Story Archive

Warriors Come from Warriors: A Mother's Perspective (May 2012)
Marilyn Durso cherishes a Mother's Day gift that she calls "a sweet acknowledgment from a son to his mother." It's a shirt with the words "Warriors Come From Warriors" sprawled across the front that her son, Army 1st Lt. Greg Durso, gave her a few years ago while he was attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Blood Battle at Belvoir (May 2012)
After the 2011 Army-Navy Blood Donor Challenge, the spirit of competition was running high at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital blood donor center. So recently, personnel in the pharmacy, laboratory and radiology departments were given another chance to duke it out in donor chairs.

Platelet Donor Sticks With Us (March 2012)
Retired Navy Cmdr. David Swift has been a regular platelet donor with the ASBP for quite some time. He started donating in Bethesda, Md., but when his wife was transferred to the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center for treatment, he wanted to start giving there instead. When the blood donor center moved to Fort Belvoir, he stuck with it and...

Rolling Up Their Sleeves in Aberdeen (March 2012)
When the 9th Army Medical Laboratory decided to sponsor their first ASBP blood drive, the blood collection team from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center anticipated 40 participants. However, once the blood drive was in full swing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground the collection team quickly realized that it would be a success.

A Gorilla and a Blood Drop: The Perfect Match (March 2012)
What happens when a giant, walking blood drop and a life-size gorilla stop by the Pentagon Blood Donor Center? People take notice. And that's exactly what happened when the mascots from the ASBP and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy teamed up with Erica Brefka...

Doubling up on Platelets (March 2012)
The United States Air Force Honor Guard has provided regular platelet donors for the Pentagon Blood Donor Center for quite some time. In fact, Senior Airman Timothy Dejong, site coordinator and regular platelet donor, schedules at least two airmen a week to the donor center. And some of them even provide a double donation in a single visit.

Pack of Lifesavers (February 2012)
Each month, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., hosts multiple successful blood drives for the Armed Services Blood Program. In honor of National Blood Donor Month, those who did roll up their sleeves were rewarded with special liberty, compliments of Rear Adm. Alton Stocks, commander of the ...

Everyone Wins From Donating (February 2012)
Each month, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., hosts multiple successful blood drives for the Armed Services Blood Program. In honor of National Blood Donor Month, those who did roll up their sleeves were rewarded with special liberty, compliments of Rear Adm. Alton Stocks, commander of the ...

The Power of the Air Force Council (January 2012)
Recently, Senior Master Sgt. Lori Kelly, president of the Air Force Pentagon Enlisted Council, invited me to speak at one of the council's meetings to provide information about the Armed Service Blood Program. The AFPEC consists of enlisted airmen, ranging from junior to senior in rank, from various departments throughout the Pentagon.

Marines Lead and Inspire at Quantico (January 2012)
Recently, The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., hosted their first ASBP blood drive. The Basic School teaches officer candidates the skills needed to lead and inspire fellow Marines. So when Staff Sgt. Christopher Honold learned about the military blood program ...

It Starts With an Office Email (December 2011)
For many, opening morning office emails is a great way to plan out the day or get news on current projects. For the staff members at the Headquarters, Department of the Army Chief Information Officer/G-6, it was a great way to learn about an upcoming Armed Services Blood Program blood drive that John Trujillo coordinated for the office.

Oktoberfest Blood Drive Attracts Record Number of Donors (December 2011)
When the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense and Public Health Command sponsored an Oktoberfest-themed blood drive, the record attendance brought with it 65 donationsenough to save almost 200 lives!

PRESS RELEASE: Blood Donor Challenge Beginning in D.C. Region (November 2011)
As the winter season grows closer, so do some of our favorite long-awaited traditions-holiday lights, festive carols and the Army vs. Navy football game! Over the years, the game has come to embody the spirit of the...

Baltimore Ravens Support the ASBP at Fort Meade (October 2011)
Recently, several players from the Maryland's beloved professional football team, the Baltimore Ravens, arrived at Fort Meade, Md., to show their support for the ASBP. Nose tackle Terrance Cody, defense end Arthur Jones and rookie wide receiver Tandon Doss signed autographs, posed for pictures and spoke with blood donors, service members ...

Jim and Linda Parker Finish Journey in Bethesda (October 2011)
It was a beautiful October morning when the well-travelled, white minivan labeled "Donate Across America" pulled into the Walter Reed National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. This was the last stop for Kansas couple Jim and Linda Parker on their personal quest to give blood at all of the Armed Services Blood Program donor centers in the United States.

New Blood Donor Center Opens in Northern Virginia (October 2011)
Recently, the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Blood Donor Center, in partnership with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, officially opened for business. The new blood donor center is currently collecting whole blood and is expected to start collecting platelets in a few weeks.

Donating Platelets across America (September 2011)
Alan Whitney had a quest-a quest to coordinate blood drives every eight weeks at his church. After volunteering to coordinate his first blood drive, Whitney began donating blood in 1965. Soon after that, his blood donation quest began. After more than 30 years of coordinating blood drives in his hometown, he retired, but he continues to donate platelets today.

New Addition at the Pentagon (September 2011)
There is a new addition at the Pentagon Blood Donor Center-an automated blood collection system known as TRIMA. When the Walter Reed Army Medical Center merged with the National Naval Medical Center and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, the TRIMA collection system was relocated to the Pentagon. TRIMA is capable of ...

