Soldier's Bonus / The Bonus Army of World War 1

 

Collage of Soldiers' Bonus Materials Including Poster of Discharge Bonus, Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army, and an Image of the Soldiers' Bonus Check From the State of Minnesota

Collage of Soldiers' Bonus Materials Including Poster of Discharge Bonus, Application for Adjusted Compensation for Service in the Army, and an Image of the Soldiers' Bonus Check From the State of Minnesota. GGA Image ID # 18713868bd

 

The World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924, popularly known as the "Bonus Act," promised veterans compensation for wages lost during World War I service. During the Great Depression, veterans took to the streets to demand these promised payments.

Our collection of documents in this section is from the GG Archives and other sources. The papers include certificates, vouchers, and payments of the Adjusted Compensation Act and the Minnesota Soldier's Bonus.

 

The States and The Soldier Bonus - 1920

The States and The Soldier Bonus - 1920

Mr. William E. Hannan, in the Times (New York) of September 5th, 1920, calls attention to projects in many States and tells us that sixteen States have already enacted substantial legislation on the subject.

 

Letter Dated 28 March 1924 from Edward McE. Lewis, Director of Public Relations of the Veterans Administration. Clayton F. Moore, Esq.

Calculations of Adjusted Compensation for WW1 Soldiers - 1924

Edward M. Lewis, Director of Public Relations of the Veterans Administration, provided Clayton Moore Esq., Clerk of the Ways and Means Committee, with sources for his calculations on the cost of Adjusted Compensation.

 

Letter from Brigadier General Rufus H. Lane to Hon. Reed Smoot, Chairman, Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate, Dated 28 March 1924.

Estimated Cost of Soldiers' Bonus HR 7959 - 1924

I have the honor to enclose a memorandum showing the estimated bonus cost as proposed by the bill H.R. 7959 on account of officers and enlisted men of the United States Marine Corps.

 

H. R. 7959: An Act to Provide Adjusted Compensation for Veterans of the World War, and for Other Purposes, Calendar No. 420, 68th Congress, 1st Session, dated 19 March 1924.

Cost of Adjusted Compensation Provision HR 7959 - 1924

After World War I, veterans’ organizations lobbied Congress for extra pay to compensate returned soldiers for differences between military pay and the higher civilian pay during wartime.

 

Letter from Congressman John J. Cochran of Missouri to Hon. W. Frank James, Chairman, Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives, Dated 12 January 1931.

Bill HR 15779 World War Veterans' Act As Amended - 1931

The bill's purpose is to care for the Marines injured in Latin American countries and the dependents of the Marines who have been killed in action. It also brings in members of the Army and Navy.

 

Front Cover, The World War Adjusted Compensation Act With Amendments Prior to June 15, 1930: An Act to Provide Adjusted Compensation for Veterans of the World War and for Other Purposes, 1932.

World War 1 Adjusted Compensation Act As Amended - 1926/1932

The World War Adjusted Compensation Act, commonly called the "Bonus Act," passed over the President's veto on May 19, 1924, and was amended on July 3, 1926.

 

Front Cover, Annual Report of the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1936.

History of Adjusted Compensation - Veterans' Administration - 1936

The Sixth Annual Report of the Veterans' Administration, sets forth concisely the activities incident to rendering Government relief to veterans and their dependents.

The WWI Soldiers' Bonus Application & Payments

You Are Making This Now. Service Series No. 74 World War 1 Poster Emphasizing Honorable Discharge from the United States Army.

Discharged Soldier's Bonus - 1919

The law providing a bonus of $60 to every discharged soldier, sailor, and marine, including officers, was adopted on February 24, 1919.

 

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.

Application For Adjusted Compensation For Service in the Army - 1924

I make the following statements to support my claim for Adjusted Compensation under the provision of the World War Adjusted Compensation Act.

 

Adjusted Service Certificate Transmission Letter from O. W. Parle, Chief, Adjust Compensation Division to Mr. Ludvig K. Gjenvick, dated 1 January 1925.

Adjusted Service Certificates Transmission Letter and Certificate - 1925

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.

 

Receipt for Application for Settlement - Adjusted Service Certificate

Receipt for Application for Settlement - Adjusted Service Certificate - 1936

A receipt is acknowledged of your application for settlement on your Adjusted Service Certificate. Many applications have been received and are being acted upon as rapidly as possible.

 

Interim Receipt for Adjusted Service Bonds Surrendered For Payment

Interim Receipt for Adjusted Service Bonds Surrendered for Payment - 1936

This receipt must be carefully prepared. A pencil may be used. The original receipt shall be delivered to the registered owner of the bonds, and the postmaster shall retain the duplicate.

 

Transmittal for Payment of Adjusted Service Bonds - 1936

With this, please find Adjusted Service Bonds of the United States registered in your name and a check on the Treasurer of the United States, all listed below, issued in payment of the amount due on your Adjusted Service Certificate.

State of Minnesota Soldiers' Bonus

World War 1 Parade Celebrating the Return of Soldiers of the 151st Field Artillery on 8 May 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

History of Minnesota Bonus for Veterans of World War I

Under the provisions of Chapter 49, Extra Session Laws 1919, the State of Minnesota provided relief and assistance for certain general classes of persons who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War I.

 

View of the Minnesota State Capitol Building, St. Paul, from the West. Published by the Acmegraph Company circa 1910.

Minnesota Soldiers' Bonus Program Statutory History 1919-1924

A Soldiers' Bonus Board, consisting of the state auditor, state treasurer, and adjutant general, was created to oversee this program's operation, employ staff to carry out its functions, and approve or disapprove claims.

 

43 Questions on the Minnesota Application for a World War 1 Soldiers' Bonus Under Chapter 49 Special Laws Minnesota 1919

Minnesota Application for Soldiers' Bonus - 1919

43 Questions on the Minnesota Application for a World War 1 Soldiers' Bonus Under Chapter 49 Special Laws Minnesota 1919, No. 31843 and No. 58704. This Form Completed by Ludvig K. Gjenvick.

 

Postcard Notification of Receipt for Bonus Application by the Minnesota Soldiers' Board Postmarked 25 March 1920.

Minnesota Soldiers' Bonus Board Notification of Receipt for Bonus Application

Your bonus application has been given the number opposite your name on the reverse side of this card. Applications are numbered and paid in the order filed.

 

Front of Voucher for $300 Issued to Ludwig K. Gjenvick in Recognition of His Service During World War I by the State of Minnesota’s Auditor’s Office and the Soldiers’ Bonus Board on 1 November 1920.

The Soldiers Bonus Board Voucher - State of Minnesota Soldier's Bonus Fund - 1920

Payment of the Minnesota Soldier's Bonus was paid to World War I Veterans who were residents of the State of Minnesota when they were inducted or enlisted into the Armed Forces.

Bonus Army

The Bonus Expeditionary Force Marches On Washington, 1932.

Bonus Expeditionary Force - BEF - 1932

Early in March 1932, I concluded that Congress was purposely playing football with the Bonus bill and had no intention of giving it favorable consideration regardless of ex-service men's demand.

 

Walter W. Waters, Commander of the Bonus Expeditionary Force, circa 1931.

Walter W. Waters, Commander of the Bonus Expeditionary Force

Walter Waters is credited with the idea of the Bonus Army and its march on Washington, D.C. Waters, of Portland, Oregon, had served in France during the First World War with the 146th Field Artillery.

 

Return to Top of Page