The Obama administration has said it doesn't want two dozen aging veterans of the Alaska Territorial Guard to have their World War II service count toward retirement pay. The reason? Such a qualification would set a bad precedent of granting federal benefits for state service.

Nonsense. The circumstances in this case are unique. To speak of setting precedent is absurd.

Alaska's congressional delegation is unanimous in support of full benefits for these veterans, and they should school the administration on some American history:

• Alaskan was not a state, but a United States territory when the territorial guard was formed in 1942. The service of these soldiers had nothing to do with the state of Alaska, which didn't exist until 17 years later.

• The United States was at war then, and Japanese troops would land and fight on U.S. soil in the Aleutians. The 6,600-member territorial guard was formed to protect U.S. soil.

• The Department of the Army counted territorial guard service as active military service until 2008, when a reinterpretation of a 2000 law discounted the service. To his credit, then-Secretary of the Army Pete Geren dipped into an emergency fund to extend the benefits for two months past their January 2009 expiration date.

• When the extension ran out, the Alaska Legislature stepped in and voted to cover the benefits until Congress did right by the veterans. Alaska's cover lasts through February 2010.

Alaskans are picking up the tab for about $10,000 a month. We're honored to do so.

But it's not our job. It's Uncle Sam's.

The difference for these veterans, most of whom live in villages where food and fuel costs are high, is as much as $557 a month in retirement pay. That's plenty.

And it's due -- from the United States, on whose behalf the soldiers earned their benefits.

Twenty-six veterans were involved last spring. Now there are only 24. Let's have no more delay.

BOTTOM LINE: Congress should do what's right and count veterans' World War II service in the Alaska Territorial Guard.

ADVERTISEMENT