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Marine GYSGT John David Fry Scholarship


Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) to include the children of service members who die in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.  The benefit is effective August 1, 2009.  Eligible children attending school may receive up to the highest public, in-state undergraduate tuition and fees, plus a monthly housing allowance and a books and supplies stipend under this program.

Eligible children are:

  • entitled to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level
  • have 15 years to use the benefit beginning on their 18th birthday
  • may use the benefit until his or her 33rd birthday
  • cannot use the benefit before age 18, even if she or he has completed high school
  • not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program

How to Apply

  • Dependent needs to complete VA Form 22-5490.  This can be done online (thru the VONAPP website) or a paper copy can be completed and mailed to VA (paper copy can be printed off of the VONAPP website).  Please note a parent or guardian must sign the application if the child is under the age of 18.
  • Watch for a Certificate of Eligiblity Letter from VA.
  • JMU's VA Certifying Official WILL need to submit an enrollment certification each semester.  After you have applied for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, please contact one of the JMU Certifying Officials:

Trudy Ham
540-568-6569
hamth@jmu.edu
Office of the Registrar - Warren 504

Payments

VA began issuing payments under this benefit on August 1, 2010.  This includes retroactive payments for eligible children enrolled during the period of August 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010.

Benefits for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship include:

  • Tuition/fee money (sent directly to JMU)
  • Monthly housing allowance (sent to the student)
  • Book/supplies stipend (sent to the student)

For more information about the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, please visit the Veterans Affairs website.

 

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David FryMarine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas, only had a week left in his Iraq tour in 2006 when he injured his hand.  He was given the option of leaving Iraq after the injury and going home with a Bronze Star.  He declined and volunteered to go on one last run to defuse bombs.  After working seven more hours, Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry was killed March 8, 2006 by an improvised explosive device in Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.