The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-03
GOOD SAMARITAN
Home Service of Red Cross
Helps Soldiers.
Many of Soldiers Troubles
Adjusted.
EX-GOVERNOR HODGES HERE
sold Man From Colorado" a
Typical Case.
Red Cross Always Glad To
Help Boys.
(From Trench and, Camp

tFrom Trench and Camp
''The good Samaritan" voices every
man in the great army of the United
States when the home service section,
that wonderful welcome branch of the
American Red Cross, is brought forth
as a topic for discussion. OF all
branches, the home service section has
done more to mitigate the troubles of
the American soldier than any other
one. The service record of this de-
partment may be termed immaculate
and sublimely glorious.
A Busy Place.
Right here in Camp Funston one of
is the headquarters of the American
Red Cross. along the Golden Belt high
way Here is the place where the SOL
der lad can find solution to his, trou-
bles back home, in all probability
brought on his family or parents thru
his sacrifice to serve his colors. IN
this dingy little quarters any doubts
as to the fidelity of the government
are speedily ironed out. Not only
does Uncle Sam take every precaution
to safeguard his fighting men, but he
watches over the soldiers homes as
an eagle guards its nest on some high,
ragged cliff. One thing that consti-
tutes a goodly portion of the back
bone in an army is morale. And this
government knows that to keep the
army morale at the highest percentage
possible, the homes of the fighting
men must be carefully guarded, too.
Ex-Governor Hodges in Charge.
The efficiency of the home service
section in this cantonment is unex-
celled. ex-governor of Kansas, Geo.
H. Hodges, is field director of the
American Red Cross here. The for
mer chief executive of this state en-
tered upon his duties at this camp
four weeks ago. INV. Frank Cum
bingham, assistant field director, Mr..
Hodges has a most worthy lieutenant.
The motto of the American Red Cross
headquarters is: Brings us your
troubles, laddie, well fix EN-
All Kind of Cases.
Cases of all sorts, kinds and descrip-
lions are threshed out daily by the
home service section. Each and every
case brought to attention in this de-
p-rtment is given the ninutest inves-
tigation, because the American Red
Cross wants nothing to go unraveled
when one of Uncle Sans fighting men
is concerned. The high recognition
this branch has earned came thru
faultless duty. Almost every day
brings somewhat new problem for
solution. However, case after case is
typical of each other. And nearly
every one tends to the TROUBLES back
home of some soldier. who. himself,
leyiate or Wis out the cause without
aid. Here's where the home service
branch steps into the linelight to come
thru with a requisite maneuver to
make things run smoothly, where a
short time before, perhaps, a cog in
the family machinery at home refused
to function properly. There is no
such word as can't with the American
Red Cross workers.
A Typical Case.
A typical case, one of the "old man
from Colorado" is an example of the
efficiency of the home service sec
ton. This story was brought out of
representative of this paper was
eavesdropping during a conversation
! between two Red Cross workers.
Here's the story:
The other day a loyal man, so years
old, came into the Red Cross head
quarters to secure solace for his back
home" troubles, which, from the mans
appearance, were carrying the fruits to
lessen his morale and good faith in
the United States government. He
said he was stationed in the ordnance
department as a boilermaker and that
his home was in Colorado, where he
had been demonstrating.
| Then the "old man. went on to re-
late how he enlisted in the army when
tie government issued a call for
o
and so, leaving his wife and three
small children on the homestead yet to
be proved and many miles from the
nearest town. Two of his brothers
were in the country's service when the
"old man. enlisted. Despite of the
duties he owed his family, he thought
that Uncle Sam required his service,
the outcome being he was soon in
Camp Funston working at his old
trade. Then his troubles began. One
of his brothers went overseas and to
the fighting line. The other. a physi-
clan, fell victim to influenza at a port
of embarkation and died.
Family Needed Help.
Letters from his wife told him of
the heavy SHOWS in Colorado and how
the family were nearing poverty on his
unimproved homestead. Finally he
received word that his wife had been
taken ILL His 10-year-ord son braveIy
tried to take care of he stock and the
farm. When next he learned about
his family they were poverty-stricken
ard barely existing in a small town,
many miles from the homestead. In
SINE manner or other the small boy
| had brouht his ailing mother to the
tt WI SO she could secure medical at
tention.
After depicting his plight, the
man broke down and cried. Cant the
good American Red Cross do some
/ thing for my family?" he asked be-
/ tween sobs. He was assured every
thing available would be done to re-
| lieve his suffering family. With this
assurance the "oId man" came to him.
] self again, Strengthened up in SOL
| dierly manner, thanked his promised
benefactors and returned to his bar
racks a much relieved man.
Immediately the machinery of the
home service branch investigated the
case. The Colorado Red Cross was
notified to look after the mans family.
1t was not very long before the good
| Samaritan" organization had given the
| "old mans family financial assis-
lance and stocked up their home with
| foodstuffs And the Red Cross will
watch eagerly over his home until his
jallotments come thru rom Washing
/ ton. And the odd man. is happy
! he hi 70 r,aiIx, x.-fII ~