I have a great Aunt who talks about her brother alot. He died in Italy as a leutinant in the artillary ranks. She said the he had put a personal insurance policy up for his mother which he had to pay for but that was all the family ever got, she distinctly remembers no payment from the government for his death. Can someone please tell me if there were suppose to be death benefits for soldiers. Thanks for any help. Donny
From your user name, I take it you are based in the USA and the question is about US forces. The link below gives a comparison of salaries and benefits, including death benefits, paid to the US Navy and Merchant Marine. As you will see, there was a small death benefit payable to US Navy members - and a rather larger widow's pension if applicable - and I take it the Army would not have been too different. See: http://www.usmm.org/salary.html
