Story Archive

Man's Best Friend Inspires Huge Blood Drive (May 2012)
Recently the military community of the Wiesbaden Army Airfield in Germany conducted the largest blood drive in the community in more than five years. There have been many drives with a variety of sponsors taking the lead for the lifesaving events, but this one was just a little bit different.

Donating with Honors (March 2012)
Recently, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center—Europe conducted a blood drive at the Patch American High School in Stuttgart, Germany. It was the first blood drive conducted at the school in many years, and it was a great success. Emma Murray, a senior and a member of the National Honor Society had the idea of conducting a blood drive ...

Grafenwoehr Community Sets the Pace for a Great 2012 (February 2012)
One of the first ASBBC-E blood drives of 2012 was on the far side of Germany from Landstuhl, at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The blood drive was a great way to kick-off the New Year as the Grafenwoehr USO had the community super-motivated to participate!

Community Group Makes the Holidays Merrier (January 2012)
A slight detour from routine made the holiday season a merry one for ill or injured service members, veterans and their families across the globe. Recently, the ASBBC-E conducted two weekend blood drives at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center. In the past, the drives ...

Caring for Troops the Ansbach Way (December 2011)
This isn't the first time the Ansbach, Germany, community has sponsored an ASBP blood drive, and it isn't the first time they have set a new record for blood donations. But just how successful their recent blood drive would be, came as a bit of a surprise.

Old Is New Again! (November 2011)
Last month, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe made its first visit to Vogelweh, Germany, in almost two years. The outcome was a productive blood drive and the first step in re-establishing military blood drives in a community that has been undergoing many changes. The ASBBC-E is always searching for ways to reach new donors and ...

Helping Out in Heidelberg (October 2011)
The Heidelberg Military Community is a big contributor to the Armed Services Blood Program in Europe, as is the site's two-year blood drive coordinator, Master Sgt. Maria Sanchez, the laboratory non-commissioned officer-in-charge at the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity in Heidelberg. She has seen firsthand the impact that blood donations have ...

86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron Sponsors ASBP Blood Drive (September 2011)
It has been more than two years since the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron sponsored an ASBP blood drive. Since the squadron knows the importance of donating blood, they figured it was about time to get back into the swing of things. So recently, Tech. Sgt. Joseph Howell, site ...

A Plan for Success! (August 2011)
The 76th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, recently became the newest sponsor of military blood drives in Europe when they sponsored their first lunchtime blood drive with the ASBBC-E. After the director of operations for the 76th Airlift Squadron saw blood drive signs around the base, he brought the idea of a unit-sponsored drive ...

A Plan for Success! (August 2011)
The 76th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, recently became the newest sponsor of military blood drives in Europe when they sponsored their first lunchtime blood drive with the ASBBC-E. After the director of operations for the 76th Airlift Squadron saw blood drive signs around the base, he brought the idea of a unit-sponsored drive ...

She's One Smart Cookie! (June 2011)
Every organization has someone others look to for information and guidance-someone that can be counted on to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. At the ASBBC-E, this person is Odessa "Cookie" Mark. Mark is well-versed on a myriad of regulations, rules and guidelines that ensure every collected blood product is of the upmost quality...

Teaming Up to Set High Marks in Ansbach (May 2011)
On April 13, 2011, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe conducted a blood drive at the Katterbach Kaserne-Ansbach military community in Germany. It was the largest blood drive in the community in over five years as service members, family members and civilian employees alike rolled up their sleeves to help those in need.

Moving on to Civilian Life (March 2011)
Master Sgt. Tonya Richardson, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the ASBBC-E, has seen her fair share of early mornings, late nights, deployments, family moves and a hundred other tough tasks. So after nearly 22 years of dedicated service with the U.S. Air Force, she is exchanging her uniform for civilian attire and transitioning to civilian life.

Platelet Donation: Another Way to Save a Life (March 2011)
When we hear the word platelet, it is easy to have flashbacks to biology class lectures as we sat in the classroom trying to figure out what exactly a platelet did. And for some, it may still be something that they don't know a whole lot about. However, to patients worldwide these small cells mean life.

Making an Impact Regardless of Rank (March 2011)
When the ASBBC-E mobile blood team hosted an Armed Services Blood Program blood drive for the 5th Quartermaster Airborne Detachment in Kaiserslautern, Germany, the result was the largest one-day blood drive at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks in four years.

Back for the First Time in Five Years (February 2011)
For the first time in five years, the Bamberg Military Community sponsored an Armed Services Blood Program blood drive and the response was great! On Jan. 18, 2011, service members, civilian employees and family members all rolled up their sleeves to help those in need of blood.

