Story Archive

345th Training Squadron Saves Lives Downrange (May 2012)
The 345th Training Squadron is responsible for training both enlisted Air Force and Navy personnel in specialized fields and will graduate up to 2,300 students each year. So when it transferred to Fort Lee, Va., in June 2010, it didn't take long to figure out that the squadron would be a vital asset to the ASBP.

Special Troops Battalion Supports the ASBP (April 2012)
The Special Troops Battalion supports other battalions in training or combat. But that isn't the only way the battalion helps other service members. In March, they sponsored their second dedicated blood drive for the ASBP. After donating, many of them stopped to share their thoughts.

USS Oscar Austin Makes Good with Its Motto (April 2012)
When approaching the USS Oscar Austin, the motto, written on a bold banner placed on the ship's brow whenever it is in port, is easily noticed—"Honor and Sacrifice." Unfortunately, their busy operational schedules had not permitted them to sponsor a blood drive for several years.

USS Cole Makes Time to Donate (March 2012)
Recently, members from the USS Cole sponsored a highly anticipated ASBP blood drive. A busy operational schedule has kept many of the ship's members from donating before, so this was the first formally scheduled blood drive for the ship in recent memory. Although the ship's personnel had to attend to unforeseen tasks during the time of the blood drive, that did not stop them from volunteering...

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Thanks Its Donors (February 2012)
During National Blood Donor Month, the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Blood Donor Center and Apheresis Department wanted to extend a warm and sincere "thank you" to its dedicated whole blood and platelet donors. So recently, they held a donor center open house ...

No Rivalry During This Army-Navy Gathering (December 2011)
Army, Navy: Most of the time when you hear those two services together this time of year it is because of a football rivalry spanning decades. However, at Old Dominion University, that isn't the case. For the past four years, the Army and Navy ROTC Programs at this university ...

Profiles of Dedication: Lindsay Gray (November 2011)
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Lindsay Gray has led an interesting active duty Navy life. Born in Ancon, Panama, she comes from an active military family. Gray wanted to follow in her family's footsteps and follow her medical career dreams, so she joined the Navy in 2003. "I enjoy the medical ...

Carrying On One Leader's Dedication (November 2011)
Recently, the Second Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company, also known as 2nd FAST, from the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, Va. interrupted their highly intense and demanding training schedule to support the ASBP. In an effort to donate blood for their fellow service members ...

Profiles of Dedication: Todd Woodard (October 2011)
Although Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Todd Woodard is still young, this Louisiana native has led an eventful active duty Navy life. After completing Basic Training and Corpsman School, he began his career with the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., and his current position as a hemodialysis ...

Profiles of Dedication: James Siebert (October 2011)
The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., Blood Donor Center frequently takes their blood drives on the road. The team packs up their supplies, gathers on the mobile bus and then heads off to their location. But before they can leave, they need one critical team member on board-James Siebert.

Parkers Visit Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (August 2011)
Jim and Linda Parker travel around the United States donating blood in each of the ASBP blood donor centers. So when they arrived in July 2011, at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., it was quite an exciting day for the blood donor center and its staff. Their stop marked the 16th ASBP ...

Couple stops in Portsmouth and donates blood for the 478th time (July 2011)
A Midwest couple is in Hampton Roads, giving the gift of life, again. Linda and Jim Parker donate blood and platelets. They're from McPherson, Kansas but they've donated in all 50 states. Together, they've done it 478 times. The Parkers are going around the country helping the Armed Services Blood Program.

Profiles of Dedication: Samuel Fikes (July 2011)
Fire Controlman 1st Class Samuel Fikes knows a thing or two about devotion. For more than two years, he has been an active duty military instructor at the Center for Surface Combat Systems at Dam Neck Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va., while also volunteering to coordinate ASBP ...

Profiles of Dedication: Adam Kroll (June 2011)
Fire Controlman 2nd Class Adam Kroll is a busy man. He spends most of his time working as a full-time instructor at the Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit located on Dam Neck Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va., but he is also an assistant unit coordinator for the ASBP. He prides himself on being part of something important-and he is.

