of assistance the circumstances demanded. Often the re-
quest for aid was made direct to the chapter by the family,
at times short-circuiting trouble before it could worry the
soldier.

COMMUNICATION SERVICE

The Red Cross under special circumstances helped count-
less relatives of servicemen establish contact with men in
the field when other means failed. As authorized by medical
officers, it supplemented military communications regard-
ing the seriously sick and wounded, and gave the family
additional details about a man’s illness or death.

Home Service lessened the strain of war for relatives of
servicemen and other civilians by transmitting through the
International Red Cross Committee messages and inquiries
to and from persons in enemy or occupied countries. Greet-
ings and family information were exchanged; illnesses,
marriages, and deaths were reported; missing persons were
located.

HOSPITAL SERVICE

As an adjunct of the Medical Departments of the Army
and Navy, as prescribed by congressional charter and their
regulations, the Red Cross was active in military and naval
hospitals in the United States and in all theaters of
operations.

Red Cross hospital workers saw the wounded soldier or
sailor as soon as he was evacuated from the field of battle.
They gave assistance to the men in maintaining commu-
nication with their families. They resolved worries caused
by personal difficulties which threatened to retard recovery.
Above all they helped crippled men face the future con-
fidently; in group and individual discussions they gave
knowledge of the extensive benefits offered by federal and
state governments—pensions, vocational training, and op-
portunities for future employment in civil life.

In the wards volunteer Gray Ladies here and Red Cross
staff aides overseas talked with patients, wrote their letters,
did shopping and other errands, played games, or read
aloud—and made the clock tick faster. Other workers gave

eed