Benefits for discharged members of allied forces

§ 109. Benefits for discharged members of allied forces (a) (1) In consideration of reciprocal services extended to the United States, the Administrator, upon request of the proper officials of the government of any nation allied or associated with the United States in World War I (except any nation which was an enemy of the United States during World War II), or in World War II, may furnish to discharged members of the armed forces of such government, under agreements requiring reimbursement in cash of expenses so incurred, at such rates and under such regulations as the Administrator may prescribe, medical, surgical, and dental treatment, hospital care, transportation and traveling expenses, prosthetic appliances, education, training, or similar benefits authorized by the laws of such 72 Stat. 1113 nation for its veterans, and services required in extending such benefits. Hospitalization in a Veterans’ Administration facility shall not be afforded under this section, except in emergencies, unless there are available beds surplus to the needs of veterans of this country. The Administrator may also pay the court costs and other expenses incident to the proceedings taken for the commitment of such discharged members who are mentally incompetent to institutions for the care or treatment of the insane. (2) The Administrator, in carrying out the provisions of this subsection, may contract for necessary services in private, State, and other Government hospitals. (3) All amounts received by the Veterans’ Administration as reimbursement for such services shall be credited to the current appropriation of the Veterans’ Administration from which expenditures were made under this subsection. (b) Persons who served in the active service in the armed forces of any government allied with the United States in World War II and who at time of entrance into such active service were citizens of the United States shall, by virtue of such service, and if otherwise qualified, be entitled to the benefits of chapters 31 and 37 of this title in the same manner and to the same extent as veterans of World War II are entitled. No such benefit shall be extended to any person who is not a resident of the United States at the time of filing claim, or to any person who has applied for and received the same or any similar benefit from the government in whose armed forces he served.