Los Angeles County, California Military Pensions

George Moir
S. 6836. George Moir, of Soldiers' Home, Los Angeles County, Cal., served as a private in Battery B., Utah Volunteer Light artillery in the War with Spain; he was enlisted June 25, 1898, and honorably discharged August 16, 1899.
He made claim for pension November 16, 1915 (No. 1421696), alleging in his declaration that at La Loma, P. I., about February 6, 1899, he had an attack of dysentery, another at Malolos on March 31, 1899, and a third attack at Candaba, on May 24, 1899. In affidavit filed December 27, 1915, he stated that he is not subject to any disability of service origin other than chronic dysentery alleged in his claim. The claim was rejected April 20, 1916, on the ground that a ratable degree of disability had not been shown since date of filing claim, from alleged dysentery. Reopening was denied in May, 1916.
The medical records on file in the War Department show that soldier was treated in service from April 3 to 9, 1899, for acute dysentery; May 27 to June 17, 1899, acute diarrhea; June 20 and 21, 1899, convalescent from acute diarrhea; July 24 and 25, 1899, acute indigestion. Oh his examination preliminary to discharge soldier declared that he was suffering from no disability or impairment of health; his captain certified that he knew of none, and the Army surgeon reported that he found no disability after physical examination.
David Brown, testifying January 22, 1916, said that soldier appeared to be in excellent health when he embarked for the Philippine Islands; that he next saw him about July 31, 1899, on his return from the Philippines; that soldier was then much emaciated and informed affiant that he had been attacked with dysentery while in the Philippine Islands; that affiant has met soldier frequently since then until about two years ago and that he seemed to gain but little in weight since his return to the United States and complained of suffering from attacks of chronic dysentery.
Gustave Louis Bresse testified February 16, 1916, that he has known soldier since 1907; that at time he, affiant, understood and believes that soldier was suffering from chronic dysentery contracted in the military service in the Philippines; that he has seen soldier at various times since that date and that he appeared to be still suffering from said dysentery.
Dr. W. A. Clayton testified April 13, 1916, that about July 1909, and several times thereafter, he examined and prescribed for soldier, who was then suffering from chronic diarrhea, said to have been contracted while in the United States service.
Report commandant, Veterans' Home, Napa, Cal., states that soldier was admitted to that home December 6, 1910, and discharged at his own request January 15, 1913; that the cause of disability was dysentery; that surgeon reports no hospital record.
Surgeon at Soldiers' Home, Los Angeles County, Cal., reports February 29, 1916, that soldier was admitted to that home September 24, 1913, suffering with chronic articular rheumatism, hemorrhoids, Chronic indigestion, and slight cardiac hypertrophy; that soldier had never been a patient in the hospital, nor had he been treated at sick call.
Soldier was officially examined February 2, 1916, by the Sawtelle (Cal) board of surgeons, who reported as follows:

Claimant suffers with intermittent attacks of dysentery, when the bowels move four to six times daily. Nutrition somewhat below normal; also the muscular development. General physical appearance below par. Abdominal viscera normal. Rectum, not diseased, except a hemorrhoid protruding the size of a hazelnut. He is 15 to 20 pounds under his normal weight. Does not have attacks of termina or tenesmus, but occasionally has bloody mucous discharge. Heart, lungs, and kidneys are normal. Height 5 feet 10 ½ inches, weight 143 pounds. We recommend 6/18 on account of dysentery.

Accompanying the bill is affidavit of Dr. Howard W. Seager, who says that he examined soldier August 1, 1916, and found him to be suffering from chronic anemia, emaciation, intestinal indigestion, malnutrition, and chronic dysentery; that soldier was physically incapacitated for earning his living, and that his physical disability was three-fourths.
Soldier is 68 years of age, and, as the evidence shows, very poor without means of support.
This committee report the bill favorably and recommend that he be granted a pension at $17 per month.

[Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc.
February 22, 1917.
Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session Vol. No.B
64th Congress, 2nd Session
H.Rpt. 1532
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Terry Wages]

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