U.S. Army Lt. Col. Garry Dodard deployed in Afghanistan
By: Allison Flexner, Red Cross Development Communications Manager
Garry Dodard was 10 years old when his parents woke him and his two siblings from their sleep and hurried them out of their home in East Orange, New Jersey.
A fire had broken out, and the family escaped in their pajamas. Dodard remembers the flashing lights of fire trucks, the fear and confusion, and the devastating loss of nearly everything they owned. One of the few belongings salvaged was treasured family photographs his mother had carefully protected.
His family drove to the American Red Cross for help.
Dodard vividly remembers visiting the local Red Cross office, a brick building with an illuminated Red Cross emblem. Frightened, he and his brother held onto their parents while their parents held their two younger sisters. Red Cross workers offered compassion and reassurance, even giving the children stuffed animals. His family received assistance with temporary lodging and other immediate needs.
"It just made me feel good to know that someone out there actually cared for our welfare and also cared for us afterwards. That’s lasting, how they made me feel safe and that we’re going to be taken care of," Dodard recalled.
A retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, he spent more than three decades in military service, including 22 years on active duty. As an officer in the Army's Adjutant General's Corps, he worked in human resources and personnel operations, supporting service members and military leaders.
He was constantly deployed and had said to his family, “There’s going to be times when you’re not going to be able to reach me. If there’s an emergency, always utilize the Red Cross.”
His assignments took him across the United States and overseas but one of his most difficult experiences came while he was stationed in Tampa, Florida.
Dodard's father had been undergoing treatment for cancer. Although the family believed he was making progress, his condition suddenly deteriorated and he died.
Dodard remembers his father as a joyful man who rarely let on how ill he was, choosing instead to focus on his family.
When his father passed away, the Red Cross became a source of support.
Through its emergency communication services for military families, the Red Cross helped relay the news to Dodard's military command. His supervisor called him into the office, offered condolences and encouraged him to contact his family immediately.
The Red Cross also provided guidance as he navigated the difficult process of arranging travel home for his father's funeral.
Dodard recalls feeling overwhelmed by the sudden loss. “The Red Cross made it so much easier in terms of the communication, in terms of this is what you do, this is who you contact, if you need assistance, just let us know.”
Long before he joined the military, Dodard had learned the importance of service from his parents.
He remembers a family tradition of participating in Red Cross blood drives, including during the holidays. Although he admits he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about needles as a child, the snacks afterward provided some incentive.
Today, Dodard recognizes a connection between his family's values, his years in uniform and the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.
He is currently a community initiatives officer and legislative liaison at Moody Air Force Base. Dodard also found an opportunity to turn his appreciation for the Red Cross into a new chapter of service.
He had met Jackie Shoemaker, executive director of the Red Cross of South Central Georgia Chapter, at a Chamber of Commerce event. The two discovered they lived in the same neighborhood.
Dodard shared his family's experiences with the organization and his appreciation for its support of military members when Shoemaker approached him about joining the chapter's board of directors.
“Give me a day to make a decision. But I already knew the answer. I just had to check with my wife,” he said.
Serving on the board is an opportunity to support an organization whose mission he had experienced firsthand, twice. “It’s impactful and they have such a worthy cause that affects the lives of so many. It makes sense.”
Dodard is helping strengthen relationships between the Red Cross and the military community in South Central Georgia.
He facilitated a meeting between Shoemaker and leadership of the 23rd Medical Group at Moody Air Force Base to strengthen communication and awareness of Red Cross services available to military personnel and their families, particularly when emergencies arise.
Dodard understands that many service members stationed in Georgia are far from their hometowns and support networks. For those serving overseas, timely communication can be especially critical.
"You don't know what you need until a time of crisis," he said.
Garry Dodard with his son Gabriel at Expo Latino, Valdosta, GA, Sept. 2026.
And the family's tradition of service is continuing with another generation.
Dodard recently brought his 16-year-old son, Gabriel, to volunteer alongside him at the Expo Latino in Valdosta, where they staffed a Red Cross booth. An honors Spanish student, Gabriel was able to put his language skills to use, helping connect members of the community.
When Dodard asked his son whether he wanted to explore other volunteer opportunities, Gabriel had already found his answer.
"I'm pretty much good with the Red Cross," Gabriel told his father.
For Dodard, who first encountered the Red Cross as a frightened 10-year-old after losing his family home, the opportunity to serve alongside his son adds another chapter to a lifelong connection.
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