Last But Not Least in Europe (January 2011)
The Dec. 22, 2010, blood drive may have been the last blood drive of the year for the Armed Services Blood Bank Center- Europe (ASBBC-E), but it was certainly not the least! Almost every year, the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center blood drives are the largest contributor to the ASBBC-E, and 2010 was no different.

Holiday Gifts Come Early from Schweinfurt Community (January 2011)
Towards the end of each holiday season, loved ones gather to give and receive gifts. But the Schweinfurt community was so eager to give gifts this year that they started early. On Dec. 8, 2010, service members, their families, and willing donors alike lined up at the Finney Fitness Center...

Spangdahlem Community Ends 2010 on High Note! (December 2010)
As the country geared up to honor America's veterans, the Spangdahlem military community in Germany took part in the celebrations as well. Thanks to the 135 who attended, the Nov. 10, 2010, drive proved to be the largest blood drive in the community in five years.

No. 5,000, You're the Next Donor at the ASBBC-E! (December 2010)
While all of our donors are unique and special to the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe, one special donor left with an once-in-a-lifetime honor at a recent Rose Barracks, Vilseck blood drive. Private 1st Class Jordi Phillips became the 5,000th donor for the ASBBC-E in 2010!

Teaming Up to Collect Blood (November 2010)
On Oct. 25, 2010, the Kapaun Air Station in Kaiserslautern, Germany completed its largest blood drive in four years when the ASBBC-E mobile blood drive team visited the Kisling Non-commissioned Officer Academy and Airman Leadership School. The co-sponsorship of the blood drive resulted in the collection of almost 50 units of blood.

Royal Air Force Lakenheath, Mildenhall Come Up Big (November 2010)
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe (ASBBC-E) enjoyed the most productive week of blood collection in three years when the mobile blood donor team spent the last week of September 2010 in England conducting blood drives at Royal Air Force Lakenheath and Mildenhall.

Combat Medic Excels in Blood Donor Center (October 2010)
Combat medics are generally found right where the action is performing life-saving procedures, giving comfort to the injured or teaching non-medical personnel how to provide first aid. Of all the places most people would associate with a combat medic, a blood donor center is probably not one of them.

Airman Strives for Excellence at the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (September 2010)
When you think about the staff at a blood donor center, you probably think about technicians in lab coats drawing blood, or pricking your finger to determine your blood's iron level. At the ASBBC-E, however...

Sailor Reaches 2-Gallon Milestone at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (September 2010)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Zina Mitchell retired from the Department of Defense in 2006 and now lives in Europe. Sounds like the stuff retirement dreams are made of, doesn't it?

Do I Smell Cookies? (August 2010)
Mrs. Diane Tracy and her family are key contributors to the Armed Services Blood Program in the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany, but not in the usual way. They have found a rather tasty way to help the program save lives! About a year ago, Tracy and her family were enjoying a Sunday outing at the Ramstein Bowling Center.

The 86th Communications Squadron: Motivated To Help Those in Need (August 2010)
On July 9, 2010, the 86th Communications Squadron, based at Ramstein Air Base sponsored its first Armed Services Blood Program blood drive in over a year.

The 357th Air & Missile Defense Detachment Sets Blood Collection Mark at Rhine Ordnance Barracks (July 2010)
The largest blood drive on Rhine Ordnance Barracks (ROB) in over four years took place on June 22-23, 2010. Servicemembers, spouses, high school students, and community members...

Summer Fun in Europe = Blood Donation! (July 2010)
Spending the summer in Europe, it sounds like a dream that travel agency brochures are made of. You can spend a weekend on the French Riviera, head to Livorno and Italy to camp. Although summer is a time for fun, it's also a time when blood donations are historically at a low.

History of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (July 2010)
The beginnings of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe (ASBBC-E) can be traced to the 655th Medical Company. The 655th had a long history of service through WWI and WWII. The unit settled in Landstuhl, Germany as a tenant unit on the installation...

The Armed Services Blood Program Returns to RAF Lakenheath (June 2010)
The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) conducted the first blood drive in over seven years at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, England. The community came out in full force to support military service members in need of blood...

Saving Lives at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center (June 2010)
The Kaiserslautern Military Community Center is seen as the premier exchange of the DoD and is billed as the largest Army and Air Force Exchange Service in the world. It conducted its first weekend blood drive on April 24th, 2010 on Ramstein Air Base, and it was a great location to host a blood drive!

