SGT. SHAFT: Spouse benefits have limitations

Dear Sgt Shaft,

I am a former spouse of a deceased retired military. I was married for 18 years and received retirement pay/alimony until his death in August 2006. I was told by another service member that I may be entitled to a dependent ID card. Can you research this for me or direct me to who might be able to assist me with this matter? Thank you. - Kaye M via the internet

Dear Kaye,

My sources tell me that you do not qualify for military benefits because you do not meet the 20-20-20 rule. You need to have been married to the service member for 20 years and the marriage must have lasted 20 years while he was earning credit toward retirement. It appears that you are two years short.

If there was physical abuse that was punished by Uniform Code of Military Justice, it’s possible you may still qualify. Other than that, no.

Shaft notes

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Florida Republican, member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, recently saluted the courage of the Tuskegee Airmen by presenting Mildred Wilson, widow of Staff Sgt. Elmer H. Wilson, with a bronze Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal for her husband’s valiant service during World War II. The presentation took place at the Bayou Presbyterian Church, Tarpon Springs, Fla.

The Tuskegee Airmen were a dedicated group of blacks who enlisted to become America’s first black military airmen during World War II as part of the 332nd Fighter Group of the Army Air Corps. While the group was praised for their work flying combat aircraft against the Nazis, they faced discrimination at home.

“The perseverance and courage exhibited by Staff Sergeant Wilson played an important role in the liberation of millions of people,” Mr. Bilirakis said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to help recognize his intrepid service as well as the support and resolve of his wife Mildred, who served as a constant pillar of strength back home.”

In 1942, Staff Sgt. Wilson, a Philadelphia native, was inducted into the Army Air Corps. His high test scores and previous mechanical experience led to his selection to the Tuskegee Army Air Field’s 99th Pursuit Squadron in Tuskegee, Ala., where he trained in armament and camera technology.

Staff Sgt. Wilson, known to his friends as “Pop Wilson,” earned two Bronze Stars and a Good Conduct Medal during his service.

Mrs. Wilson is the seventh of 10 children and married Staff Sgt. Wilson during the summer of 1941. Six months later, Staff Sgt. Wilson was drafted into the Army Air Corps. Mrs. Wilson eventually earned a master’s degree in education and taught high school for 19 years while raising four children before retiring. The couple moved to Tarpon Springs in 1988, where Staff Sgt. Wilson died eight years later. Mrs. Wilson is still giving piano lessons at age 89.

Mrs. Wilson said her husband never said much about the time he spent as a camera technician in the Army Air Corps. “They got called all kinds of names,” she said of the Tuskegee Airmen. “But it didn’t bother [Elmer].”

Spouse act

The Senate recently approved the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act as an amendment to the 2009 Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390) at the request of Sen. Richard M. Burr, North Carolina Republican, putting the legislation on a fast track for passage into law this year.

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