Red Cross

Franklin Evening Star - 22 September 1945
Johnson County Red Cross Chapter Helps Establish Post Nursery Center

Although Mrs. James L. Collins, wife of the Commanding General of the Fifth Service Command, was the honored guest at the opening of the Nursery Center here, little Judy Beaver, daughter of Lt. and Mrs. F. C. Beaver, Reception Station, stole the spotlight. The Center, jointly sponsored by the Atterbury and Wakeman Women's Volunteer Committees was set up with the aid of the Johnson County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Pictured left to right, were: Seated. Mrs. Collins, Judy, and Mrs. John L. Gammell; standing, Mr. C. D. Kirklin. chairman. Camp and Hospital Council; Mrs. Donovan McGee chairman, Nursery Center: Mrs. Paul D. Scott, of the Camp and Hospital Council; Miss Louise Schoepfel. executive secretary of Johnson County ARC, and Mrs. Ernest A. Bixby, chairman, Atterbury Women's Volunteer Committee. 

Is Dedicated by Head of Women's Volunteer Group

'Through the efforts of the Women's Volunteer Committee of Camp Atterbury and Wakeman Hospital Center and the Johnson County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Atterbury now boasts a modern, free Center.
Formally dedicated last Saturday by Mrs. James L. Collins, chairman of the Women's Volunteer Committee for the Fifth Service Command the Nursery Center is open daily, including Sunday. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Mrs. R. E. Oberlin ; registered nurse in charge.
Mrs. Collies in inspecting the nursery's facilities declared herself well pleased with the Atterbury Project. She congratulated the Women's Volunteer Committees of the post and the Red Cross for their efforts in setting up "this needed nursery to serve the children of enlisted and officer personnel at no cost."

Youngsters may be left at the Nursery Center in order that parents may: Shop at the commissary. 2-Visit military personnel in units on the post and in the hospital. 3-Attend church or similar Services, 4-Visit Officers Club, NCO Club, or Service Club. Also wives of military personnel staying in the guest houses may leave their children at the nursery during the day.

The Johnson County Chapter of the American Red Cross through its Camp and Hospital Council supplied the nursery with cribs, playpens, toys, and furniture. Red Cross workers who took active interest in the project include Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Kirklin, Mrs. Paul D. Scott. Miss Louise Schoepfel and Fred E. Rigsby.

Mrs. Ernest A. Bixby is chairman of the Atterbury unit of the Women's Volunteer Committee, and Mrs. Frank L. Cole of the Wakeman organization. Mrs. Donovan McGee is chairman of the Nursery. Center.

Children, including infants, may be brought to the nursery at any time during the day after 0900. Upon being admitted, the youngster receives an identification bracelet. 

Building Redecorated

The nursery building's interior has been decorated in pastel shades of blue, butter yellow, green, and gray. The floor has been covered with linoleum. In addition to a reception room, there are private bed, rooms for infants and small children, a kitchen for preparing formulas and food, rest rooms, and a utility room for laundering and ironing. 

The reception room is separated from the nursery proper. The Officer's Club of the Reception Station donated a new divan and chair for the room and $100 for purchasing other needed equipment.

Franklin Evening Star - 13 October 1945
Red Cross Work at Camp Increases Despite End of War; Staff on 24-hour basis.
Average of 250 Emergencies is Handled Daily
By Sgt. Bob Schalk

Believe it or not, the war's end has increased the work of the Red Cross, both at home and abroad and here at Atterbury it's "business as usual" - 24 hours a day.
Under the direction of Field Director Fred E. Rigsby. the camp staff of 32 persons services every unit at Atterbury, and maintains branch units at both divisions the Separation Center, the Reception Station, and the Reception Center.

The Atterbury office, which maintains contact with 10,560 chapters across the nation, now handles an average of more than 250 emergencies daily. including approximately 200 telegrams and 50 long distance calls.

Largest unit here is the staff of 15 which handles the Separation Center. Thirteen field assistants, all girls, work under Evans Simonson, Director of Operations Division A, and Miss Florence Olmstead, director of Operations Division B. They, assist in the counseling branches, give bus and train information, aid men in filing disability claims, and advise men on personal matters relevant to their return to civilian life. They also take shifts in the Staff Headquarters, which is open continuously.

All Workers Trained

These girls, like all others working here, are graduates of a Red Cross course offered at the American University, in Washington., D. C., where they studied first aid and disaster relief, canteen service, administrative work, and had special training which qualifies them to assist veterans. They are thoroughly familiar with the G.I. Bill, insurance, and claims.

The work of the branches at the Reception Center and Reception Station consists largely of handling furlough extensions, granting loans, and obtaining verification of emergencies.  Because of the vast network of Red Cross branches throughout the country. there is virtually no difference between confirming an emergency (birth, death, illness, etc.) in Franklin than in Providence, R. I., or Portland, Ore.

Emergency Verification

Sometimes as many as 20.000 men are on furlough at one time, from the Reception Station, and Capt. Albert Gutzmann, Furlough Control Officer at the Station, clears an average of 500 emergency extensions daily. These extensions are granted on the strength of Red Cross verification of telegrams from the furloughees.

The Reception Center branch is under Herbert Wasson, Assistant Field Director, with Reception Station under Murl L. Boyles, Assistant Field Director. The size of their staffs varies with their needs.

George T. Webb Assistant Field Director, has charge of Station Complement. the Prisoner of War Camp, and the 798th Military Police Bn. He also clears all correspondence between prisoners of war here and their families overseas.

Many Are Grateful

Red Cross work is hard, but it is not a thankless job, said Mr. Rigsby. Only last week a former prisoner of war came in to the office and laid $100 on Mr. Rigsbys desk to thank the Red Cross for saving his life, by providing food packages while he was a prisoner of war in Germany.

One recent job of which the camp staff is justly proud was the the discharge they got a returnee from the Pacific, Whose father *as, dying of a heart attack in Akron. Ohio. The boy arrived here at noon. was a civilian by four, and was flown to Akron immediately. arriving at his father's side several hum. before he passed away.

Mr. Rigsby emphasized that soldiers with problems of any nature should come to the Red Cross for assistance. "Many of them have the mistaken impression" he said, "that we do not handle their particular type of situation. It would be far better if they were to come to us and let us decide whether or not we can help them. Usually we can."

© 2005 James D. West - Indiana Military Org  All Rights Reserved
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