22 PART I: PERSONAL EFFECTS AND BAGGAGE OF MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL SECTION 1: PERSONAL EFFECTS 54900 GENERAL 1. Commanding officers shall instruct all personnel in pay grades E-1, E-2, and E-3, that upon transfer or detachment the Marine Corps will not ship or store personal baggage in excess of the limit carried free by commercial rail carriers and such personnel shall be directed to ship or otherwise dispose of excess personal baggage at their own expense. 2. Where travel incident to transfer or detachment is to be performed by air and the weight of personal baggage carried free by the carrier is limited, the difference in the weight of the personal effects carried free and 200 pounds, may be shipped on government bill of lading. 54901 DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL EFFECTS AND GOVERNMENT PROPERTY OF DECEASED PERSONNEL 1. Upon the death of any person in the Marine Corps, the commanding officer shall cause all of the effects of the deceased to be collected and inventoried, except as noted in subparagraph 2. Personal effects and government property shall be inventoried separately. If the deceased was an officer, the inventory shall be made by two officers detailed for that purpose; if an enlisted person, by one officer detailed for that purpose. 2. In cases where the deceased at the time of death resided with his next of kin in private or public quarters, inventorying the personal effects in these quarters and which remain in the possession of the next of kin is not necessary. A statement of the circumstances should be incorporated in the inventory of the effects located in other places, or if there are no other personal effects, such statement should be prepared and distributed in lieu of inventory. 3. The inventory shall be prepared in sufficient copies to provide for distribution as follows: Original: To Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DN). Copy: To Service Record (enlisted personnel only). Copy: Retained by commanding officer preparing inventory. 2 copies: Unit supply officer with effects (one copy to be certified and packaged with the effects). 4. All moneys, individual uniform clothing, articles of value, papers, keepsakes and other similar effects shall be forwarded to the legal representative or next of kin, and should accompany the remains wherever practicable if the weight of the effects does not exceed the limit carried free by commercial carriers. When an escort accompanies the remains, he shall assure safe delivery of the effects to the next of kin and obtain a receipt therefor, which shall be forwarded to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DN). Wherever delivery of effects is not accomplished through an escort accompanying the remains, procedures hereinafter prescribed will be followed. 5. Sale at auction of any of the effects of deceased persons when such effects are determined to be perishable or deteriorating, may be directed by the decedent's commanding officer. The account of such sale shall be made on Form NAVMC 504-SD, and the proceeds turned over to the local disbursing officer, in exchange for a government check. The check 54-83 in exchange for cash shall be made payable to the commanding officer, who in turn will endorse the check in favor of the next of kin or legal representative as determined by him, or to the officer in charge of the Marine Corps Personal Effects and Baggage Center to which the effects are to be shipped. 6. United States Treasury checks found in the effects of deceased personnel will be delivered to the disbursing officer for disposition as provided for in paragraph 77132, Marine Corps Manual. Moneys found in the effects of deceased personnel will be turned in to the disbursing officer for an exchange for cash check. Checks in exchange for cash found in the effects of deceased personnel shall be drawn to the order of the commanding officer who will endorse same in favor of the next of kin or legal representative as determined by him. Where it has been impossible for the commanding officer to determine the next of kin or legal representative, the check shall be endorsed by him. in favor of the officer in charge of the Marine Corps Personal Effects and Baggage Center to which the effects are to be shipped. Supply 54902 PROCEDURES FOR STORAGE, DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL 1. The unit supply officer will keep in safe storage moneys (check in exchange for cash), valuables and other personal effects pending instructions from the commanding officer as to their disposition. When instructions are received for the disposition of personal effects to the next of kin or legal representative and the effects include a check in exchange for cash, the unit supply officer will insure that the commanding officer places the proper endorsement on the check in exchange for cash prior to disposition of the effects. 2. Where it is impossible for the commanding officer to ascertain the existence or whereabouts of the legal representatives, next of kin, heir or heirs, the moneys (check in exchange for cash), valuables and other personal effects shall continue to be kept in safe storage by the unit supply officer. Upon concluding all diligent effort, at unit level, to locate next of kin, etc., the decedent's commanding officer will submit a statement for inclusion with the inventory of unit supply officer. The statement shall stipulate that after diligent effort, the whereabouts or existence of legal representative or next of kin or heirs of the decedent are unknown. A letter shall be forwarded to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DN) enclosing a copy of the statement and requesting disposition instructions. Upon receipt a further effort to locate or determine the exist ence of