By Debra R. Cox, American Red Cross Team 54 Field Member

For those of us fortunate enough to be working with, for, and alongside service members, there is an ongoing paradox. We are Team 54, yet most of our deployment teams never imagined the magnitude of expressions of gratitude we would experience while deployed with the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces. It is our honor and our privilege to go to the multiple theaters where we serve our service members in various branches of the military, yet these service members regularly and emphatically thank us repeatedly for being here to support them during their deployments.

It is natural for these service members to express gratitude, as they have been educated and humbled by their service to our country. For those of us who have raised children, we know that gratitude is not easily taught, yet service members consistently express their appreciation for all we do in the field. Despite the long stretch of time the deployed teams work, the depth and breadth of gratitude for what the American Red Cross does eases the fatigue that might otherwise find a foothold and stay. Our role includes delivery of emergency communications, creating and hosting morale events, providing resiliency classes, providing hygiene kits and snacks, and so much more.

Most service members are surprised when they experience the classes we offer, the opportunities to volunteer, earn service medals, and the many times we have individual conversations to give our country’s service members a chance to voice their concerns for family and events back home. It is likely due to their own sacrifices-leaving behind family and friends, making detailed arrangements to be absent for months or years at a time, meeting all requirements for deployment, and more, that they truly appreciate our own sacrifices, though, to those of us on Team 54, they seem quite insignificant compared to service members’ personal sacrifices in service to our country.

When asked what most surprised them about Red Cross services, service members’ responses were fairly consistent. One stated, “I am a volunteer lead, and I had no idea that I would get so many opportunities to lead.” Another service member gratefully stated, “My unit recognized my volunteer service to the American Red Cross in front of my entire command, leadership and all.” A third service member volunteer stated that he was surprised that the Red Cross offers so much more on the military bases because he thought that all we did was provide emergency communications, which, he stated, was so very much appreciated during times of need. I will always remember the service member who said that I and the American Red Cross saved his life by developing all of the morale events we offer to alleviate the unique stresses of deployment.

While paradoxes often confound those involved, as we on Team 54 wind down our deployments, we are the ones who will remain grateful for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of serving those who serve our country. As we head back to the families, friends and co-workers who have supported us through our deployment, we will always remember the gratitude service members expressed, and the photos etched in our minds and hearts will remain with us for the rest of our lives. We on Team 54 are the fortunate ones indeed.

-from The Field

Debra Cox’s Service to the Armed Forces Deployment

The Red Cross provides in-person support for troops on all military installations in the U.S. and on more than 35 overseas installations including the Far East, Middle East and Europe. In addition to Debra Cox’s work serving members of the military community in Southern California, she has also deployed to Kuwait as a member of the Service to the Armed Forces team. She is serving alongside fellow Red Crossers dedicated to providing important services to military members during their time away from home. From facilitating Emergency Communication Messages to providing volunteer opportunities to service members, to offering resiliency and self-care opportunities, SAF teams deployed across the world provide members of the armed forces with important services. During her deployment, Debra is also writing about her experience in a series of stories titled From the Field.