Army/Navy Insurance for soldier's who died of wounds

[stratasfan]

Hi! Am hoping someone can help me with this. If you watch the 1945 film, "Week-End at the Waldorf", Van Johnson (going in for a tricky operation due to a shrapnel wound) gives his Army insurance to Lana Turner, telling her that she can go to college or start her own business. We have wondered what exactly Army insurance was and how much his would be worth, being that he says she could go to college even.

 

I just found this muster roll for a sailor who died of wounds in 1944 and it mentions insurance of $10,000.

 

 

What exactly is Army or Navy Insurance and how much did servicemen get if they died (I mean their beneficiary)? Would love some details on this, as I am always wondering, everytime we watch the film and now with the muster roll . . . help!

 

Thanks for any thoughts! I am just going to pepper the "Misc. Militaria" board this morning with odd questions.

[Dogsbody]

Hi, if you take a look at this soldiers paybook you can see that Insurance is mentioned. The way I understand it is that every soldier had the oppertunity to take out Insurance upon enlistment. In this case the amount is $ 10.000 (class N). Hope this helps but maybe some more knowledgeable people can chime in.

 

 

Rene

[Dave]

Here are a bunch of original documents...they are in page protectors, so please forgive the odd reflections.

 

This fellow had both the 10,000 life insurance policy, as well as a private life insurance policy. I also included several documents regarding his back pay and allowances that were given to his father upon the finding of death (he was MIA from 1944 to 1946, thus the large payment).

 

Sadly, there were many who fought who did not take the life insurance policy as there were no family members to give it to (contrary to the narrative that everyone had a loving family, that's simply not true...) There were some who didn't take the insurance as they either felt they were indestructible, or simply didn't care. Several records I have include infighting between siblings/widows/parents about who should be entitled to the insurance payments, so at times this was a huge issue. (Even today this comes up...a SEAL I was researching who was killed during Operation Red Wings had one wife and two ex-wives, but multiple children by both ex-wives...each of the ex-wives did claims against the wife for the life insurance money...a really messy situation...)

 

Dave

 

 

[stratasfan]

Oooooh . . . thanks so much! This is so super interesting and I really appreciate the images. Very interesting. This makes lots of sense and answers my query! So appreciate it! Just goes to show . . . the members on here are a fount of info! Dave . . . I am always in awe of the interesting stuff you know and have!

[lettow]

WWII the beneficiaries could take a lump sum or an annuity. For my uncles insurance, my grandparents chose an annuity measured on my grandfather's life. Unfortunately, he died first and the annuity payments ceased.

 

SGLI is mandatory now.