Army to foot bill of stateside leave travel last fall

WASHINGTON -- The Army will pay for the domestic flights of up to 32,000 soldiers who came home on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan late last year, the service announced Tuesday.

Military-financed charter flights have been bringing the soldiers back to a few airports in the United States, but until Dec. 18, 2003, the troops had to pay their way home from there. At that point, Congress enacted a law saying the military should pay for their domestic travel, too.

The troops who had traveled after Sept. 25, 2003, and before the congressional edict were not covered until now.

The Army has set aside $13 million to reimburse the soldiers, a spokeswoman said. To receive their reimbursements, troops can provide a variety of documents proving they traveled during the three-month period.