Giving Back Becomes a Family Affair (September 2011)
When Pamela Vanderverken learned that her son, Lucas Tudor, was injured in Afghanistan and needed three surgeries requiring a lot of blood, she knew that it was thanks, in part, to selfless blood donors that he survived. So when long-time family friend, Darin Reynolds, decided to give blood ...

A Family Tradition (September 2011)
The Whiteman family had a bit of a different plan for the summer. While most families were busy planning trips to the beach, amusement parks or backyard barbecues, the Whiteman family was planning a trip to the Pentagon Blood Donor Center to donate platelets to the ASBP. It all began when Steve Whiteman's father took him to his first ...

"Buddy the Blood Drop" Sighted in Maryland (August 2011)
Despite the 90 degree temperatures and high humidity, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Justin Pierce was determined to recruit blood donors for an ASBP blood drive being held at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. How did he do it? Well, he donned his best battle wear and took to the streets ...

Loyalty at Its Finest (August 2011)
Retired Marine Lt. Col. James McGowan III has been a blood donor since 1973. After learning about the Armed Services Blood Program through a base newspaper article, he switched from donating at civilian agencies to become a loyal blood donor with the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda. Once McGowan learned of the importance of platelet ...

One of the Pentagon's Most Distinguished Donors (July 2011)
The staff at the Pentagon Blood Donor Center sees donors from all walks of life. Occasionally, there are individuals that stand out because of their rank, or most importantly, through their devotion to the ASBP. One of these individuals is Vice Adm. William Burke from the Office of the Chief ...

Pentagon Blood Donor Center Seeks New Donors (May 2011)
The Pentagon Blood Donor Center is in need of two essentials things: Type O whole blood donations to send to injured soldiers on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, and more platelet donors. Life-saving platelets are needed every day by injured troops and patients with life-threatening diseases ...

Going All Out to Bring Them In (May 2011)
The Pentagon Blood Donor Center always welcomes new donors, new organizations and new ideas for collecting blood. On March 25, 2011, the Joint Staff (J6 division) hosted its first blood drive at the Pentagon Blood Donor Center. Spearheading the effort was Maj. Kelly McCay, who went all out to bring in donors to support the ASBP.

Donors Replenish the Tree of Life (May 2011)
Donors attending a recent blood drive at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., were treated to one special event! While they donated, they got to kick back and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere as the United States Navy Band put their own special touch on the blood drive. The theme: Replenishing the Tree of Life, honoring wounded warriors.

Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock Reaches Big Donation Milestone (March 2011)
The Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock in West Bethesda, Md., is no stranger to blood drives for the ASBP. So it was no surprise to see them kick off 2011 with an astounding blood drive!

Every Two Weeks Isn't Frequent Enough for This Platelet Donor (February 2011)
My grandfather didn't know it at the time, but his stories about his medical recovery from a war wound would influence me for years to come. Today, I follow the lead of those who helped my grandfather recover from a leg wound by donating platelets to the ASBP.

Blood, Sweat and Steel Girder (February 2011)
Donating blood may not rank high on the to-do list after a day of laying concrete, placing steel beams and tacking dry wall. But for the Balfour Beatty Construction and Clark Construction companies giving blood for the troops is an honor. So, in the midst of construction and heavy equipment, workers from the two companies made a point to stop by and donate.

He Donates Platelets to Honor the Fallen-Major Perez Rocks National Blood Donor Month (January 2011)
Deployed to Iraq with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division in May of 2007, then Capt. Johnny Perez, was in a convoy when the Humvee in front of him hit a roadside bomb, killing Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Albrect and Pfc. Victor Fontanilla. After, Perez made a vow...

U.S. Naval Academy Reaches Milestone in Donations (December 2010)
Each month the U.S. Naval Academy sponsors an Armed Services Blood Program blood drive, and each month, the midshipmen, faculty and staff turn out by the dozens to support the service men and women worldwide in need of blood. From August 2007 to August 2010, the U.S. Naval Academy continued to collect donations, and by October 2010, the academy had reached a record-breaking 2,100 units of blood!

The "Blood Drop" Appears at Walter Reed's Organization Day (September 2010)
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center held their annual Organization Day Celebration on Friday, August 6, 2010. The celebration was open to staff members of the medical center and their families.

A Quick Getaway (July 2010)
Need a quick getaway? How would you like to be greeted with an enthusiastic "Aloha!" while enjoying delicious cheesecake and listening to relaxing Hawaiian music? If this sounds like your kind of getaway, stop by the Armed Services Blood Program blood drives in Edgewood, Md.

Bridging the Gap: Marine Officer Shares His ASBP Experience (April 2010)
February 19, 2010 was set aside as a day to honor Walter Reed Army Medical Center's blood donors and supporters at the annual Blood Donor Recognition Ceremony.

Official Recognized for Role in Reopening and Relocation of Pentagon Blood Donor Center (February 2010)
On January 22, 2010, the grand re-opening of the Pentagon Blood Donor Center was celebrated with an open house and presentation to an official whose work and dedication made it possible for the center to relocate and reopen at a new site.

PRESS RELEASE: Jim and Linda kick off Military-Wide Blood Donation Adventure at the Pentagon (June 2009)
Jim and Linda Parker will embark on a nationwide project this summer-to give blood at all twenty military blood donor centers in the United States. The adventure begins at the Pentagon Blood Donor Center in Arlington, VA.

The Cheesecake Factor (August 2008)
When the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) blood collection team at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. announces a blood drive at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., that doesn't only mean that blood will be collected- it means that plenty of cheesecake will be provided...