Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-30
RED CROSS HOME SERVICE
TAKES SOLDIERS PLACE

Helping to keep the fighting man in
trim is one Of the important tasks of
the Home Serv Of the American
Red Cross, although it is so fire.
quently accomplished by indirect
methods.
Typical of the problems which
must be met is that of young soldier
at one of the Southern camps who
wrote pathetic appeal to a Congress
man from his state, who in his turn
sought the aid of the Home Service.
The soldier bagan his letter with
an apology for seeking the help Of the
Representative, but confessed that his
troubles we're great AS he phrased
1t. I have got my hands overloaded. :"
Just after he had enlisted in the
army his wife was burned SO badly
with boiling grease that her left eye
was completely blinded. This had
left her also in a miserable state Of
health, timtd and dependent.
She is an orphan" he writes.
Having no education. no parents or
relations at all with the exception Of
myself to take care Of her"
He had gone home to get her finally
and was taking her from camp to
camp as he had been moved several
times. Conditions were bad, espe-
eially for her in her weakened con
dition and the doctor mad said that
upon her return home to ways of set
tied abode and comfort depended not
only her own life but probably that of
her fiYeyear-old child as well
So the distraught husband pleads
with his congressman that he be
given furlough to go home with his
little family, see that she may be
placed safely there. and leave her
again with peace OF mind for both Of
them.
4 will be more use to the govern
ment and my country If | am allowed
to do this he urges But. with quick
alarm. lest he be misunderstood. he
adds, Il am no Stacker and no traitor
TO my country or my God. Only let
me be discharged long enough to do
this and / can come back and fight
better against the ugly enemy"
He had given up his business and
Lis home to enlist and fight, and three
of his brothers are in the army so that
proof had been given he felt, that the
members Of the family were all true
and loyal Americans.
With a final expression of his de-
Ivotion to his country's cause, but q
strong hope that he might be spared
from duty long enough to save the
lives OF his wife and child, he signed
himself as private of Field Artil
lery.
The Congressman to whom the let
ter was addressed wrote the soldier
that his furlough must come through
the officers Of his company, but, dem
onstrating his faith in the Red Cross
he sent another letter to the Director
of Civilian Relief asking that tn,
Home Service take such measures al
were possible for the relief OF tn,
wife
Immediately letter went from tn,
national headquarters of the Homt
Service to the Director of the Division
who communicated as quickly Will
the camp director A visitor will cal
on the family Medical care encour
agement advice and, if necessary.
loan or gift of money will be pro
vided. If the case proves to be as re
ported, the matter will be referred t.
the Home Service workers in thu
home town OF the little family an,
all through the war, so long as tn,
husband must be absent, no matte
where they are living. the welfar
of the woman and her child will be
sacred charge,
UNIFORMS TO FIT MEN
Hereafter the uniform will fit tn,
man Instead Of the man trying to f
the uniform, according to the Quar-
termaster Corps. A new tariff o
sizes of uniforms has been WORKED
out by the Clothing and Equjpag
Division and it provides for not onl
tho regular sized clothing, but specia
sizes for longs, shorts and stouts
Get your proper size.