Fort Bliss Monitor

31st ADA Brigade sponsors blood drive

1st Lt. Sabrina Smith
31st ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Photos by Shelly Crowley
Pfc. Joshua Ables and his wife Nicole sit next to each other in preparation for donating blood for the Soldiers in Iraq.

In an effort to ease the burden on doctors and medical personnel desperately in need of blood for servicemembers in Iraq, the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade sponsored a blood drive in Bldg. 2449.

“Our goal was 100 donors, and we definitely surpassed that,” said Shelly Crowley, the 31st ADA Bde. FRG assistant and events principal planner. “It turned out much better than our last blood drive, and we hope the next one will be even better.”

Soldiers and family members started showing up at around 8 a.m. even before the medical personnel from William Beaumont Army Medical Center were in place and ready for donors.

Despite being unable to give blood because of their recent return from Iraq, members of the 31st Combat Support Hospital, including the unit’s executive officer, Maj. Carolyn Fota, and Lt. Col. Thomas Yarber, the hospital’s chief nurse, also attended and supported medical technicians and blood drive personnel.

For the first time military family members were allowed to donate in a military-sponsored blood drive, which 31st ADA Bde. supported by encouraging spouses and eligible family members’ attendance.

Pfc. Joshua Ables from B Btry., 1-1 ADA Bn., was one of the Soldiers who showed up with his spouse.
“I think the blood drive is a great idea,” Ables said. “Especially since I got a chance to bring my wife to the event to donate blood for the Soldiers in Iraq. I think we need to do this a lot more often.”

Able’s wife Nicole agreed wholeheartedly. “I think it’s really good that they help the Soldiers, and I’m glad that they asked me to donate blood. I would definitely do this again.”

Sgt. Nathan Lauenstein, of WBAMC and one of the blood draw medical techs, was pleased with the turnout.
“I think the blood drives that we’ve had with this particular group just keep getting better and better. We always need blood, and right now they’re lined up out the door, so it’s turning out great.”

This blood drive had 118 donors before the techs were forced to close the doors because they could not be present all day. The 31st ADA Bde. came out in numbers to aid the Soldiers deployed to Iraq.

A line of Soldiers wait patiently for their turn to donate during the 31st Brigade blood drive..



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 18, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	31st ADA Brigade sponsors blood drive 1st Lt. Sabrina Smith 31st ADA Bde. Public Affairs Photos by Shelly Crowley Pfc. Joshua Ables and his wife Nicole sit next to each other in preparation for donating blood for the Soldiers in Iraq. In an effort to ease the burden on doctors and medical personnel desperately in need of blood for servicemembers in Iraq, the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade sponsored a blood drive in Bldg. 2449. “Our goal was 100 donors, and we definitely surpassed that,” said Shelly Crowley, the 31st ADA Bde. FRG assistant and events principal planner. “It turned out much better than our last blood drive, and we hope the next one will be even better.” Soldiers and family members started showing up at around 8 a.m. even before the medical personnel from William Beaumont Army Medical Center were in place and ready for donors. Despite being unable to give blood because of their recent return from Iraq, members of the 31st Combat Support Hospital, including the unit’s executive officer, Maj. Carolyn Fota, and Lt. Col. Thomas Yarber, the hospital’s chief nurse, also attended and supported medical technicians and blood drive personnel. For the first time military family members were allowed to donate in a military-sponsored blood drive, which 31st ADA Bde. supported by encouraging spouses and eligible family members’ attendance. Pfc. Joshua Ables from B Btry., 1-1 ADA Bn., was one of the Soldiers who showed up with his spouse. “I think the blood drive is a great idea,” Ables said. “Especially since I got a chance to bring my wife to the event to donate blood for the Soldiers in Iraq. I think we need to do this a lot more often.” Able’s wife Nicole agreed wholeheartedly. “I think it’s really good that they help the Soldiers, and I’m glad that they asked me to donate blood. I would definitely do this again.” Sgt. Nathan Lauenstein, of WBAMC and one of the blood draw medical techs, was pleased with the turnout. “I think the blood drives that we’ve had with this particular group just keep getting better and better. We always need blood, and right now they’re lined up out the door, so it’s turning out great.” This blood drive had 118 donors before the techs were forced to close the doors because they could not be present all day. The 31st ADA Bde. came out in numbers to aid the Soldiers deployed to Iraq. A line of Soldiers wait patiently for their turn to donate during the 31st Brigade blood drive..