American Red Cross Worker Returns from Operation Enduring Freedom Deployment

American Red Cross
Wednesday, 3 April 2002

Tour Called "most important assignment ever taken"

As the U.S. military responds around the world to the tragic events of September 11, members of the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) are carrying out a fundamental mission of the organization—keeping the American people and their loved ones serving in the military connected in times of crisis. Terry Hitchcock was part of a two-man Red Cross team that lived and worked alongside troops stationed in Uzbekistan. Harsh weather combined with difficult living and working conditions made it necessary to cut the tour short from its original four months, to three. Pending weather conditions in the region, Hitchcock is expected to wrap up his deployment and return to Red Cross headquarters in the coming days.

"As part of its congressional charter, the Red Cross is 'a medium of communication between the people of the United States and the Armed Forces of the United States' so we play an important role in keeping families connected in times like these," points out Sue Richter, vice president, AFES. Hitchcock's team was primarily responsible for emergency communication. The team worked around-the-clock with the more than 1,000 Red Cross chapters and two communication centers to deliver news of births, deaths and serious illness to service members. The two-man team also helped service members get important news to their loved ones back in the states.

"When the Red Cross deploys workers to support members of the military, their job is not only to facilitate emergency communication, but to do as much as possible to make the time these brave men and women spend away from home a little easier," says Richter. During their tour, the team operated a 24-hour canteen service, as well as a game, video and book library to provide a respite from the harsh physical and emotional conditions. They also visited hospitalized service members and worked with military personnel to get comfort items and goodies to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In addition to Uzbekistan, Red Cross workers are currently working alongside troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

In his more than 30 years with AFES, Hitchcock has been deployed in support of a number of high profile military actions—Operation Joint Guard (Bosnia 1997 and 1999), Operation Restore Hope (Somalia 1993), Operation Desert Shield (Saudi Arabia 1990)—but readily acknowledges that this mission was different. "On other deployments, our military is there with a sense of helping other countries," says Hitchcock. "Even though the spirit is always high and all are focused, with Enduring Freedom everyone knows exactly why they are here—to defend America. This deployment is simply the most important assignment I have ever taken."

After departing Red Cross headquarters, Hitchcock will return to his post as AFES Station Manager in Kitzingen, Germany. Hitchcock attended Georgia State University. He and his wife Harriet have four daughters and five grandchildren.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $2.7 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org