[jackliberty]

Maybe I was just lucky, but my only contact with the ARC (and knowledge of 2 other individuals' contact) fell in the "gee, they're a wonderful group" category. My only coffee line was waiting to board ship for Vietnam (1965) and "Donations" were purely voluntary. 2 compassionate reassignments back to the States that I knew about were feathers in the ARC cap.

Thanks to all for straightening me out. It appears the ARC has been a despicable group since way before 9/11. My experiences may have been the exception, not the rule.

[jrewingjr]

I was speaking to a WW2 vet today and he got a disgusted look on his face when I asked him about the Red Cross, and he concurred with the other vets here who had nothing but bad to say about them. He laughed out loud when I told him about sending them Monopoly money.

He and his relatives, he said, had nothing but praise for the Salvation Army and all that THEY did for the troops.

[DreamWeaver]

It appears the ARC has been a despicable group since way before 9/11. My experiences may have been the exception, not the rule.

The more I hear from vets the more I feel your experience was the exception and not the rule as you say. Just ask around of some older vets and you will see.