Photo By Sgt. Brian Glass | Soldiers from 18th Fires Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, donated blood as part of a...... read more read more
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Fort Bragg, N.C. – Soldiers of the 18th Fires Brigade gave back to their fellow soldiers and local community in a blood drive effort at Hoskins Gym and the Fort Bragg Blood Donor Center, Sept. 17.
The effort was met with much excitement by those willing to give what they could to help others.
“I’m giving blood today because it is going to be used for Soldiers and it can save a life,” said 1st Lt. Kelly Felder, logistics officer for 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. “I had a friend who was killed in Iraq, it was non-combat related but he still bled out.”
Felder went on to say that giving blood is a free gift, and it will save lives in the future.
Sgt. Jeffrey Ketcham, medical lab technician at the Blood Donor Center was also happy with the selfless sacrifices the soldiers were making to help people they don’t even know.
“It’s good to see comradery in something that is selfless. The majority of the time, you will never know who your blood goes to so to give up some of your free time and blood to help is a wonderful thing to do,” said Ketcham.
The blood, which after being drawn is taken to the blood donor center to be screened and put into the computer database to make sure it is safe is then transported to places across the world or even here, staying on Fort Bragg.
Sgt. Jason Quon, who works at the department of pathology at Womack Hospital has seen how donated blood can save lives.
“Recently we saved a young girl who just had her first child. We gave her 20 units of blood to save her because she started hemorrhaging,” said Quon.
Along with the blood drive, running at Hoskins Gym was the plasma donations taking place at the Blood Donor Center. The plasma is potentially being used in new programs to help the Army save lives in the future.
The turnout regardless of which location was as well as can be expected with units gearing up for training. However, everyone involved was pleased with how everything went and the amount of people who showed up to give.
“I know today was rough knowing so many units were tasked out,” said Ketcham. “Turnout was good and we are thankful for those who came out today.”
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2013 18:51 |
| Story ID: | 114132 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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