legal representatives, heirs, or next of kin of the decedent shall be made and appropriate instructions furnished. When the foregoing efforts are found insufficient to effect satisfactory disposition, the Commandant of the Marine Corps will direct the effects be properly marked, cataloged and transferred to a Personal Effects and Baggage Center for storage for a period of TWO YEARS as required by law. Where personal effects are to be shipped to a Marine Corps Personal Effects and Bag 7. Commanding officers shall insure that diligent effort be made to determine and locate the heir or heirs, or next of kin, or legal representative or representatives of deceased personnel and in all cases where the heir or heirs, legal representative or representatives or next of kin of the deceased personnel has been determined, the personal effects shall be delivered to such legal representative or representatives, next of kin, or heir or heirs of the decedent upon receipt of identification, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 13059. While such determination is being made, effects and property will be placed for safekeeping storage in the custody of the unit supply officer who will act in behalf of the commanding officer of the unit.... 8. Unit supply officers receiving personal effects and/or baggage for storage or disposal shall establish chronological receipt, storage and disposal records. 54-84 gage Center for further disposition as required by law, and such effects include a check in exchange for cash, the decedent's commanding officer shall endorse the check in favor of the officer in charge of the Marine Corps Personal Effects and Baggage Center to which the personal effects are to be shipped. (See par. 54923-3.) 3. When an officer or enlisted person, at time of death, was occupying Government quarters with his family, or resided off the post with his family, the commanding officer will assure himself that all Government property on charge to the deceased is repossessed. 4. The term cataloging employed in subparagraph 2 indicates that an inventory has been made and appropriate records and reports completed. 54903 PROCEDURES FOR STORAGE, CATALOGING AND ULTIMATE DISPOSITION OF LOST, ABANDONED OR UNCLAIMED PERSONAL EFFECTS RECOVERED BY POST, STATION OR ORGANIZATION COMMANDERS 1. Personal effects which are determined to be lost, abandoned or unclaimed, recovered by, or coming into the custody of post, station or organization commanders, shall be inventoried by an officer or noncommissioned officer detailed for the purpose, and delivered to the unit supply officer for safekeeping and storage. Government property found in such effects will be inventoried separately and immediately recovered by the unit supply officer. Upon delivery of personal effects to unit supply for storage, commanding officers shall make diligent search for the owners of such recovered personal effects. Letter inquiries will be addressed to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DN) when necessary to locate present address of the owner. After exhausting all means of determining the owners of such effects, commanding officers shall direct the unit supply officer concerned to mark and catalog and store such personal effects for the ONE YEAR period required by law. 2. If at any time during the prescribed ONE YEAR, the owner, the legal representative, heir or heirs, or next of kin of the person applies for the personal effects described above, they shall be delivered or shipped to such person upon presentation of satisfactory identification credentials and provided the owner of the effects would be eligible for such a shipment at government expense. (See par. 8014, Joint Travel Regulations.) 3. Should such stored effects remain unclaimed for a period of ONE YEAR, the unit supply officer having custody of the personal effects shall take action to dispose of such effects in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 54909. (See also par. 54906.) 4. The term cataloging employed in subparagraph 1 indicates that an inventory has been made and appropriate records and reports completed. 54904 DISPOSAL OF PERSONAL EFFECTS AFTER THE REQUIRED 1. Unit supply officers are responsible for the ultimate disposal of personal effects in their possession that have been determined to be lost, abandoned or unclaimed, and such effects will be disposed of upon the expiration of the required storage period of ONE YEAR. (See pars. 54907-2 and 54909.) 2. The officer in charge of a Marine Corps Personal Effects and Baggage Center is responsible for the ultimate disposal of personal effects in his possession that have been determined to be lost, abandoned or unclaimed, and after the required storage period of ONE YEAR. 3. The officer in charge of a Marine Corps Personal Effects and Baggage Center is responsible for the ultimate disposal of personal effects in his possession of deceased Marine Corps personnel and such effects will be disposed of upon the expiration of the required storage period of TWO YEARS. (See pars. 54907-1 and 54908.) 