FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — January is National Blood Donor Month, and the Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center is highlighting three on-post organizations that recently joined an elite group by providing 100 or more eligible donors during a single-day blood drive.
The newest members of the center’s 100-Donor Club are Company D, 787th Military Police Battalion, with 124 donors on Nov. 27; Company A, 35th Engineer Battalion, with 101 donors on Oct. 31; and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, with 102 donors on Oct. 25.
The 100-Donor Club members will have their organization name, number of donors and the drive’s date recorded on a plaque hanging in the donor center’s lobby, in addition to a club membership certificate and a “Giving 4 Living” streamer provided by the Association of the United States Army.
“We can’t say thank you enough to these organizations,” said Capt. Marianne Rose, Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center chief. “Donor compassion is saving lives around the world. We can only collect blood from people who voluntarily give it, so thank you for helping us help others.”
The center conducted several blood drives in 2022, averaging about 35 eligible donors per drive. The fact that organizations here are nearly tripling that mark is something Rose said she finds extremely encouraging.
“It makes me proud to see so many young men and women donate to a cause that’s bigger than themselves,” she said. “Without them, we couldn’t accomplish our mission. Donating blood is something many people don’t think about until illness or injury strikes. We’re asking everyone to think about the people who are already there.”
That’s exactly what the Soldiers with Delta Company, 787th Military Police Battalion, are doing, according to 1st Sgt. Joshua Jordan, company first sergeant.
“Hitting this milestone represents our Soldiers’ dedication to each other and the Army Values,” Jordan said. “It shows they want to be part of something bigger and are willing to take care of each other no matter what.”
Echoing those sentiments was Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Newbury, SAMC president.
“Our club is built from Soldiers of different ranks assigned to different units, who all want to make an impact on saving Soldier lives,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our organization for stepping up. We have great command support and are planning on making regular donations to the Armed Services Blood Program.”
For the Soldiers of Alpha Company, 35th Engineer Battalion, it was all about “walking the talk,” said Capt. Autumn Mitchell, company commander.
“We challenged our Soldiers to live the Army Values and they stepped up and demonstrated what kind of Soldiers they want to be,” she said. “I think their efforts speak volumes about what it means to be a Soldier. Donating blood is something we all must do because it can make such a huge difference for people.”
The center here — located in Bldg. 759 — collects blood for the Armed Services Blood Program, the official blood program of the Department of Defense since 1962. Collected blood may travel around the world to those deployed or at military hospitals nearby. The military healthcare system requires many needed units of blood every day and it’s the ASBP mission to ensure it’s available.
“So, if you have your health, celebrate it by giving blood to those who are not as fortunate,” Rose said. “Our new 100-Donor Club members demonstrated the power that true compassion for others can have.”
For more information on donating blood here, or to make an appointment to donate, e-mail carl.a.norman2.civ@health.mil or call 573.596.6150.
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