Persian Gulf War veterans who reside in Pennsylvania and served between August 15, 1990 and August 30, 1991, are eligible for a special bonus payment from the Pa. Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA).
On Thursday Tom McDonnell, Wayne County Veteran’s Affairs Coordinator, urged eligible veterans to take advantage of this benefit. He briefed the Wayne County Commissioners on the subject.
The amount of the bonus is $75.00 a month for every month served to a maximum of $525.00. A $5,000 bonus is available to a former P.O.W. or on behalf of a service member killed in active service.
The Adjutant General’s Office of Pennsylvania and DMVA are administering the program. Payment of the bonuses are not anticipated until the fall of 2008.
McDonnell stressed that even if the veteran served stateside, he or she is still eligible if they served in support of the conflict. Current or former members of the National Guard and Reserve forces are eligible as well as regular US Armed Forces.
There are two different forms,  one for a veteran seeking the benefit and the other form for certain surviving relatives to apply for the benefit on behalf of a deceased veteran or a veteran who is incapacitated.
A copy of the DD214 discharge paper is required for the application.
 On April 24, 2006, Governor Edward Rendell signed House Bill 1820 into law as Act 29 of 2006. This Bill establishes the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Act, which was subsequently given approval for funding by the voters on November 7, 2006. A bond issue was created for the fund.
McDonnell stated that the application forms are available at his office, or on-line at www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us.
Director of the  Wayne County Department of Veteran's Affairs, he may be contacted:
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday in Main Office in Honesdale - (570) 253-4262 ext. 3114
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Wednesdays (1st and 3rd Weds.) in Hamlin Office - (570) 689-3766)
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Wednesdays (2nd and 4th Weds.) in Hawley Office - (570) 226-4209).
Vietnam tour
McDonnell, a 20 year veteran of the U.S. Marines, also shared with the Commissioners highlights of his recent return trip to Vietnam, where he was deployed 19-1/2 months during the war.
His bus trip included 12 Marine and two Army veterans, who had opportunity to revisit “special places” to them. He managed to find his old bunker he had not seen in 39 years, and brought home a piece.  Four Marines had been killed there in combat.
 “It was a good process for all of us to go through it,” he said of the bus tour, as a means in the healing many war veterans need.

[Editor's note- this is a revision to the story published earlier today.]