Story Archive

A Special Valentine's Day Gift (March 2012)
Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 celebrated Valentine's Day a little differently than most people. Instead of giving chocolates and flowers this year, they gave the gift of life. The thought of making a difference in someone's life and doing a good deed on Valentine's Day was exactly what these Marines wanted to do, and more than 40 ...

Battalion Donates Despite Deployments (March 2012)
Recently, sailors and Marines from the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion hosted their first ASBP blood drive. Because many of the battalion's members are constantly deployed on various special missions, only a few are actually eligible to donate. But despite deployment ...

It's a Family Affair (January 2012)
The Jimenez family has a passion for helping others; so they decided to put their talents together to host their first Armed Services Blood Program blood drive at Joint Force Training Base in Los Alamitos, Calif. Together, the family organized and hosted the event in which family members and friends could help the lives of the ...

Camaraderie in Full Force (December 2011)
Marines, family members and civilian employees of the 1st Radio Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., came out in full-force to support the battalion's ASBP blood drive. Due to recent deployments to Afghanistan, the battalion has been unable to sponsor a blood drive for the past two years. But now that most of the Marines have returned ...

A Little Friendly Competition in California (November 2011)
Family Readiness Officer Holly Lane and Master Sgt. Ken Owens of the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 became the newest ASBP donors at Camp Pendleton, Calif. During the squadron's first military blood drive, these two donors had a little bit of a friendly competition ...

Same Great Coordinator, New Location, New Donors (October 2011)
The ASBP loves seeing new donors and new locations eager to support the program. So when long-time blood drive coordinator, 2nd Lt. Gabriel Denny, was stationed to Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., he was just as eager to begin planning the location's first military blood drive.

Marines Donate for Doughnuts (September 2011)
Despite just finishing a five-hour hike up the mountains of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Marines from the Infantry Training Battalion Charlie Company geared up to save lives by donating blood to the ASBP. The hike through rigorous terrain around Camp Pendleton is designed for training infantry students-some students carried artillery equipment that weighed ...

O, There's No Negative in Blood Donation (September 2011)
All of the Armed Services Blood Program blood donor centers welcome all types of blood. But, while all blood types are needed, because type O-negative can be transfused to any patient in critical situations, it is especially sought after. And Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Cody Newsom ...

Assault Amphibian School Battalion Makes a Comeback (August 2011)
It's been almost a year since the Assault Amphibian School Battalion held a blood drive with the ASBP. But recently, with the full support of Master Gunnery Sgt. Bill Trammell, the battalion was back in full force to collecting blood from future amtracers of the Marine Corps.

Making Blood Donation a Habit (July 2011)
When Shawntrelle Kast saw an ASBP banner at Camp Pendleton, Calif., she knew what she wanted to do. She immediately saw an opportunity to save lives and soon became a regular donor at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and Camp Pendleton Blood Donor Center. "Donating blood allows you to become a hero to those in need," she said.

Donors Are Family (June 2011)
According to Brian Richter, an apheresis technician at the Naval Medical Center San Diego Blood Donor Center, Calif., donors are like family. And since they are family, Richter has no qualms about making a few sacrifices to make them comfortable. He uses bags of recycled bottles and cans to buy movies for platelet donors to enjoy during ...

Automated Double Red Cell: A First for the Armed Services Blood Program (May 2011)
The blood donor center at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, and Camp Pendleton, Calif., set precedence by adopting a new blood donation process-automated red cell donation-also referred to as double red cell donation.

Spreading the Love in California (March 2011)
During a blood drive hosted by the Communications Company at Camp Pendleton, Calif., donors and staff alike turned out to give the ultimate Valentine's Day gift of love! A steady stream of Marines, sailors and civilians flowed in to support the Armed Services Blood Program and the men and women in need of this life-saving gift.

7th Engineer Support Battalion Conducts First ASBP Blood Drive (January 2011)
It might have been cold and rainy at Camp Pendleton, Calif., but that didn't stop the troops of the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group from conducting their first Armed Services Blood Program blood drive.

