12.09.09

The Associated Press: Alaska Territorial Guard pension checks expected

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says Alaska Territorial Guard members whose military pensions were reduced by a Pentagon policy change in January should see full payments resume by year's end.

The Alaska Republican says the Department of Defense told her Wednesday the December check for the 23 surviving members will include a lump sum payment retroactive to Oct. 28.

Murkowski said she prodded thg Pentagon to implement language in the National Defense Authorization Act that directs the military to count service in the territorial guard during World War II.

The members were assigned to guard Alaska from the Japanese during the war, but their pensions were decreased in January after the military no longer recognized their service.

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Source: Published by the Associated Press on December 09, 2009