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Commander has donated blood since high school

Col. Michael Place still going strong

Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Pacific Northwest photo Col. Michael Place, commander of the Madigan Army Medical Center, donates blood with the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Pacific Northwest on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Oct. 6.

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He started donating blood in high school, and then continued through college. Col. Michael Place, commander of the Madigan Army Medical Center, still donates blood to this day.

To ensure he could fit donating into his busy schedule, Place stopped by the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Pacific Northwest, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Oct. 6 because he knew he would not be available to donate at the Madigan Army Medical Center blood drive that took place Oct. 17.

As a lieutenant, Place was with the Uniform Services University at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. There, he was able to donate blood every three months.

He then went on to serve as the division surgeon with the 101st Airborne Division in 2004, and he continued to support the Armed Services Blood Program during the “101 Challenge” — a blood drive with the goal of collecting 101 units of blood for the military blood program.

Place was also instrumental in organizing blood drives in support of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center when he was the cadet command surgeon at Fort Monroe, Va.

Place said he has two reasons for donating blood. The first is to support troops downrange.

“When I was the commander of the 10th Combat Support Hospital out of Fort Carson, we deployed to Afghanistan, and I saw firsthand how those units of blood coming to us from the states made a difference,” he said.

His second reason for donating is to help save lives of the tiniest of patients. Place has Type O-negative blood. In order to donate blood for an infant patient, a donor must have an O-negative blood type and be negative for a virus called the cytomegalovirus.

Since only about 7 percent of the U.S. population has O-negative blood, finding a donor who meets all of the donation criteria can sometimes prove challenging.

“My blood type helps babies here at Madigan survive,” he said. “That is why I give.”

When commanders lead by example, others follow. Following the commander’s lead by donating blood helps the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-PNW meet its weekly blood support requirements not only for contingency operations, but also for the military medical treatment facilities here at home such as the Madigan Army Medical Center.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the United States military. As a tri-service organization, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families.

As one of four national blood collection organizations trusted to ensure the nation has a safe, potent blood supply, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center works closely with its civilian counterparts by sharing donors on military installations where there are no military blood collection centers and by sharing blood products in times of need to maximize availability of this national treasure.

To find out more about the Armed Services Blood Bank Center or to schedule an appointment to donate, please visit militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with Armed Services Blood Bank Center staff members, see more photos or get the latest news, follow @militaryblood on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest.

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