FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Donating blood can be a great gesture because the life you save may be your own or a Family member's, according Soldiers from Fort Rucker and Fort Benning.
Staff members from the Blood Drawing Center in Fort Benning, Ga., collected blood from 127 Soldiers and civilians at Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Facility Feb. 25.
All blood collected from the event for the Armed Services Blood Program was meant for active-duty Soldiers and their Families, according to Staff Sgt. Eric Kahle, D Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment operations noncommissioned officer in charge. Kahle was the Fort Rucker liaison for the event.
"This is for a great cause," he said. "It's going to injured Soldiers and Family members and we're helping to save lives."
Kahle said Soldiers who are thinking about giving blood should consider what would happen if they or a Family member needed blood.
"With the Army being in two theaters of combat, some of them may need blood someday," he said. "It may save their life or it could save their buddy's life."
Kahle, in addition to aiding in the organization of the event, also donated a pint of his blood.
The staff from Fort Benning began setting up the event at 9 a.m. and managed to get started an hour ahead of schedule, said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Laye, Mobile Collection Team NCOIC. He said everything went smoothly and he is looking forward to conducting another blood drive here.
"The turnout was very steady," he said. "It's great to see such a positive response from the post."
Laye added that his first impression of Fort Rucker was a positive one and he is hoping to come back here soon.
"Everyone here has been very supportive," he said. "A lot of the units have come by to donate and that's a great thing for us and those in need of donation."
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