1936 WWI Veteran Compensation: Transmittal Letter for Adjusted Service Bonds Payment

📌 Explore a rare 1936 Treasury Department transmittal letter detailing the final payment of Adjusted Service Bonds to a WWI veteran. Learn about the long struggle for veteran compensation, the impact of the Bonus Army protests, and how the U.S. government managed payments during the Great Depression. A vital resource for historians, educators, and genealogists.

📜 Transmittal for Payment of Adjusted Service Bonds – 1936

🔍 A Long-Awaited Payment for World War I Veterans

This official transmittal letter from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau Jr., marks an important moment in the financial compensation of WWI veterans. It informs Ludvig K. Gjenvick that his Adjusted Service Bonds, valued at $700, plus $40.16 in accrued interest, were officially issued and ready for redemption.

The document is part of the Adjusted Compensation Payment Act of 1936, a long-overdue policy that allowed veterans of World War I to cash in their Adjusted Service Certificates early after years of financial hardship, particularly during the Great Depression.

This transmittal letter is a historical artifact that offers insight into:

✔ The bureaucratic process of veteran compensation after World War I.

✔ The economic struggles of veterans, including the impact of the Bonus Army protests of 1932.

✔ The government’s effort to honor its financial commitments through bonds and cash payments.

✔ The role of the Treasury Department and Veterans’ Affairs in handling these payments.

For teachers, students, historians, and genealogists, this document provides a real-world example of how government policies affected veterans, making it a vital resource for understanding the long-term effects of war on soldiers' financial stability.

Transmittal from The Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, DC, Informing Veterans of Adjusted Service Bonds Registered in Their Name. This Letter Pertains to Ludvig K. Gjenvick $700.00 Plus Interest of $40.16 for a Total Amount of $740.316, No Date, ca 1936. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archive. GGA Image ID # 22214b6b47

The Secretary of the Treasury

Washington

To the Veteran:

With this please find Adjusted Service Bonds of the United States registered in your name, together with check on the Treasurer of the United States, all listed below, issued in payment of the amount due on your Adjusted Service Certificate as certified by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs and in accordance with the provisions of the Adjusted Compensation Payment Act, 1936.

Please verify the bonds and check against the list and if they do not agree, report the discrepancy at once to the Treasury Department, Division of Loans and Currency, Washington, D.C.

For your information, there is enclosed a copy of Treasury Department Circular No. 560 [dated June 6, 1936], governing Adjusted Service Bonds. This circular gives instructions regarding payment of the bonds to the registered owner, or, in case of his death or incompetence, to the representative of his estate, and alsogives instructions for action to be taken in case of loss or destruction of the bonds. It is suggested that you retain this circular for future reference.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Henry Morgenthaw Jr.

Secretary of the Treasury

Ludvig K Gjenvick a-3265663
1915 West Broadway
Minneapolis Minn

Enclosures:

Registry No. A 97,353 Item No. 71 Vou. No. 9-1020 Treas. Case No. 978

Form P. D. 1484 ABC

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:

✔ Shows the final step in veterans receiving their long-promised bonuses.

✔ Illustrates how veterans had to navigate government bureaucracy to access benefits.

✔ Demonstrates the economic challenges faced by WWI veterans during the Great Depression.

✔ Provides genealogists with a paper trail for tracking a veteran’s financial and military history.

✔ Links directly to the Bonus Army protests and how public pressure led to government action.

This document is a crucial piece of evidence for understanding how veterans were treated after World War I and how financial policies shaped their post-war lives.

📜 The Adjusted Compensation Payment Act of 1936: A Hard-Fought Victory

📌 The Adjusted Compensation Payment Act of 1936 allowed WWI veterans to redeem their service certificates early, rather than waiting until their original 1945 maturity date.

📌 It came as a direct result of the Bonus Army protests, in which thousands of veterans marched on Washington, D.C., in 1932, demanding immediate payment of their wartime bonuses.

