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

(1) Collect, safeguard, and process PE in the normal manner except as directed in this paragraph.
(2) Inventory PE on DA Form 54. Record currencies, checks, and all monies found in the PE, including currency or
checks received from debtors and amounts received from local bank accounts, in block 9b, DA Form 54. The amounts
recorded will be turned into the servicing finance and accounting officer (FAO). The FAO will receipt for the amounts
on the inventory and will return the original and one copy to the summary court-martial. The FAO will deposit funds
to the applicable deposit fund account per AR 37–103.
(3) Securely package and seal PE and place in temporary storage at installation.
(4) Prepare an interim report similar to the format illustrated in DA PAM 638–2. Appropriately modify the report to
indicate that an eligible recipient is not known or cannot be located and the PE are being held at (name of installation)
pending disposition instructions from CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D).
c. After review and approval by the appointing authority, send the interim report with supporting documents to
CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), Alexandria, VA 22331–0482, within 30 days of date of death if within CONUS or
45 days after death in overseas areas. The report will be sent using the memorandum of transmittal. A sample
memorandum is found in DA PAM 638–2.
d. The CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), will utilize all available resources to locate an eligible recipient. When
an eligible recipient cannot be found, the SCMO will be authorized by CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), to dispose
of the PE as follows.
(1) Sell by public sale all PE except sabers, insignia, decorations, medals, watches, trinkets, and manuscripts per 10
USC 4712. A complete record of all sales will be included in the final SCMO report. Notarized copies of original bills
of sale will be attached to the report. Proceeds from the sale will be deposited with the servicing FAO and a receipt
obtained.
(2) The SCMO will prepare a final SCMO report similar to the format illustrated in DA PAM 638–2.
(3) After review and approval by the appointing authority, send the final report with supporting documents,
including DA Form 54, to CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), Alexandria, VA 22331–0482. The report will be sent
using the memorandum of transmittal found in DA PAM 638–2. All commercial papers such as stocks and bonds,
evidence of bank accounts or deposits not local to the installation, and articles valuable as keepsakes, including sabers,
insignia, decorations, medals, watches, trinkets, and manuscripts will be sent to CDR, PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D),
Alexandria, VA 22331–0482, for transmission to the Armed Forces Retirement Home per 10 USC 4712f and 24 USC
420.
e. When an eligible recipient is found after the PE have been disposed of, the PERE will be advised by CDR,
PERSCOM (TAPC–PED–D), of the disposition of the PE and to file a claim with the General Accounting Office for
funds deposited in b(2) and d(1) above.
Chapter 21
Personal Effects of Deceased Civilians, Foreign Nationals, and Armed Forces Retired
Personnel
21–1. General
This chapter applies to the disposition of effects (under U.S. Army control) of deceased civilians who are not subject to
military law, of foreign nationals training in the United States, of foreign civilian employees, and Armed Forces retired
personnel. It does not apply to civilian dependents of Armed Forces personnel who die in Army hospitals.
21–2. Deceased civilians not subject to military law
a. In cases of U.S. Government employees who are in this category, the Army commander under whom the
decedent was serving or a representative, designated by the commander of the Service in which the decedent was
employed, will secure the effects and deliver them to the PERE. In determining the PERE, the order of precedence
cited in paragraph 17–3a will be followed.
b. If the deceased was not an employee of the Army, the Army commander of the installation where death occurred
or an officer designated by him or her will secure the decedent’s effects and deliver them to the PERE. The processing
and disposition of the effects should be coordinated with the installation Civilian Personnel Office.
c. If the effects cannot be delivered or are not claimed within a reasonable period of time, the responsible officer
will deliver the effects, with all available information concerning the decedent, to the person designated by the judicial
officer of the local civil government who has jurisdiction over the estates of deceased persons.
21–3. Deceased foreign nationals
a. Foreign nationals training in the United States. The commander of the installation under which the decedent was
serving will collect, inventory, and deliver the effects, unless otherwise directed, to the appropriate Security Assistance
Organization for disposition under the provisions of AR 12–15.
76 AR 638–2 • 22 December 2000