FRIENDLY SERVICE
Red Cross service to the men and women of our armed

forces on active duty encompassed a great variety of wel-
fare activities related to the man’s life as an individual.

It concerned his personal troubles, his leisure time, and
his comfort.

Major among all was work designed to cope with con-
ditions causing the man to worry. Whether the worry
arose from adjustment of the individual to military life
or the common, day-by-day human difficulties, the Red
Cross field force was prepared to listen attentively and act
promptly. Frequently the trouble was cleared by dis-
cussion of the problem with the field director. When ap-
proved by his commanding officer, grants or loans were
made to meet a man’s pressing needs. If the situation in-
volved other persons, satisfactory settlement of the diff-
culty was sought. If trouble or the fear of trouble at home
caused worry, a telegram or cable to the Home Service
staff in the local Red Cross chapter brought prompt action
and a quick report to relieve the man’s mind.

These home troubles ran the whole range of human ex-
perience—childbirth, sickness, injury, death, loss of family
income, loss or damage to home, trouble with the law,
marital difficulties.

At the request of a commanding officer, the Red Cross
confirmed home conditions for his decision on discharge
or furlough.

Caring for the families of sol-
diers and ex-servicemen in dis-
tress and in any crisis where they
might request aid was a para-
mount duty of Home Service,
whose workers were available 24
hours a day in the 3,756 local
Red Cross chapters. If re-
quired, immediate financial help
was given. Or the facts were re-
ferred to the public or private
agency in the community or-
| ganized to give the special type

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