$324 million in back pay unclaimed

If you know someone who might have been impacted this story as reported in the Washington Post -- you'd be doing them a huge favor by pointing it out:

Last October, Congress approved retroactive bonus pay for military personnel who were forced to remain on duty beyond their original discharge date, a controversial policy known as "stop-loss." Lawmakers approved back pay of $500 for each month of involuntary service; the average lump-sum due is between $3,500 and $3,800.

To get the cash, an application must be submitted by Oct. 21; only about a third of those eligible have handed in paperwork. With just six weeks remaining before the deadline, the Department of Defense is scrambling to track down about 90,000 veterans, as well as some active-duty troops, to ask them to apply for their back pay.

The military has mailed letters to those who are eligible and mounted an extensive publicity campaign, but the message isn't sinking in. More than 80 percent of those entitled to the bonuses are Army veterans.