MCGREGOR RANGE, N.M. -- The 2nd Battalion, 363rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Black Scorpion, 5th Armored Brigade sponsored the first blood drive in three years here Aug. 6.
Despite McGregor being primarily a training post for Deploying Expeditionary Forces, more than 50 Soldiers, Airmen and Civilians did everything they could to make time to donate to an Armed Forces Blood Program because they knew it was for a good cause.
"This was the first time I've ever donated blood," said Master Sgt. Manuel Rios, a team chief with Task Force Black Scorpion. "But I knew I had to do it because the blood would go directly to our war fighters overseas."
Sharing Rios's spirit to support those already in harm's way, Staff Sgt. Rosario Garcia, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of personnel actions with Task Force Black Scorpion, also showed up to the event.
"I've donated blood before and actually passed out because of it," said Garcia. "My past experience made me nervous about coming out again to donate. However, historically the fighting overseas usually intensifies in the summer months, and if there is a time to donate, this would be it."
Other Soldiers were more nervous for different reasons.
"I was actually more nervous about being turned away," said Sgt. Verissa Lee, human resource NCO with 2nd Task Force Black Scorpion. "I had a tattoo and didn't know if the time frame would allow me to donate."
Unfortunately, not all those who came out to the drive were able to donate because of their past experience.
"I really wanted to donate today," said Master Sgt. Daniel Cook, small arms team chief with Task Force Black Scorpion. "Yet, because I had been in Germany in the past, I was not allowed to give my blood."
Cook was among a group of individuals that were turned away.
"It really bummed me out not being able to donate today," said Master Sgt. Jerry Silva, non-commissioned officer in charge of operations with Task Force Black Scorpion. "But because of personal health issues, I too was turned away."
Even with potential donors being turned away, the blood drive was still a huge success.
"A total of 44 potential donors signed in, and from that number we came away with 35 good units of blood. This was a record amount for McGregor where we have gotten 10-15 units in years pass," said Staff Sgt. Winovia Lewis, a Blood Donor Center recruiter with Fort Bliss, Texas' William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
Other personnel from William Beaumont Army Medical Center echoed Lewis's sentiment about the blood drive.
"This was really a great turnout," said Spc. Megan Moody, a medical lab technician with the William Beaumont Blood Donor Center. "It was great how many people came out today."
At the end of the day, Command Sgt. Major Jeffrey Davis, command sergeant major of Task Force Black Scorpion, presented a battalion coin of excellence to Moody for all the hard work she did.
"This was an excellent event," said Davis. "I understand it has been over three years since McGregor Range has held a blood drive, and we were really able to hit it out of the park this time. I appreciate all the hard work the Soldiers of William Beaumont and Task Force Black Scorpion put in to make this event happen. Everyone that came out today was a hero in their own right."
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