Donors send 1,155 pints of blood downrange

  • Published
  • By Butch Wehry
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Arnold Hall's ballroom looked like an assembly line Sept. 11 as people crowded into it to donate blood to the Armed Services Blood Program. 

The blood drive took place Sept. 9-11 with a final count of 1,155 good units of blood, said Master Sgt. Steve Honda, who helped coordinate the blood drive here. 

"The blood drive was a complete success," said Sergeant Honda, who is assigned to Cadet Squadron 22. "By the time this goes to print, that blood will be in theater saving lives." 

The donors, mostly Academy cadets, had no doubts about why they were giving. 

"I want to help someone who needs it," said Cadet 1st Class Juan Nolasco from Cadet Squadron 5. 

"Our program is very special," said ASBP spokeswoman Carmen Dietrich-Williams. "We collect blood from the military for the military." 

ASBP's mission is to support those in need on a weekly basis. 

"It only takes a week to collect and process the blood," she said. "One donation can save three lives. One injured service member can require 20 to 100 units of blood." 

Blood has a 42-day shelf life, but the ASBP has collected blood state side and had it in Afghanistan and Iraq within four days after it was drawn. Numerous ASBP teams from Fort Bliss, Texas, travel to military bases annually. 

"We require continuous donations," the spokeswoman said. 

Not only people in uniforms came to donate the life-giving fluid. 

"I hope to help replenish blood to supply the military," said David Bockelman, an Academy contractor who has given five times in the past. 

"I give to help my troops," said local mother and cadet sponsor Kim Young. "My troops fight for my freedom, and I want to help support them."