Q: I noticed in an article about the soldier returned by the Taliban that he might receive $300,000 in back pay. Why would that be three times more than the standard pay for a private?
—Mike Fogel, Smyrna
A: Bowe Bergdahl, who was promoted twice to sergeant while he was thought to be a prisoner of war of the Taliban, might receive back pay of $150,000 and special compensation pay of about $148,000 for a total of nearly $300,000. The special compensation pay would include allowances for housing, subsistence and station per diem for the past five years, according to Military.com.
Military personnel designated as captive, missing or missing in action are entitled to back pay, but the Army hasn’t determined whether Bergdahl was a prisoner of war. An Army investigation concluded that he left his base in Afghanistan without permission in June 2009. “Bergdahl could forfeit back pay, allowances, and military compensation and veterans benefits if found guilty on desertion or Absence Without Leave (AWOL) charges,” Military.com wrote.
Q: What happened to Maureen Dowd, who used to write for the AJC and New York Times?
—Bob Furnad, Covington
A: Dowd still writes for the New York Times, but The Atlanta Journal-Constitution no longer publishes her columns. Dowd had written four columns this month as of June 17, including one on Hillary Clinton on June 15.
Dowd, earlier this month, wrote about the effects of eating a marijuana-laced candy bar in Colorado while “reporting on the social revolution rocking Colorado in January, the giddy culmination of pot Prohibition,” she wrote.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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