returning veterans.

✔ Encourages discussion on how soldiers were treated post-war.

✔ Provides primary source material for WWI-era economic policies.

📌 📖 For Historians & Researchers:

✔ Offers insight into the struggles of WWI veterans.

✔ Highlights early government initiatives for soldier compensation.

✔ Connects to later events like the Bonus Army protests (1932).

📌 🧬 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Confirms a veteran’s eligibility for the $60 discharge bonus.

✔ May provide clues for tracking WWI military records.

✔ Helps reconstruct the post-war financial situation of a soldier.

🌟 Final Thoughts: A Glimpse Into Veteran Compensation Post-WWI

📌 The Discharged Soldier’s “Bonus” (1919) reveals both the early efforts and shortcomings of U.S. government support for returning WWI veterans.

Key takeaways include:

✔ The $60 compensation was minimal and did not extend to families of fallen soldiers.

✔ Many veterans faced bureaucratic obstacles to claim their payments.

✔ This act laid the foundation for later veteran compensation programs, including the GI Bill.

✔ The frustrations over veteran benefits led to the Bonus Army protests in 1932.

For historians, educators, and genealogists, this document is a crucial piece of history, reflecting the post-war realities of returning soldiers and the government's early approach to veteran support. 🏅🇺🇸