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The Department of Veterans' Affairs was created in 1975 to assist Illinois veterans in obtaining all of those federal and state benefits due them. To accomplish this goal the department was charged with contacting individual veterans or their surviving dependents and informing them of benefits and services available, establishing field offices staffed by paid employees and volunteers, conducting informational workshops, undertaking a publicity program, coordinating those services state agencies offer veterans, and cooperating with the various veterans' organizations in promoting benefits and services (P.A. 79-376, pp. 1388-1389). This department replaced the Illinois Veterans' Commission, RG 408.000.
224.001
APPROVED VIETNAM BONUS APPLICATIONS. 1965-1975; 1982. 30 microfilm rolls and 1 cu. ft. No index.
The General Assembly provided bonuses for Vietnam veterans in 1965. Veterans were entitled to a bonus of $100 if they had been residents of Illinois for twelve months prior to their entry into the service, remained in the service or had been discharged honorably, and had been issued the Vietnam Service Medal. If the veteran died while in service in Vietnam his or her heirs were entitled to a total bonus of $1,000 (L. 1965, p. 3131). Prisoners of war in Southeast Asia further were provided for in 1973. Former POWs were allotted $50 for each month of captivity. If they died in captivity, their heirs were to received a total of $50 for each month the veteran was held as a prisoner (L. 1973, p. 997).
Applications include the applicant's name, relationship if appropriate, claim number, service serial or Social Security number, address, residence prior to military service, place and date of entry, place and date of discharge, sex, service branch, type of service proof, separation type, whether or not a Vietnam veteran, warrant or voucher number, date bonus issued, and amount paid. Prisoner of war applications additionally include dates of captivity. Occasionally attached are death certificates, affidavits, casualty reports, discharge certificates, press releases, and related memoranda and correspondence.
These records are available at the Illinois State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State.
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