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                            December 9, 1997
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                            GSBCA 14205-TRAV
 
 
                    In the Matter of KELLY A. WELLS
 
 
        Kelly A. Wells, APO, AE, Claimant.
 
        SSGT Timothy  A. Logan,  Accounting and  Finance, Charleston
   Air  Force  Base,  Charleston, SC,  appearing  for  Department of
   Defense.
 
   VERGILIO, Board Judge.
 
        The claimant, Mr. Kelly A.  Wells, is a civilian employee of
   the Department  of Defense.   He seeks to recover  actual lodging
   expenses incurred  by his  dependents  following evacuation  from
   Saudi Arabia to the United States.  The agency has reimbursed the
   claimant  pursuant  to  the Department  of  Defense  Joint Travel
   Regulations  applicable to civilian  employees (JTR), Appendix J,
   paragraph 632--that  is,  at a  rate  based upon  the  applicable
   standard continental United  States (CONUS) per  diem rate.   The
   regulations  establish the  subsistence expense  allowance to  be
   paid,  unless otherwise  directed  by  the  Secretary  of  State.
   Absent such a determination by the Secretary of State, the agency
   has properly  limited payment  to that  permitted by  regulation.
   While  the  claimant  may contend  that  the  subsistence expense
   allowance  was  inadequate,  the regulations  specify  that  such
   payments are  to help defray  costs incurred; the  regulations do
   not state as a goal an attempt to make a claimant  entirely whole
   for all costs incurred.  Claimant has failed to establish a basis
   for entitlement.
 
                                        ____________________________
                                        JOSEPH A. VERGILIO
                                        Board Judge