The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-11-07
Red Cross Helps
Solve Problems
Of Our Recruits
Through Its Directors in
Camps Red Cross Links
Men With Home

Washington, D. G. - On the home
and military fronts the American Red
Cross is turning its focus on the man
in uniform. In his behalf, more than
10000 nurses are being recruited.
Volunteers are donating their blood
for huge plasma bank. Red Cross
women in chapters throughout the
country are making 100000 surgical
dressings, and knitting sweaters for
men in outlying posts and sailors on
patrol.
But these are just fragments Of the
story. In military and naval stations,
the Red Cross is concerning itself with
the personal problems of the service
man, helping him adjust himself to
military life. For the disabled, the Red
Cross is on the job In service hospi-
tails, helping to speed recovery Of the
sick through q morale-building pro-
gram.
In mobilizing 2,0oo,o0o-man fight
ing force, the personal problems Of the
able-bodied man in uniform have in
turn become problems Of the morale
divisions. Red Cross field directors
stationed in all camps and reserva-
tions have been entrusted with the
task Of helping to solve these prob
lens.
Speaking in nationwide broadcast
recently, Chief of Star Marshall, Of
the Army, addressed the following
words to Red Cross field directors:
when you help straighten out any
Of the great variety Of tangles that hu-
man beings seem unable to avoid, you
are helping to maintain morale on the
home front and on the military front;
you are helping us In training for de-
fense."
The disabled man in a service hos.
pital also can look to the Red Cross
for help in speeding recovery. Medical
social workers, trained for their spe-
cialized assignment, are on duty ct
Army general and Navy hospitals to
aid service physicians. to act as q
medium Of communication with the
families Of hospitalized men and to
conduct recreational programs for con.
valescents.
The Red Cross provides recreational
service for patients in all Army and
Navy hospitals. Sixty-five new hospi-
tails are under construction by the
Army, and their recreation buildings
are being equipped and stated by the
Red Cross as each one opens.
As part Of the Army and Navy
safety programs, members Of the ma
tional Red Cross star are qualifying
instructors in First Aid and Water
Safety among the ranks Of the enlisted
man. Instructors taught by the Red
Cross in turn conduct classes on the
reservations.
The number of Army and Navy
cases assisted by Red Cross field direc-
tors has increased in volume 140 per
cent since Selective Service has been
In operation. During the past year
126,515 cases involving active service
men have been handled in the camps.
The Red Cross recently made avail
able $1,000,000 to meet an emergency
need for athletic equipment for the
Army and Navy. This need arose when
Government appropriations for the
purpose became exhausted.
IN addition to providing the Army
and Navy with an official reservoir Of
nurses, the Red Cross il cataloging
the nations medical technologists.
Through this program, in which ap-
proximately 5000 technicians have
registered, the Army and Navy will
select such professional personnel a.
laboratory workers, dietitians, den.
tai technicians, pharmacists and other
categories Of trained technologists.