ARC in action here
Dave Donaldson
Wayne Brewer's Saturday started abruptly at 3 a.m. The Kagnew Station Duty Officer woke him to report a message had been received needing his immediate attention. A Kagnew Station soldier was needed at home on emergency leave An airplane would leave at 7 a.m. That left four hours to notify the soldier, get the leave approved and validated, orders printed, travel itinerary arranged, shot records approved, financial assistance arranged and the man to the airport. He made it. This is not unusual for Mr. Brewer, Kagnew's Field Director for the	American Red Cross. «As a matter of fact, emergency leaves are probably our most used service here,» he said. In addition to assistance provided for emergency leaves, the Red Cross provides services to the entire Kagnew community. For example, safety services such as the water safety program, are conducted all during the year. This year, 262 water safety certificates were awarded and first aid classes have trained fifty people in basic and advanced life saving procedures. The Red Cross helps organize volunteers to work in the hospital and dental clinic. Presently,	in addition to Red Cross volunteers who help out the doctors, there are eight registered nurses who work through the Rod Cross at the hospital, volunteering their services to Kag- Cont'd to page 3

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Cont. from Page 1 The Red Cross Youth Program is offered on post — unique at military installations — and the School health program is active at the dependent school. But the Red Cross volunteer services run themselves, led by Mrs. Emery Braa, volunteer chairman. It's the odd jobs that challenge the resources and talents of the Red Cross. «We perform social work, not in the truest sense of the word, but social work of a sort,» said	Mr. Brewer. Social work such as marital counseling, helping people adjust, providing valuable communications between the serviceman in the middle of Africa and his family in the states. The Red Cross is called upon frequently by the hospital for help that would be hard to get elsewhere. For example, the following case is taken from the Red Cross files: 4 Dec. (10:20 a.m.) — Received a call from Dr. Proctor, USAH Asmara,	requesting, if possible, 20 cc Vacoinia Immune Globulin (VIG) through Red Cross channels for a military dependent child. Dr. Proctor says that he had made similar requests to Red Cross in CONUS for VIG and that this child has eczema which prohibits giving smallpox vaccination without VIG. The doctor is concerned and needs this soon because the child stands a risk of contacting smallpox due to a recent breakout in this area. Doctor is advised that Field office would contact the national organization for possible assistance. Wire sent immediately to the National Organization and to EUA Headquarters explaining need and request for the VIG if possible. 6 Dec. 68 — Fwg wire received from SAF Wash. DC. 20CC VACCINIA IMMUNE GLOBULIN (VIG) DELIVERED TO DULLES AIRPORT THIS MORNING FOR TRANSFER TO ETHIOPIAN AIRWAYS FLIGHT 709 ARRIVING ASMARA ETHIOPIA AT 0840 HOURS SATURDAY DEC. 7. 7 Dec. 68 — VIG was delivered to Dr. Proctor. Three days to provide protection for a sick child; protection that would have been difficult, if possible, through any other channel. «The Red Cross is here to help the American soldier and his family,» said Mr. Brewer, «In every day ways, and when emergencies arise.»