Their Way to Serve: Marine Corps Spouses Donate Blood (November 2010)
Gunnery Sgt. Jim Joint and his wife, Staff Sgt. Jhomara Joint, always find a way to volunteer, so it is no surprise that the married couple decided to donate blood at the ASBP blood drive at Camp Pendleton, Calif.-their way of serving the community and helping their fellow service men and women.

A Habit Worth Keeping (October 2010)
Former Marine Corps Sgt. Terry Johnston began donating blood to the ASBP in November 2005, and has since continued to donate every two months, making him a shining example for his peers at the Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He has already donated a gallon of his own blood, and is hoping his story will encourage more to join him.

Boosting Camaraderie for the San Diego, Camp Pendleton Team (October 2010)
An Armed Services Blood Program donor center can only run smoothly, efficiently and effectively with good teamwork among staff-an idea that is strongly adhered to by the Naval Medical Center, San Diego and Camp Pendleton blood donor center team.

Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Hosts Blood Drive (October 2010)
U.S. Public Health Service officers rallied to the Naval Medical Center San Diego Blood Donor Center's call to donate blood while gathered for the annual U.S. Public Health Service Scientific and Training Symposium.

Communications Company Headquarters Battalion Summer Blood Drive a Success (August 2010)
The Communications Company Headquarters Battalion hosted its first blood drive this summer at 33 Area Camp Margarita, Calif., on July 14, 2010...

Infantry Training Battalion Committed To Saving Lives Through Blood Donation (May 2010)
The Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. has an extensive training schedule for entry level Marines to become infantrymen who can fight, survive, and win in combat situations. Included in their training is...

Base Residents Keep Marines in the Fight By Donating Blood (March 2010)
Blood, sweat and tears. All three are synonymous with unrelenting effort and giving your all for a cause; and on March 4, Marines, sailors and civilians of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton left their sweat and tears at home to save lives on the front lines for the first blood drive of the year.

AB Donors Give Blood for the First Time (February 2010)
Two brave Marine students from School of Infantry (SOI) West aboard Charlie Company rolled up their sleeves to give blood. Private First Class James Martin from Boise, Idaho and Private Roberto Banaban of Carson, Calif., wanted to serve their country in a different way by donating blood.

USS Green Bay Continues Its Legacy of 'Winning Ways' (January 2010)
Long before its commissioning in January 2009, the USS Green Bay (LPD 20), an amphibious transport dock ship, began supporting the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) while it was still a part of the Precommissioning Detachment (PCD) in San Diego.

Midshipmen Deliver the Goods for Fifth Consecutive Year (August 2009)
Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) provides Midshipmen with a broad introduction to the four major warfare communities within the naval service. For many, it's their first exposure to the Fleet. During the training, each Midshipman experiences Submarine...

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton shows support of the Armed Services Blood Program (August 2009)
The idea to support the military blood supply came from laboratory department Leading Petty Officer, HM1 Gerard Diaz. He deals with blood testing on a regular basis and understands the importance of donating blood.

Seeing America...Parker Style (July 2009)
Jim and Linda Parker are road warriors on a mission. Most travelers who make the trek across America study the country's vast heritage, explore its little-known byways and take in its "spacious skies, amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties..."

BMU-1 Helps To Save Lives (February 2009)
CORONADO, Calif.,- Beachmaster Unit One (BMU-1) hosted a blood drive in coordination with Naval Medical Center San Diego's (NMCSD) Blood Donor Center Feb. 10 aboard Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. Blood collected through NMCSD is used by the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) to support...

My Pleasure (March 2008)
I recently had the pleasure of donating blood during an Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) blood drive held at the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), CA. 'Pleasure' may sound like an unlikely word describing a needle penetrating your vein and drawing your blood...

Coast Guard comes to the rescue of Naval Medical Center San Diego (August 2007)
Summer blood drive collections were sluggish at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD). The blood donor center staff wondered aloud where they would find more donors to provide the needed blood. Then an e-mail request arrived.