📌 Veterans were issued bonds that earned 3% interest and were redeemable through the U.S. Treasury, ensuring that they finally received compensation.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Connects to one of the most significant veteran-led protests in U.S. history.

✔ Illustrates how government policies evolved to address veteran needs.

✔ Shows how the government balanced financial responsibility with social obligations.

📜 The Bureaucratic Process of Receiving Adjusted Service Bonds

📌 The Treasury Department sent this transmittal letter along with 14 Adjusted Service Bonds and an additional check for accrued interest.

📌 Veterans were instructed to verify the bonds and report any discrepancies immediately.

📌 The letter included Treasury Department Circular No. 560, which outlined:

✔ How veterans could cash their bonds.

✔ What to do if the veteran passed away before redeeming the bonds.

✔ Steps to take if the bonds were lost or destroyed.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Shows the complexity of redeeming war-time benefits.

✔ Demonstrates how the government kept meticulous records for financial disbursement.

✔ Offers a window into early 20th-century government financial policies.

📜 The Financial Breakdown: Bonds and Interest Payments

📌 The letter specifically lists Ludvig K. Gjenvick’s Adjusted Service Bonds:

🔹 14 bonds, each valued at $50, totaling $700.00.

🔹 An additional check for $40.16 in accrued interest.

🔹 A total payout of $740.16.

📌 Veterans were encouraged to retain all documentation in case of disputes.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Illustrates how veterans were compensated in financial instruments rather than cash.

✔ Demonstrates the long delay in veteran payments—over 18 years after the war ended!

✔ Highlights the financial strategy of issuing bonds rather than lump-sum payments.

📜 Connection to the Bonus Army Protests (1932)

📌 Before the passage of the 1936 act, thousands of WWI veterans had marched on Washington in 1932 to demand immediate cash payments for their bonuses.

📌 The protests ended in violence when U.S. troops, led by General Douglas MacArthur, forcefully removed the protesters.

📌 The public outrage from this event pressured Congress into finally passing the 1936 bill, despite President Roosevelt’s initial opposition.

📝 Why It’s Important:

✔ Demonstrates how veteran activism led to government policy changes.

✔ Shows the impact of the Great Depression on WWI veterans.

✔ Links this financial document to a major historical event.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📷 Transmittal from The Secretary of the Treasury (1936)

🔹 Official government correspondence marking the issuance of compensation.

🔹 Proves that the veteran received their benefits after years of waiting.

📷 List of Adjusted Service Bonds & Check for Accrued Interest

🔹 Illustrates the government’s method of compensating veterans.

🔹 Demonstrates how financial instruments were used instead of cash payments.

📚 Relevance for Different Audiences

📌 🧑‍🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✔ A primary source document for studying WWI, the Great Depression, and veterans' rights.

✔ Encourages critical thinking about government responsibilities toward veterans.

✔ Helps students connect historical protests to modern veteran issues.

📌 📖 For Historians & Researchers:

✔ Provides a real-life example of veteran compensation policies.

✔ Demonstrates how financial instruments were used in government benefit programs.

✔ Offers insight into the economic challenges of WWI veterans.

📌 🧬 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Documents a veteran’s financial history and compensation claim.

✔ Confirms military service through official government transactions.

✔ Links family history to major historical events like the Bonus Army protests.

🌟 Final Thoughts: A Historic Moment for Veteran Compensation

📌 This 1936 transmittal letter for Adjusted Service Bonds is more than just a financial document—it represents the culmination of a decades-long fight for veterans’ rights.

📌 It highlights the struggles of WWI veterans during the Great Depression and the government’s efforts to compensate them fairly.

📌 This document stands as an essential primary source for understanding the intersection of military service, economic policy, and veteran activism.

By studying and preserving these records, we honor the sacrifices of WWI veterans and gain a deeper understanding of how historical events shape government policy and social justice movements. 🇺🇸🏅