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Bone marrow registering

Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Wilson, 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight chief, swabs his cheek to enter a bone marrow donor registry during a visit to the clinic here Dec. 6. 2014. Nearly 200 Airmen registered for the program that may help save a life. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Douglas Hays)

Airmen answer call for bone marrow registry

Published Dec. 18, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Douglas Hays
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- A call for help went out, and Airmen from Grissom answered that call in hopes of making a difference.

Approximately 200 people participated in a bone marrow registry drive here during the December unit training assembly with the hope that one day they could make a difference in someone's life.

"In the military it's our duty to give back - and what's greater than giving life," said Tech. Sgt. Eileen Zlaty, 434th Aerospace Medical Squadron health services management journeyman and drive spearhead. "I want Grissom to make a difference."

Zlaty shared her own experiences about being a donor during a commander's call and the AMDS staff and volunteers were available afterwards to help people register.

"I feel if we're not doing something in our lives to improve the lives of others - then we really have no purpose."

The cheek swabs were sent to a laboratory to be entered into the data base for potential matches. Donors will remain in the data base and be contacted if their bone marrow is ever needed.

"I have a personal connection to joining the registry," said Master Sgt. Debra Wilson-Strong, 434th Force Support Squadron assistant chief of training. "My nephew went had leukemia, and so if i can help someone by being on the list then I want to do that."

Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps Reserve communication detachment.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer