Relationship to the Army: The Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel is charged with
determining policy concerning relations between the Army and the Red Cross. The accounts of the Red
Cross are audited for the Department of Defense by the Army Audit Agency which submits an annual
report to Congress.
Utilization: Red Cross personnel. Commanders desiring the services of Red Cross personnel
forward initial requests to the Adjutant General, Department of the Army. After initial staffing has been
completed, further contacts with the Red Cross will be made through the local Red Cross
Services for hospitalized patients and their families:
(a) For the benefit of the family, the Red Cross will secure information concerning a
hospitalized serviceman. It may also secure information for a serviceman about any
member of his family who is hospitalized. The Red Cross director is responsible for all
direct communications with local chapters concerning hospital matters.
(b) With the prior consent of a hospitalized military patient, the Red Cross will obtain his
medical or social history to aid Army medical officers in their treatment. Information
thus obtained is treated as confidential and not incorporated in evaluation boards or stated
verbatim in records. If adverse information is received, the patient will be so advised.
(c) If a patient needs further Red Cross services while on convalescent leave, the local
chapter will be notified by the Installation Field Director.
(d) The Red Cross director at any Army hospital arranges for the reception and care of
relatives who come to see the military patient.
(e)
In military hospitals the Gray Lady Program is organized and directed by the
hospital Red Cross field director. The Gray Ladies are usually military spouses and mothers of soldiers.
They perform a variety of services for patients, to include the providing of toilet articles, stationery,
books, movies, personalized shopping, sending telegrams, writing letters, etc.
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