| Bloodmobile chairmen and volunteers hear it. Donor Resources Development consultants hear it. Nearly every day someone in Red Cross hears the story of how American servicemen were asked to pay for coffee and donuts during World War II. The story has even appeared in Ann Landers' columns. The fact is that the policy to charge for refreshments served in American Red Cross clubs in 'rear areas" was ordered by then Secretary of War Henry B. Stimson in 1942. Over the protests of Red Cross officials, Stimson decided American soldiers should pay for their Red Cross meals, just as their Allied counterparts did at English and Australian clubs. However, coffee, donuts and other food served at the front lines remained free. Red Cross did not charge for comfort articles distributed to soldiers or for snacks served by clubmobiles. If these items were sold, it was done illegally or in ignorance. Nevertheless, hard feelings over the situation persist. "The story and the emotions are always there in the background," Linda Wigness, Donor Resources Development Director, said. "Sometimes people even use it as an excuse not to give blood, because they have bad feelings about Red Cross. We see the story being passed on to another generation." The best defense, Linda said, is to reiterate the facts about the situation and to show the positive work of the Red Cross during the war. Between 1941 and 1946 American Red Cross collected and spent about S380 million for military and naval relief to American armed forces. To support this effort, it purchased 1.5 billion cigarettes, 31 million packages of chewing gum, 17 million decks of playing cards, 121 million razor blades and 58 million pounds of donut flour. General MacArthur, Admiral Halsey and General Eisenhower all praised the American Red Cross for its dedication to helping soldiers and its valuable relief work. It was also discovered during polls of servicemen that, although many had heard others express dissatisfaction with Red Cross, those with firsthand experience with Red Cross were very positive about the organization. Bill Schock, editor of the Falls City, (Neb.) Journal, was one of those who knew the Red Cross' work firsthand during the war. Bill was a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I a camp in extreme northern Germany. Red Cross parcels of crackers, raisins, coffee, salmon and chocolate bars served as food for the body and the soul. The arrival of the Red Cross boxes was a terrific emotional lift for the prisoners of war, serving as a much- needed link with the outside world," Bill said. "They showed us that somebody cared." When delivery of the parcels was interrupted. Bill's German captors told the prisoners American fighter pilots were shooting at the trains carrying the goods. The boxes became pawns in emotional warfare. But the prisoners were not fooled. "I feel that I owe my life to the Red Cross parcels which arrived at Stalag Luft I." Bill said. "I can't say enough good things about what they meant to me."
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Also, I can clearly remember my Dad (USMC 42-45) telling me the same thing about the Red Cross in the Pacific theater.
Salvation Army, USO's (stateside), and Hollywood were the great supporters of the troops in WWII and KW.
Drop in to any VFW (very soon...before it is too late) and just ask around.
Stimson was long gone and I believe dead by then.