Armed Forces - SAF
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The American Red Cross is the shoulder that military service members and their families lean on in times of emergency. Red Cross keeps loved ones in touch when it matters most – through emergency communications when birth, death, and serious illnesses occur. Our chapter works with the Military Aid Societies to provide financial assistance in cases of urgent need. Our local chapter assists with over 1,400 messages each year. |
The centerpiece of our services to the military is the delivery of emergency messages to and from military personnel and their families. Under its 1905 Congressional Charter, the Red Cross is the sole agency designated to provide emergency communications for the U.S. military. Today, the Red Cross provides this vital communication link between services members and their families, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
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These services are provided to immediate family members who are:
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The reasons we send messages:
- Birth Notification
- Serious or Life Threatening Illness
- Death
- Financial or other family crisis
When contacting the Red Cross to request service having the following information for the service member handy will help to expedite the process of sending the message:
- Full Name (No nicknames please)
- Rank/Branch of Service
- Social Security Number/Date of Birth
- Unit/Military Address/Military Phone Number
Having the following information on hand will also help to verify the situation faster so that the Red Cross can verify the problem and send a message to a service member in the military:
1. Who is the person who is ill, or has passed away
2. For a birth notification the mothers and babies name and mother's release of information.
3. Name of the attending physician and a phone number for the Doctor
4. Where is the person hospitalized, or where did they pass away.
5. What is the age of the person hospitalized.
To send a Red Cross message call (361) 887-9991 or (800) 656-9991 and ask for a military case worker. If you are on Active Duty or reside in the same home as an Active Duty service member please call (877) 272-7337.
Please DO NOT send emails to request a message be sent as emails are not monitored 24 hours a day.
If you are not calling from Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, or San Patricio Counties please contact your local Red Cross office for service. Your local Red Cross will contact our office when it is appropriate to verify information or pass a message to a service member.
For those who were effected by the Holocaust please go to the Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center for more information.
