§ 902. — Pay of crews of wrecked or lost naval vessels.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 37USC902]
TITLE 37--PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES
CHAPTER 17--MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS
Sec. 902. Pay of crews of wrecked or lost naval vessels
(a) When the accounts of the disbursing officer of a naval vessel
are lost as a result of the destruction of the vessel, his return for
the last month may, unless there is official evidence to the contrary,
be used in computing later credits to and settling accounts of persons,
other than officers, carried on his accounts. If the return for the last
month has not been made, the pay accounts may be settled on principles
of equity and justice.
(b) When a naval vessel is lost or has not been heard from for so
long that her loss may be presumed, the Secretary of the Navy may fix
the date of loss of the vessel for the purpose of settling the accounts
of persons aboard other than officers.
(c) When the crew of a naval vessel is separated from that vessel
because of her wreck, loss, or destruction, the pay and emoluments of
those officers and enlisted members that the Secretary considers
(because of the sentence of a court-martial or the finding of a court of
inquiry, or by other satisfactory evidence) to have done their utmost to
save the vessel and, after the wreck, loss, or destruction, to have
behaved themselves according to the discipline of the Navy, continue and
shall be paid to them until their discharge or death, whichever is
earlier.
(Pub. L. 87-649, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 486; Pub. L. 104-316, title I,
Sec. 118, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3836.)
Historical and Revision Notes
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Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
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902(a)................................ 10:6144. [None.]
902(b)................................ 10:6145. [None.]
902(c)................................ 37:243. R.S. 1574.
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In subsections (a) and (c), the words ``naval vessel'' are
substituted for the words ``any vessel of the United States'', in
section 243 of existing title 37, and the words ``vessel in the employ
of the United States'', in section 6144 of title 10, for clarity and to
conform to subsection (b).
In subsection (c), the word ``continues'' is substituted for the
words ``go on''. The words ``whichever is earlier'' are inserted for
clarity. The words ``or the findings of a'' are inserted since a court
of inquiry cannot impose a sentence.
Amendments
1996--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-316 substituted ``the Secretary of
the Navy may'' for ``the General Accounting Office, under the direction
of the Secretary of the Navy, may''.