Pocahontas star herald., 1926-12-16
VETERANS STILL aHS
need RED CROSS
Aid to Disabled Men Increases
as Problems and Legislation
Bring Complications.
10000 MEN DIE EACH YEAR
Many Entitled to Benefits Still
uniformed of lust Claims
to Compensation.

Eight years after the World War
finds service to disabled veterans still
major responsibility of the Ameri-
can Red Cross.
This situation is due to the increas-
ing problems involved and the com
plex character of veteran legislation.
There is also an increase in numbers
Of death cases" handled, as COM
pared with claims for living veterans,
though the work for the latter re-
mains heavy. About 10000 ex-service
men are dying each year, consider
able percentage of these having serv-
ice-connected disabilities.
In majority of cases, Red Cross
Chapters find their assistance is need
ed in helping dependents present
their claims for death compensation,
insurance payments, bonus, burial al
lowancss, and other government ben
efits due them. An episode of the
past year illustrates the difficulties
frequently encountered by the Red
Cross experts in rendering such as
sistance. A veteran dying from serv-
ice-connected disease, was trying from
his bedside to establish at that late
time his claim for Government aid to
his family. and the necessary proofs
were in a physician's records across
the continent from him. To obtain
the needed affidavits before 1t was too
late, cross-continent airplane fight
was necessary, then a Red Cross
Chapter in Pennsylvania hurried the
Investigation. sending the papers
back to the veteran and his Red
Cross helpers in oregon, by air-mail.
1t reached there In time.
Another discovery In Red Cross as
sistance to veterans and their fami-
lies is that many dependents OF these
men unquestionably entitled to Gov
ernment aid. have struggled along,
ignorant of their rights.
approximately 2.6S6 Red Cross Chap
tiers carry on Home Service work, in
assistance to veterans and their dam.
ilies. The Chapstrs also conduct
campaign among veterans for rein
statement and conversion of their
term insurance. Among its other du-
ties the Red Cross assumed at the
request of the Canadian Government
the administration of fund allotted
to the care of Canadian disabled vet
erans living in the United States.
In the United States the Red Cross
assisted an average of about 10000
disabled veterans and their families
every month in the past fiscal year.
Indicating the size of this undertake
ing. National Headquarters OF the
Red Cross expended S1,641, 1878 on
disabled veterans alone, and $685..
45172 on assistance to men on active
duty with the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps. while Red Cross local Chap
ters expended a total Of s1,9S7, 900.
Red Cross assistance to service men
overshadowed every other phase OF
its program, even its disaster relief.
uutll the 1OIlud HulilCdhc.
Help for veterans covers many de-
mands, from temporary aid until Gov
ernment claims are adjusted or until
the ex-soldier is properly hospitalized.
to extending capital loans to rehabili-
tated veterans endeavoring to become
self-supporting in business. Several
such capital loans were to blind vet
erans.
Contact with veterans in hospitals
is maintained by Red Cross personnel
which doctors agree influences the
veterans welfare and improvement
The Veterans Bureau was planned
to carry on social work in its hospi
tails for mental cases, and in many
cases the Government and the Red
Cross are cooperating for the welfare
of the men suffering war disabilities
The public is invited to assist this
work by joining the Red Cross during