FAQs
What was the role of the American Red Cross during World War II?
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- Provided emergency communication between members of the armed forces and their families
- Recruited 104,456 registered nurses and certified them for the military
- Collected 13.4 million pints of blood for military patients
- Assembled and shipped nearly 28 million food and medicine parcels for U.S. and Allied prisoners of war
- Provided war relief supplies for 75 million civilians overseas
- Carried on extensive relief and rehabilitation programs for the civilian war victims
- Stockpiled plasma from the new Red Cross Blood Donor Service for the armed forces. Red Cross blood was used immediately at hospitals near the bombing of Pearl Harbor to save the first of many lives over the next four years
- Overseas, thousands of American Red Cross workers operated recreation clubs and clubmobiles in rest and recreation areas or provided compassionate services for the troops they accompanied
- Red Cross caseworkers and recreation staff were attached to military hospitals, hospital ships, and hospital trains
What is the role of Red Cross workers with the military in time of conflict?
The Red Cross mission is to keep the American people in touch with their family members serving in the armed forces. To accomplish this work, Red Cross workers deploy on assignment with military forces to keep the communication link operational around the clock and around the globe. Other Red Cross services are made available to military personnel on an as needed basis just as they are in the civilian communities.
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Why doesn't the American Red Cross provide the same services for the public as if does to members of the armed forces?
With the exception of emergency communication services, the Red Cross does provide the same services to both military and civilian populations.
Military service is unique, frequently separating families for extended periods of time and often placing loved ones in harms way. Red Cross emergency communication services keep families in this unique situation connected when a problem develops back home.
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Assisting the American people to communicate with their family members serving in the Armed Forces was a mandate from the U.S. Congress to the American Red Cross many years ago.
Family emergencies requiring the presence of a military service member begin back home with the death/serious illness of a father, mother, or grandparent. Once the local Red Cross has verified all details relating to the emergency, information is sent to the service member who may be stationed anywhere worldwide. The family may want this information shared with military commands who will decide if the service member should be granted emergency leave to come home. Commands frequently require Red Cross verification before emergency leave is granted.
Military leaders rely on the American Red Cross to provide objective, timely, confidential, factual, complete, and verified information on emergency family situations.
