Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102
§1487 Temporary Interment
Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 75 — DECEASED PERSONNEL › SUBCHAPTER II — DEATH BENEFITS › § 1487
Summary
The Secretary may obtain and maintain plots in cemeteries for temporary burials until remains move to the final cemetery. If death happens outside the United States and no commercial plot is reasonably available, the Secretary may obtain land for temporary burial.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §1487
Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whenever necessary for the temporary interment of remains pending transportation under this chapter to a designated cemetery, the Secretary concerned may acquire, and provide for the maintenance of, grave sites in commercial cemeteries, or he may acquire the right to use such grave sites for burial purposes. If the death occurs outside the United States and a temporary commercial grave site is not available on a reasonable basis, the Secretary may acquire land, or the right to use land, necessary for the temporary interment of the remains under this chapter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 14875:2159 (as applicable to armed forces).July 15, 1954, ch. 507, § 9 (as applicable to armed forces), 68 Stat. 480. The words “as authorized by this chapter, section 103a(c) of this Title, and section 224 of Title 42”, “by purchase or otherwise”, “care and”, and “single or multiple” are omitted as surplusage. The word “continental” is omitted as covered by the definition of “United States” in section 101(1) of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 1487
Title 10, Armed Forces
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102