Service to the Armed Forces
The American Red Cross was born on the battlefields of the Civil War, where Clara Barton risked her life tending to fallen soldiers of the North and South. For over a century, the Red Cross has provided emergency services to members of the U.S. military and their families around the clock, around the globe.
American Red Cross emergency communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross quickly sends these emergency communications on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave.
How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message
- Family members and service personnel residing in the Colonial Crossroads service area may call the chapter's Red Cross Armed Forces caseworkers for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 800-696-3873.
- Out-of-area residents should contact their local American Red Cross chapter, which is listed in local telephone books and at www.redcross.org.
- Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call base or installation operators or the on-base Red Cross offices.
When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to have the following information:
Service member’s:
- Full Name
- Rank/Rating
- Branch of Service
- Social Security Number
- Military Address
- Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for deployed service members only)
