"The Civil War ended more than 150 years ago, but the U.S. government is still paying a veteran's pension from that conflict.
"One beneficiary from the Civil War [is] still alive and receiving benefits," Randy Noller of the Department of Veterans Affairs confirms.
Irene Triplett – the 86-year-old daughter of a Civil War veteran – collects $73.13 each month from her father's military pension. The identity of Triplett was first reported byThe Wall Street Journal in 2014.
"VA has an obligation to take care of our nation’s veterans no matter how long. It is an honor to serve and care for those who served our country," Noller explained in an email to U.S. News.
[ PHOTOS: Battle of Gettysburg's 150th Anniversary ]
As the United States continues fighting the lengthiest war in its history – the campaign in Afghanistan – it is worth considering how long the consequences of U.S. military action reverberate.
The U.S. government pays out veterans' benefits to spouses and dependents of former soldiers. A subsection of Title 38 of the United States Code spells out the rules and regulations for their allocation, including for the Civil War, even though that now only applies to one person in the country, Triplett.
"Whenever there is no surviving spouse entitled to pension," as there is not in Triplett's case, "the Secretary shall pay to the children of each Civil War veteran who met the service requirements of section 1532 of this title a pension at the monthly rate of $73.13 for one child... A veteran met the service requirements of this section if such veteran served for 90 days or more in the active military or naval service during the Civil War," the code notes.
[ READ: 150 Years Later, Confederate Sub's Hull Again Revealed ]
"The promises of President Abraham Lincoln are being delivered, 150 years later, by President Barack Obama," then-Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a speech in 2013. "And the same will be true 100 years from now—the promises of this president will be delivered by a future president, as yet unborn."
Triplett's father was Mose Triplett, born in 1846. He joined the Confederate army in 1862, but later deserted and signed up with the Union. His first wife died and they did not have any children. He later married Elida Hall who was at least 50 years younger. They had five children, three of whom did not survive infancy. But Irene, and her younger brother Everette did. Mose Triplett was 83 when Irene was born, nearly 87 when her brother Everette came along.
Mose Triplett died a few days after returning from the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1938. His wife and daughter went to go live in public housing, and his son ran away. Elida Triplett died in 1967. Everette Triplett died in 1996."
@ridgevol
From 2013 article
"One beneficiary from the Civil War [is] still alive and receiving benefits," Randy Noller of the Department of Veterans Affairs confirms.
Irene Triplett – the 86-year-old daughter of a Civil War veteran – collects $73.13 each month from her father's military pension. The identity of Triplett was first reported byThe Wall Street Journal in 2014.
"VA has an obligation to take care of our nation’s veterans no matter how long. It is an honor to serve and care for those who served our country," Noller explained in an email to U.S. News.
[ PHOTOS: Battle of Gettysburg's 150th Anniversary ]
As the United States continues fighting the lengthiest war in its history – the campaign in Afghanistan – it is worth considering how long the consequences of U.S. military action reverberate.
The U.S. government pays out veterans' benefits to spouses and dependents of former soldiers. A subsection of Title 38 of the United States Code spells out the rules and regulations for their allocation, including for the Civil War, even though that now only applies to one person in the country, Triplett.
"Whenever there is no surviving spouse entitled to pension," as there is not in Triplett's case, "the Secretary shall pay to the children of each Civil War veteran who met the service requirements of section 1532 of this title a pension at the monthly rate of $73.13 for one child... A veteran met the service requirements of this section if such veteran served for 90 days or more in the active military or naval service during the Civil War," the code notes.
[ READ: 150 Years Later, Confederate Sub's Hull Again Revealed ]
"The promises of President Abraham Lincoln are being delivered, 150 years later, by President Barack Obama," then-Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a speech in 2013. "And the same will be true 100 years from now—the promises of this president will be delivered by a future president, as yet unborn."
Triplett's father was Mose Triplett, born in 1846. He joined the Confederate army in 1862, but later deserted and signed up with the Union. His first wife died and they did not have any children. He later married Elida Hall who was at least 50 years younger. They had five children, three of whom did not survive infancy. But Irene, and her younger brother Everette did. Mose Triplett was 83 when Irene was born, nearly 87 when her brother Everette came along.
Mose Triplett died a few days after returning from the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1938. His wife and daughter went to go live in public housing, and his son ran away. Elida Triplett died in 1967. Everette Triplett died in 1996."
@ridgevol
From 2013 article
