Evening star., 1942-08-16
Soldiers Praise
Aid Given Them
By Red Cross
Man in Ranks
Tells of Sincere
Gratitude
Continued From Page D-1)

done for the servicemen in Wash
ington is tale far too long to relate
in these pages, but the sentiments
of the men are best exemplif1ed by
the statement of their commander,
Col E. w. Undertake:
Our first friends in Washington
were the volunteer workers Of the
District Red Cross" Col. Timber
lake asserted. From the first cold
night when my command took over
the defense of the city to the pres
ent time, our men on all outposts
have received coffee and dough-
nuts nightly from the mobile cam
teen. warm sweaters from the pro-
duction corps and very pleasant
smiles from all the Red Gross
workers.
The production workers have
equipped all our men with woolen
helmets, sweaters, gloves and socks.
The workers who visit these men
realize better than 1 can ever write
how deeply they appreciated this
extra knitted equipment. All men
needing mending, buttons and chew
rons sewed on, etc, have been cared
for and are being cared for by the
production workers.
The recreation center which the
Red Cross furnished and operates
for the men of my command, is an
outstanding example Of the spirit
of service for which the Red Cross
has always been famous. The staff
assistants have worked diligently to
provide my men with complimentary
passes to the points of interest and
entertainment in our Nations Cap
ital. They have assisted the men
In many of their most troublesome
problems. The canteen at the rec
reation center, operated by the cam
teen corps, is the commands favor
tie gathering place and accommo-
dates thousands of men weekly. Here
the men enjoy coffee and dough-
nuts or homemade cake while dis
cussing the events of the moment.
"The American Red Cross has
appointed a field director to serve
my command. Thousands OF prob
lens concerning the serviceman
and his family back home are
placed on his shoulders. For ex-
ample, if a soldier is worried about
his mothers health. we ask the
field director to enlist the services
of the home service department OF
the Red Cross in the mans home
town, which may be hundreds o1
miles from Washington. The field
director supplies us with full re-
port. We can then determine If we
should give that man leave to go tt
his mother. Possibly temporary
loan or a grant from the Red Cross
will relieve the situation. Whatever
the solution, the morale of that SOL
dier is infinitely bettered when he
knows there is permanent protec-
tive connecting link between him
and his family.
THE Gray Ladies have provided
games for the men and have done
much to keep up the spirit of the
men. Their weekly dances have be-
come a high light in our recreation
program.
IT really feel that the ladies Of
the Red Cross are responsible to 8
large extent for the very high morale
OF the men of the anti-aircraft
command. This command has beer
inspected by over 50 high-rankine
officers of the Army and Navy anC
dignitaries of the Federal Govern
fnent and we never fail to point Out
to them the splendid job the Rec
Cross is doing here.
Many of the workers Of the rec.
reation center have helped me gree
general officers of the United State!
Army as we'll as officers from otheI
armies fighting for the Alliet
cause. Not one of our Inspector
or guests has ever failed to be i'm
pressed by the work of the Ret
Cross.
"The Red Cross has also furnished
80 other outpost, battery and bat
talon recreation centers Throughout
the command. The District motto
corps has furnished transportation
to the great many outlying outpost
within a radius of 25 miles of tn
Capital, for the various Red Cros
canteen, production and staff work
ers, both by day and by night in al
kinds of weather.
There has not been case wher
we have called upon the Red Cros
-lv,s = Il
comfort and recreation Of the me-