54905 DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL EFFECTS OF PERSONNEL INCAPACITATED, HOSPITALIZED OR TRANSFERRED TO MEDICAL FACILITIES 1. Personal effects of personnel incapacitated by injuries or disease and transferred to hospitals or medical facilities, other than evacuees from a theater of operations, shall be recovered by local commanding officers and turned over to the unit supply officer for storage. All items of government property shall be recovered immediately by the unit supply officer who will issue appropriate receipts. At any time during storage, the effects of personnel in this category may be shipped at government expense providing the individual concerned is otherwise eligible for such shipment. (See Chapter 8, Joint Travel Regulations.) If personnel in this category are incapacitated and injuries or disease result in death, the personal effects shall be disposed of in the manner prescribed in paragraph 54902. If hospitalization or treatment of the individual concerned will result in a period greater than sixty days, with ultimate return to duty station, local commanders will take necessary steps to retain the personal effects and property of such individuals in local storage of their command beyond the sixty day period prescribed herein. However, this determination is the responsibility of the commanding officer of the individual concerned. Supply property will be turned over to the unit supply officer for adjustment of property records and outstanding memorandum receipts and the remainder (the personal effects) held in storage by the supply officer for a period of sixty days or until determination of the status of the individual; i. e., deserter or absentee. An inventory certificate enumerating all of the items of uniform clothing recovered, except undergarments, shoes, and headgear, will be prepared by the unit supply officer, showing the name, rank and service number of the deserter; the orig inal shall be furnished the deserter's commanding officer for inclusion in the individual's service record book and copies attached to the original and duplicate of the voucher taking up the useable clothing. 2. When an absentee has been declared a deserter and provided that diligent effort has been made to determine his whereabouts and the whereabouts of his heirs or next of kin, or his legal representative, and that in all cases where the deserter cannot be located but the location of a legal representative or the next of kin has been determined, the personal effects, except as provided in subparagraph 3, shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the expiration of a period of one hundred and twenty days after written notice by registered mail giving time and place of intended sale or other disposi tion thereof, has been sent to his or their last known address. 3. Prior to the disposal of personal effects of a deserter, there shall be removed therefrom any discharge certificates, noncommissioned officer's warrants, medals, badges, etc., and such items forwarded to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code DGK). Other personal effects shall be disposed of at auction to individuals including enlisted men of the command. The date, time and place of the auction together with a description of the items to be auctioned shall be publicized in appropriate form for a period of not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the auction. The minimum price for which an item may be sold will be established by the commanding officer to protect the intrinsic value of jewelry and other such articles placed before the auction. The account of such sale shall be made on Form NAVMC 504-SD, and turned over to the local disbursing officer, accompanied by the proceeds received from the sale. In the event that items of appreciable intrinsic value placed before auction sale are not sold, the commanding officer will report the articles and circumstances to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Code CSH) requesting disposition instructions. 54907 AUTHORITY FOR DISPOSAL OF PERSONAL EFFECTS 1. The Act of March 29, 1918, provides authority to receive and store for safekeeping all moneys, articles of value, papers, keepsakes and other similar effects belonging to deceased persons of the Naval service. This Act further provides that a diligent search be conducted for legal heirs or next of kin; and if the effects so deposited have been unclaimed for a period of TWO YEARS from date of the death of such personnel, that such effects and articles be sold and the proceeds thereof, together with any moneys included in such effects, shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States in accordance with instructions contained in Chapter 77. 54908 PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSAL BY 1. Upon fulfillment of the requirements prescribed in paragraphs 54902 and 54907-1, personal effects of deceased or missing persons may be sold at public auction or otherwise. Sales may be conducted by a local redistribution officer wherever practicable, otherwise sale will be conducted by the unit supply officer having custody of the effects. The proceeds of such sales shall be reported on the Account of Sales of Dead Men's and Deserter's effects, Form NAVMC 504-SD, indicating thereon the name, rank and service number of the owners of such effects; a description of the items sold by showing "lot consisting of personal effects of John Doe, rank and service number," and further indicating the name of the successful bidder covering such lot or lots sold. (In the absence of identification of owner, such effects will for the purpose of final disposition fall under the category of lost, abandoned or unclaimed.) Form NAVMC 504-SD will be completed in all respects by the selling officer and shall be delivered in sufficient copies to the local disbursing officer, who will receipt for and take up in his accounts such receipts for credit into the Treasury of the United States in accordance with instructions contained in Chapter 77. The term "otherwise" shall be construed by selling officers to mean disposal as scrap or salvage in the same manner as other government accumulated scrap or salvage. 54909 PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSAL BY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SALE OR OTHERWISE, OF PERSONAL EFFECTS DETERMINED TO BE LOST, ABANDONED OR UNCLAIMED 1. Upon fulfillment of the requirements prescribed in paragraphs 54903 and 54907-2, personal effects which have been determined to be 54-87 |