Red Cross rep in WWII?

12/27/04 | ExSoldier's Father in Law

[ExSoldier]

Son, I hold the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross (three awards), the Silver Star and I've been credited with seventeen air to air kills in the Pacific Theatre while flying with both the Black Sheep and Blackburns Irregulars. I'm here to tell you that to this day: I HATE THE RED CROSS!!!

Why, dad?

Because they charged us for everything we ever got from them. Didn't matter if it was a bar of soap, a razor or a candy bar, if the Red Cross provided it in a combat zone, the men who did the dyin' paid cash money! I won't take squat from them to this day. I sure won't give 'em anything, either!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

II.Myths about World War II

A.The Red Cross sold cigarettes, blankets, and other "comfort" items during WWII. The truth: if cigarettes or other such items that were designated as ?free? were sold, it was illegal and in violation of Red Cross policy. It is believed that a few unscrupulous people did sell those items provided by the Red Cross, but it was for personal gain, not to help the Red Cross. In addition, Red Cross could not control items given to a serviceman then sold by the service member to others.

Liars. Filthy liars.

Do they think our WWII vets are stupid, and couldn't figure out who was charging for things? Give me a break.

[reformedliberal]

I have been told by people who were then teenagers that in the 1950s, in southern Illinois, the Red Cross charged for coffee for volunteers sandbagging the levees . It was only a dime, but often, no one had even a dime on them and this was during an emergency.

We give to the Salvation Army, only.

[TommyUdo]

This sentiment is echoed by many a former soldier, including myself.

The Salvation Army gave me a very nice bag of essential stuff (Bible, soap, razor, pen, writing paper, etc.) while I was standing in line with what seemed like several million other GI's at the Overseas Replacement Station at Fort Dix in 1969. They had done this very act once nine months earlier at my "Induction Station."

Earlier that week I had the occasion to ask the Red Cross in NYC for $3.00 so I could make a bus to this rendezvous, as I was 19, out of money, and close to AWOL (spare me the lectures). They refused to "loan" it to me because I was not assigned to any unit other than USARV and couldn't give them my CO's name so they could chase me down in case I "defaulted." Finally some nice lady who felt sorry for a poor SP4 from the wrong side of the tracks in the Big City slipped me a Five Spot. (After treating me to a Heavenly Chocolate Malted at the Port Authority.)

I've always donated to the Salvation Army since then. The Red Cross can stuff it.

[Coldwater Creek]

My Husband was on a medivac flight from Germany to the US, and the Red Cross offered the patients coffee and donuts. No one on that flight had a penny with them and the Red Cross said to bad that they had to charge. There was never a good word uttered again about the American Red Cross, and my Husband will not let us give them one dime and tells everyone that will listen not to either.

[pt17]

My late father, who went through the entire Pacific theatre, up to and including the occupation of Japan, absolutely detested the Red Cross. According to him, they charged rediculous prices for coffee, donuts, etc., looked down on enlisted men and seemed to be in it for themselves.

[OldFriend]

Not new to me. Heard this long ago and heard it again during Viet Nam.

Even when a soldier flies home due to a death in the family, the Red Cross charges them.

[optimistically_conservative]

I heard that the Red Cross required servicemen to pay for coffee and donuts during World War II. Is that true?

While it is true, the reasons for it are not well-known. All English and Australian men in uniform had to pay for off-base food and lodging because voluntary giving (which is characteristic of the United States) was not the pattern in other countries. The Red Cross was asked by the government to establish club facilities for U.S. servicemen overseas where troops for Allied forces would be welcome. The British high command then made an official request that U.S. servicemen be required to pay for whatever they received, just as the British and Australians had to pay. The Red Cross was adamantly opposed to this concept and protested vehemently. They lost the fight, however, when a letter of "request" came from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to Norman H. Davis, Chairman of the American Red Cross on March 20, 1942. His letter was tantamount to a command with which the Red Cross complied. The organization has been living with the ramifications of this request ever since.

[Coldwater Creek]

All of these are not myths. Our experience was with coffee, donuts, cigarettes. This was not during WW11, but during the cold war.

[freecopper01]

I'm glad you can remember the Lady with the five-spot and that wonderful Heavenly Chocolate Malted! It's a wonder, insn't it, what angels are dropped into our live!

[green peanut]

Yup......I was a young boy durning WW2, but both of my uncles told me the same thing. One served in Europe, the other in the Pacific.

They said they would never give to the Red Cross. Red Cross CHARGED the GIs for EVERYTHING.

