Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

20–10. Withdrawal of Government property
a. Government property. All organizational clothing and equipment and other Government property to which the
soldier is not entitled will be withdrawn from the PE and turned in to supply channels. Credit entries for the items
withdrawn will be made on the soldier’s DA Form 3645 (Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment Record).
b. Personal military clothing. Personal military clothing in the PE of deceased soldiers, other than items required for
burial, will be sent to the PERE. Personal military clothing in the PE of missing and captured soldiers will be sent to
the PERE.
20–11. Methods of disposing of PE
There are three proper methods for the disposition of PE: delivery to the PERE (see para 20–12), public sale (see para
20–13), and destruction (see para 20–14).
20–12. Delivery of PE
Delivery of the PE to the PERE ends the Army’s and the SCMO’s responsibility for the PE. Once the PE are delivered,
there is no legal basis for the Army to retrieve and/or ship the PE, even if the PE were incorrectly delivered to
someone other than the PERE. Custody and ownership of the PE are civil matters to be settled between the interested
parties or by the estate’s legal representative in the civil courts.
a. Delivery or shipment of PE. The PE will be delivered to the PERE if present or shipped to the PERE in the order
of precedence indicated in paragraph 19–5.
b. Notification to PERE. Upon delivery or shipment of PE, a memorandum will be delivered or mailed to the PERE.
The memorandum will state that delivery or shipment does not in any way vest title in the recipient, but that the
property is delivered or forwarded for retention or disposition as custodian in accordance with the laws of the State (or
territory, possession, or country) of the decedent’s legal residence. In case of shipment, the memorandum will also state
the date and method of shipment and the anticipated date of arrival. Sample memorandums are located in DA PAM
638–2.
c. Shipment of PE. The SCMO will ship the PE, funds, and commercial papers belonging to the deceased, notarized
copies of original bills of sale, receipt for cash transactions, and a copy of DA Form 54 to the PERE. Shipments of PE
will be made on Government bill of lading or by certified or insured mail. Shipments may also be made by commercial
courier or delivery service within the United States. The DA Form 54 will be fully annotated relative to the method of
shipment (Government bill of lading number, air movement designator, registered, certified, or insured number) in
order to facilitate tracing PE in delays or nonreceipt of shipments. Shipments will be accomplished as soon as possible
after the death of the decedent. In the event a complete shipment of PE cannot be made due to delay caused by the sale
of a motor vehicle or for other reasons, partial shipment will be accomplished and the recipient advised of actions
pending and provided an approximate completion date.
d. Packing PE for shipment. The PE will be packaged, boxed, or crated securely for shipment. When packaged for
mailing, appropriate cartons and packaging materials will be obtained through supply channels. Each package, box, or
crate will be marked plainly “Effects of Deceased Person” and will bear the full name, grade, SSN, and organization of
the person to whom the PE belonged. The contents of the packages will be verified against inventory by the
commander or SCMO. A copy of the inventory will be put inside the package (or package number one). The package
will be sealed by the person verifying the contents. The copy of the inventory attached to the report of the SCMO will
be annotated attesting to the verification of the contents of the package(s) against the inventory and sealing of the
package(s).
e. Shipment of motor vehicle. One privately owned motor vehicle is authorized shipment at Government expense
under volume 1, JFTR paragraph U5455E, to the approved destination, provided—
(1) The motor vehicle was lawfully procured by the sponsor involved or his or her lawful dependent prior to the
date the individual died or became missing or captured.
(2) It can be legally established that the vehicle was the property of the sponsor involved, without regard to pay
grade, or his or her lawful dependent prior to the date of the official report of casualty.
(3) The vehicle is in a usable condition or of sufficient value to warrant the expenditure of Government transportation
funds. When the vehicle is non-operational, the PERE must make arrangements for the necessary repairs before
shipment, or arrange transportation. The vehicle will be considered as abandoned 90 days after the SCMO sends the
PERE notification that the car cannot be shipped under transportation regulations.
f. Shipment of mobile home. In accordance with volume 1, JFTR, chapter 5, part F, trailer allowance for shipment of
a mobile home is authorized within the prescribed cost ceiling provided—
(1) The mobile home is to be used by the dependent as a residence at destination.
(2) The transportation of the mobile home by the dependent is completed with the prescribed time limitation, or
(3) The mobile home is turned over to a transportation officer within the prescribed time limitation when transportation
is to be arranged by the Government.
g. Agent for delivery of PE. In some instances, political or other restrictions may prevent delivery or shipment
directly to the PERE. The SCMO should request the recipient arrange for a consular representative to receive the PE.
74 AR 638–2 • 22 December 2000