[DreamWeaver]

I don't know why, but MANY vets of WW11 ( my father, a Marine, included) had nothing good to say about the Red Cross and would never give them a dime. How about any of you older vets out there, do you have any input as to why ? I never knew why, but many had bad experiences with the RC.

[Mo1]

I don't know why, but MANY vets of WW11 ( my father, a Marine, included) had nothing good to say about the Red Cross

I have heard that also .. but I don't know for sure ... something about how the Red Cross treated the Vets

[zip]

How about any of you older vets out there, do you have any input as to why

Try this one. My 8 month pregnant wife, my 2 year son and I were in the military and sent to Maryland (from California) for temporary duty and my pay records were "lost". I went to the RC and was offered 20 dollars with the stipulation it HAD TO be repaid within 30 days regardless of circumstances. After I stormed out of that meeting, I found out about the Army Emergency Relief Fund and got 200 dollars and only had to sign an allotment form taht kicked in AFTER my records were brought up to date. (November 1965) I've got a long memory.

[uncbob]

I don't know why, but MANY vets of WW11 ( my father, a Marine, included) had nothing good to say about the Red Cross and would never give them a dime. How about any of you older vets out there, do you have any input as to why ? I never knew why, but many had bad experiences with the RC.

Hell it goes back further than that .My mother used to tell me my uncle and the other vets from WWI hated the RED CROSS. She said the group they liked the most was the SALVATION ARMY. I never forgot that

[jimtorr]

I don't know why, but MANY vets of WW11 ( my father, a Marine, included) had nothing good to say about the Red Cross and would never give them a dime. How about any of you older vets out there, do you have any input as to why ? I never knew why, but many had bad experiences with the RC.

The only thing my father would ever say about his experiences with the RC during WW2 in the Pacific was that enlisted folks were allowed to buy coffee and doughnuts while officers were given free food and entertainment.

[jackliberty]

I've always defended the RC concerning the charges of selling coffee and donuts to GI's. There have been rumors of that since WWII, Korea and Vietnam. My only coffee line with them had a can that was clearly marked Donations, and nobody was obligated to give. Nobody I ever met claimed that he (in the old days, soldiers were he's) had to give money for the coffee. I've always regarded the charge as urban legend.

Also, on the bright side, 2 men I knew in Vietnam received compassionate reassignments back to the States due in part to the RC's efforts.

That being said, my feelings now are: They used to be good and now they suck.

[itsahoot]

When General Maxwel Taylor a 4 star general, retired, I think
it was in the late 40's, he took the reins of the Red Cross
at a small salary of $100,000.00 a year. I figured right then
that they didn't need my money. The President of the
United States salary was $25,000.00 at the time.

[maxwellp]

Well, my father was overseas in WWI - he was fifty when I was born. Anyway, I was working for a company when they asked us to contribute to the Red Cross. I mentioned it at dinner and my father went crazy. He told me that the Red Cross was charging mega bucks for the soldiers who wanted cigarets. He said they were a very crooked organization. Fast forward to another company I was working for years later. My boss told me he was collecting money for the Red Cross in his Westchester, NY town and approached a butcher shop. The butcher, who was overseas in WWII, threw him out screaming about what a bunch of bastards the Red Cross was and how lousy they treated the GI's then. I donated to the Red Cross after 9/11, but never again. I should have listened to my father.

[Budge]

Don't know if anyone has completly answered your "why?", but here is another.

During WW II and the Korean war, servicemen going on leave from the front were greeted at the R&R centers and sold them coffee and donuts. Back where it was nice and safe!

The Salvation Army, on the other hand would distribute coffee, donuts, sandwiches, whatever was available at the front lines, where shooting was going on, and for free!

Any other oldtimers want to back me up on this?