[kimosabe31]

Wow...you sure stirred up a tempest with this red cross thing. But it's a great post "Ex". I can only add that my two uncles who served in WWII both came home really pissed at the rc because rc was charging the troops for cigarettes while the SA gave them away for free. Apparently from the responses you're getting, the rc has been scamming the troops from as early as WWI. Imagine what they must charge for a pint of donated blood.

Well, they have to keep their exec limo fleet running.

[dandelion]

Here's the only excerpt from the Stimson letter I can find re: Red Cross...

http://www.saredcross.org/pdf/winter2003.pdf

"The War Department appreciates the motive of the Red Cross with respect to this matter and its established policy of free service, but under the circumstances it is believed impractical, unnecessary and undesirable that food and lodging be furnished free. It is believed advisable that American soldiers be required to pay at least the actual cost of meals and lodging furnished for their convenience and benefits while on furlough."

According to this excerpt, the payments were supposed to apply ONLY to MEALS and LODGING for men on FURLOUGH - and it was merely advised, not DIRECTED.

They charged for EVERYTHING. FOR EVERYONE, regardless of where they were, and they put it out there right in front of them where they could see it but couldn't have it unless they paid for it. If the Red Cross' own literature is to be believed, then they did ask for pay, and they were not DIRECTED to do so. Case closed.

[IndependantVoter]

I have no idea if what you say about the Red Cross then is true are not but I am sure your father would not have lied to you about his experiences.But I saw the Red Cross and its mostly volunteers who do the work spend every night during the hurricane season here in Florida do an outstanding job of servicing the needy etc. At the local level which is really the heart of the Red Cross so much is done for people that are in need that it would be impossible to tell you everything they do. They do not charge for anything. I would suggest volunteering and seeing how much they do help before judging their present day services. In general the paid staffed at the local areas are overworked and underpaid but they do the job out of the same caring heart that you say you have for yours.

[investigateworld]

Post # 13 answers the question. It was his experience that pay checks never caught with with him, hence he couldn't even buy a cup. He always stated he wouldn't give them the steam of his p#ss. My experience was limited to 1970 to 1972. The Salvation Army did give us toiletries.

[Rebelbase]

My dad spent 3 weeks as a Red Cross volunteer last year helping in Eastern NC after Hurricane Isabel.

Everything was given away free according to him.

[Tripoli]

You are correct. It was so when I served during 1952-1955. It was also true during WWI in France, where my gramps served.

The Salvation Army was always there for the soldier, though.

[TommyUdo]

Yes, I was in love with NYC and the people there before this. It just cemented the deal.

The people were unfailingly nice to me. I stayed at the Waldorf for cheap. Got free or reduced rate tickets to stuff, (Circle Line, Empire State, etc.) and finally this nice lady.

[optimistically_conservative]

The "Coffee & Doughnuts" Issue

War Department Letter
March 1942

Mr. Norman H. Davis
Chairman
American National Red Cross
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. Davis:

United States military authorities in Great Britain have requested the Red Cross to establish clubs in certain cities in that area with a view to providing, as circumstances dictate, sleeping accommodations and meals in addition to the usual recreational facilities. The provision of food and lodging for enlisted personnel while on furlough, and at prices within their means, is a most important recreational facility, as many soldiers cannot otherwise avail themselves of leave privileges. Red Cross officials appear to be reluctant to provide these accommodations, except on a basis of no charge to servicemen, unless specifically requested by the Commanding General in that area to provide them at some cost to the recipients.

The War Department appreciates the motive of the Red Cross with respect to this matter and its established policy of free serve, but under the circumstances it is believed impractical, unnecessary, and undesirable that food and lodging be furnished free. It is understood that all similar allied clubs in the British Isles make suitable charges for this particular service. It is believed advisable that American soldiers be required to pay at least the actual cost of meals and lodging furnished for their convenience and benefit while on furlough. Such procedure is considered a sound business arrangement and conforms to local practice. It is therefore believed that such procedure should be adopted because of its merit rather than because the local military commander requests that charges be made for the proposed services.

The War Department Recommends that the Red Cross authorities in the British Isles be authorized to provide these services at such cost as they deem appropriate.

Sincerely yours

Henry L. Stimson

Secretary of War

[GretchenM]

I didn't know this and am glad to read the nine follow-up posts confirming the thread. It surely makes choosing an organization to donate to a lot simpler.

What a kick in the pants to our GI's.

[kimosabe31]

Was the Salvation Army not similarly ordered by Stimson??