Kimphil, I think that the Clinton reference was to when the flight suit etc was found, 5 years later, which would be during the Clinton administration, but I admit to being very hazy on pretty much all details of the story because I basically didn't watch TV in High School or college (making me an oldie too, 10th grade).
As far as the pay and benefits for family. If a servicemember (SNM) is KIA then the family will receive 55% of 75% of the highest pay the SNM ever received and maintain commissary and medical benefits until the surviving spouse remarries (these benefits are also received if SNM dies for any reason that isn't considered negligent, so a car accident, kids will receive until adulthood if spouse dies and kids get additional educational benefits). If MIA then they would continue to receive all regular benefits. I'm sure that when they changed his status the gave his spouse/family any money that they were due. I'm not sure how long CAPT Speicher was in before the gulf war, but the average timeline for promotion is:
LTJG 2yr service
LT 4yr service
LCDR 10yr 6mo service
CDR 15yr 7mo service
CAPT 21yr 9mo service
If he was already a LCDR when shot down then he would probably be a CAPT 12 yrs later anyway.
Missy (feeling old) IT1 type