Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 1.djvu/147

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80TH CONG. , 1ST SESS.-CH. 88 -MAY 31, 1947 [CHAPTER 88] AN ACT To amend an Act of September 27, 1944, relating to credit for military or naval service in connection with certain homestead entries. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1 of the Act entitled "An Act to allow credit in connection with certain homestead entries for military or naval service rendered during World War II", approved September 27, 1944 (58 Stat. 747), as amended June 25, 1946 (60 Stat. 308, 43 U. S . C ., sec. 279), is amended to read as follows: "That any person who has served in the military or naval forces of the United States for a period of at least ninety days at any time on or after September 16, 1940, and prior to the termination of the present war, and is honorably discharged from the military or naval forces and who makes homestead entry subsequent to such discharge shall have the period of such service, not exceeding two years, con- strued to be equivalent to residence and cultivation upon the land for the same length of time. Credit shall be allowed for two years' service to any person who has served in the military or naval forces of the United States during the above period (1) if such person is discharged on account of wounds received or disability incurred during the above period in the line of duty, or (2) if such person is regularly discharged and subsequently is furnished hospitalization or is awarded compensation by the Government on account of such wounds or dis- ability. When the homestead entry is made by a husband or wife whose spouse is entitled to any service credit under this section, such credit shall, with the consent of the spouse entitled thereto, be available to the husband or wife making the entry, in addition to any service credit to which he or she individually may be entitled under this section. No patent shall issue to any such person who has not resided upon his homestead and otherwise complied with the provisions of the homestead laws for a period of at least one year: Provided,That no person who has served in the military or naval forces of the United States for a period of at least ninety days at any time on or after September 16, 1940, and prior to the termination of the present war, and is honorably discharged shall be disqualified from making home- stead entry or from any other benefits of this Act merely by reason of not having reached the age of twenty-one years." SEC. 2 . Section 2 of such Act (43 U. S . C., sec. 280) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 2 . The surviving spouse or the minor children, as hereinafter provided, shall be entitled (1) in case of the death of any person as the result of wounds received or disability incurred in line of duty while serving in the military or naval forces of the United States during the period specified in section 1, to credit for two years' resi- dence and cultivation on a homestead entry, or (2) in the case of the death of any person after performing service that would be a basis for credit under section 1 of this Act, to the amount of credit which would have been allowable to such person. The credit provided by this section shall be available to the surviving spouse, or, in the case of the death or marriage of the surviving spouse, to the minor children by a guardian duly appointed and officially accredited at the Depart- ment of the Interior. An entry made by such surviving spouse or guardian shall be subject to the provisions contained in section 1 respecting compliance with the provisions of the homestead laws for a period of at least one year." 61 STAT.] 123 May 31, 1947 [H. R. 603] [Public Law S21 World War II veter- ans. Homestead entries. Credit for period of service. Service-incurred dis- ability. Service credit of spouse. Residence require- ment. Age. 58 Stat. 748. Availability of credit to surviving spouse or minor chil- dren. Entry.