Courtesy Photo | Chief Warrant Officer 3 Wayne Ming, 2nd Battalion, 291st Aviation Regiment...... read more read more
By Capt. Tania Hummel
166th Aviation Brigade, Division West
FORT HOOD, Texas – The 2nd Battalion, 291st Aviation Regiment, 166th Aviation Brigade, recently hosted a blood drive at First Army Division West headquarters, here, in honor of one of their own.
“We became aware of the need for blood when one of our family members was diagnosed with leukemia and had to get blood transfusions,” said Lt. Col. Phil Graham, commander of the 2-291st Aviation regiment commander. “We wanted to find a way to help, to do our part and give back.”
Fort Hood’s Robertson Blood Clinic brought their mobile blood collection team to Headquarters, First Army Division West, and setup a mobile collection site where donors quickly applied, were screened, and donated blood.
Long-time blood donor, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Wayne Ming, the regiment’s Standardization Pilot, enjoyed the experience.
“I thought it was well put together and organized,” said Ming. “They had stations to go through, it was quick and the nurses were professional.”
As a token of appreciation, every donor picked from an array of T-shirts, as well as the requisite cookies and juice. By the end of the day, more than 50 Soldiers and civilians participated and overall more than 30 units of blood were donated.
Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Marshall, the regiment’s CH-47 Chinook flight instructor observer-coach/trainer, organized the blood drive.
“It was very easy,” said Marshall. “Robertson blood clinic did everything. All you need is a date and they take care of everything else.”
While the regiment sponsored the event to help bring awareness to leukemia, the blood will actually be used for Soldiers, and will end up in theater within 4-5 days of donation.
“That’s why this is important; it’s Soldiers helping Soldiers,” added Marshall.
The 2-291st mission is to train and validate National Guard and Army Reserve Aviation units, including brigade, battalion, company, and theater to unit level maintenance formations. The battalions concentrate on lift, heavy-lift, and medical evacuation post-mobilization training as part of 166th Aviation Brigade, Division West and First Army.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2014 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 148471 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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