Colonel Richard Homan: Setting the Donation Standard for the ASBP in Europe (May 2010)
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (ASBBC-E), part of the Armed Services Blood Program, is always on the move to collect blood for our nation's military. At any one of these blood drives you would typically see...

2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment-Always Ready! (April 2010)
The 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment has a proud military history as the longest active serving cavalry regiment in the United States Army. In honor of that heritage the regiment teamed up with the Armed Services Blood Program to touch the lives of service members and their families in need...

The Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe Shines During Inspections (April 2010)
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe (ASBBC-E)recently achieved near-perfect scores on the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) assessments.

The Armed Services Blood Program and American Red Cross Volunteers Team-Up in Wiesbaden (April 2010)
On March 12, 2010 the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) in Landstuhl, Germany teamed with volunteers of the American Red Cross-Wiesbaden to conduct a blood drive at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany. The result was a remarkable response from the Wiesbaden military community!

The Kaiserslautern Military Community Responds at a Moment's Notice! (March 2010)
"Snow" and "more snow" were what weather forecasters called for in the last two weeks of January throughout Europe. Ensuing weather and road conditions, predictably, caused work hours to be changed, made travel difficult...

Airman Leadership School Leads the Way (March 2010)
The Airman Leadership School's Class of 2010-03 hosted a community blood drive recently for the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (part of the Armed Services Blood Program) on Kapaun Air Station.

Countdown to Organizaing a Blood Drive! (February 2010)
As members of an overseas military community, donating blood is one of the noblest contributions we can make.

Schweinfurt Community Blood Drive (February 2010)
On January 12, 2010, the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB) and the 15th Engineer Battalion (EN BN) teamed up to sponsor a community blood drive in Schweinfurt. It was the first Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) blood drive in the Schweinfurt community in over a year, and donors were eager to show their support.

86th Dental Squadron Blood Drives Make A Big Impact for the Kaiserslautern Military Community (December 2009)
The Armed Services Blood Program blood drive on 14 December 2009 at the Dental Clinic on Ramstein Air Force Base marked the ninth blood drive that the 86th Dental Squadron has sponsored in just over two years.

435 Construction and Training Squadron Constructs a Blood Drive! (December 2009)
On 9 December 2009, the 435 Construction and Training Squadron (CTS) sponsored its first Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) blood drive. The idea for the drive stemmed from SSgt Chad King, a heavy equipment instructor who is a regular donor to the Armed Services Blood Bank Center- Europe within the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

Meet the civilian members at the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (December 2009)
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (ASBBC-E) is part of the Armed Services Blood Program, the tri-service, Department of Defense (DOD) organization that provides blood for service members and their families. The ASBBC-E team conducts drives at the various US facilities throughout Germany and Europe.

Meet the military members at the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (December 2009)
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (ASBBC-E) is part of the Armed Services Blood Program, the tri-service, Department of Defense (DOD) organization that provides blood for service members and their families. The ASBBC-E team conducts drives at the various US facilities throughout Germany and Europe.

A VERY POSITIVE NEGATIVE (November 2009)
"Universal Blood Donor"- you've probably heard this term if you've ever donated blood. It refers to those in our population who have the rare distinction of having O Negative blood. What it means is that, generally, O Negative blood can be transfused to anyone, regardless of their blood type.

Stuttgart Military Community Sets New Blood Donation High-Mark (October 2009)
A long overdue blood drive, as it has been several years since their last, Kelley Barracks made up for lost time and turned out more than 70 donors! Although some eager donors could not give, mostly because of time spent in Europe and travel to malaria endemic areas, 47 units of precious blood...

Platelets Pack a Powerful Punch (July 2009)
Platelet Donation/Collection Starts at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (ASBBC-E), part of the Armed Services Blood Program, based at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center has now collects platelets! Through platelet collection the ASBBC-E is able to provide FDA-approved platelets for those in need.

Exemplifying the Role of NCO- SGT Berry Rallies Support for the ASBP (May 2009)
SGT Brian Berry seems to be your normal, everyday, taking-care-of-business Non-commissioned Officer. He serves as the NCOIC of the Laboratory at the Patch Health Clinic and plays a vital role in providing healthcare for the Stuttgart Community. Also, he voluntarily serves as the Point of Contact for the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) blood drives in the Stuttgart Military Community.

The Armed Services Blood Program Presents Banner to Surprised Soldier (January 2008)
BAUMHOLDER, Germany - At first glance, Staff Sgt. Francisco Mireles didn't see anything unusual about the poster, which encourages people to donate blood as part of a military public awareness campaign.