Profiles of Dedication: Michael J. Noehl (June 2011)
The blood donor center of Portsmouth, Va., has conducted quarterly blood drives at the U.S. Joint Forces Command for nearly three years. A large part of their success can be attributed to one of the unit coordinators, Michael J. Noehl. Although he has served as a government ...

Profile of Dedication: Ryan Tiernan (April 2011)
Officer Candidate Ryan Tiernan, is still young, but has already led an active life. After graduating high school in 1994, and briefly attending Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pa., in 1999, he enlisted in the Navy and his career took off. Shortly after enlisting, Tiernan graduated from Hospital Corps A School in October 1999. He then attended the...

Whole Blood and Platelet Donors Recognized at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (February 2011)
During the heart of National Blood Donor Month, the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Blood Donor Center invited donors and hospital staff to an open house of the apheresis department, designed to answer questions concerning...

Local Donors Recognized at National Blood Donor Month Celebration (January 2011)
Local ABSP donors were recognized in Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's (NMCP) Apheresis Laboratory during National Blood Donor Month with an open house and a cake cutting.

Patient Care Comes First (July 2010)
"I grew up surrounded by the Navy and I am still thrilled to be surrounded by the Navy," says Judith Barnes, Technical Supervisor of the Apheresis Department at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Blood Donor Center, Portsmouth, Va.

Linda Jenkins: A Dedicated ASBP Coordinator (June 2010)
Linda Jenkins, a dedicated Armed Services Blood Program coordinator at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) blood donor center, located in Hampton Roads, Va. has dedicated her life to saving the lives of those in need through the power of blood.

Profiles of Dedication (January 2010)
Meet John Hayden, a 32 year old HM1 from West Virginia. John works as an integral part of the blood drive team's critical day-to-day functions at the Armed Services Blood Program's (ASBP) Naval Medical Center blood donor center in Portsmouth, Virginia, and has dedicated his career to helping people through many paths in his Naval career.

Nettie Lassiter: A commitment to both people and the mission (January 2010)
Meet Nettie Lassiter the Donor Collections Nursing Supervisor from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Nettie was born and raised in Gates County, North Carolina with her three siblings. Upon graduation from high school, she obtained work as a part-time nurse's aid in a state hospital in New York.

ASBP Portsmouth Celebrates National Blood Donor Month (January 2010)
On January 7, 2010, the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) Apheresis Department at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. held an open house in recognition of January as National Blood Donor Month.

Old Dominion University ROTC Smashes Donor Collection Records! (December 2009)
The Army and Navy ROTC Programs of Old Dominion University from Hampton, Virginia have joined forces for nearly two years in a combined effort to support the Armed Services Blood Program. Typically, they sponsor at least three blood drives per year, based on the student/cadet schedules.

Profiles of Dedication- HM1 David Blessing (November 2009)
"A dedicated platelet donor himself, he is passionate in his commitment to the Armed Services Blood Program," says Judith Barnes, RN, Apheresis Department, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Judy is referring to the Leading Petty Officer (LPO), or senior military technician and supervisor, HM1 David Blessing.

Navy Reserve Unit Honors LT Olsen's Mother by Donating Blood to The Armed Services Blood Program (July 2009)
Recently the Navy Reserve Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operational Support Unit TEN or EODOSU TEN, sponsored a blood drive for the Armed Services Blood Program. The catalyst for the drive was staff member, LT. Sara Olsen.

New Carrier and ASBP Blood Donor Center Set Collections Record (April 2009)
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- A new two-day blood drive record for an Atlantic Fleet ship was set by the health services department aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during its first blood drive on the ship's forward mess decks March 24-25.

Biggest Blood Donor at Portsmouth Donates for the 100th Time (January 2009)
"Give blood, save a life." You hear that phrase often at blood drives or see it on posters. Retired Lt. Cmdr. James Loadwick took this phrase literally and has helped save hundreds of lives by sticking out his arm to donate blood to the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP).

USS Nassau Sailors Roll up Their Sleeves to Save Lives (October 2008)
NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 28, 2008) - A team from the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's Blood Donor Center traveled to Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 28 to conduct a blood drive on USS Nassau (LHA 4). Forty-nine Sailors rolled up their sleeves to donate blood...